Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 1 SC361811 Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of several children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. If required, children and young people can access the organisation’s school and therapy department. The manager has been running this home since October 2018 and was registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from high-quality care that is focused on helping them to achieve their individual aspirations and goals. This care is delivered in a nurturing environment by staff who prioritise each child’s individual needs. Children are making good and, in some cases, significant progress relative to their starting points. Care practice is underpinned by strong relationships between children and staff. Children are happy, settled and clearly regard this as their home. They are exceptionally positive about their experiences, with one child saying, ‘Staff have Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 2 helped me with lots of things. They are always there for me and I am in a much better place than I was when I first arrived.’ Children are encouraged and supported to pursue their individual hobbies and goals. They enjoy a range of activities and memorable experiences such as holidays away with staff. A real strength of this home is how it encourages children to have

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

experiences that are like those of any child living in the community. Children spoke about how staff get to know their friends and how they welcome them into the home for tea and overnight stays, when safe to do so. Staff maintain close links with schools and colleges. They are proactive in their efforts to overcome barriers to participation and work hard to ensure that the right level of support is offered to each child. This has enabled one child to successfully transition to college and the others to complete mock examinations. It was positive to hear one child talk about her aspirations to become a social worker and how her exams form an important part of this journey. There is a good focus on preparing children for adult life. Children are at various stages of the home’s independence toolkit, which is intensified as the child approaches the time to transition from the home. The manager recognises the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

importance of good transition planning and works closely with leaving care professionals and adult services in this respect. The core staff team responds well to meeting each child’s overall needs. The team would benefit from an improved gender balance, as the composition of the current team is female only. This means that the children do not have regular opportunities to develop trusting relationships with positive male role models, an essential component in the lives of children who have experienced less than positive relationships with adult males in the past. The recommendation from the previous inspection has not been addressed. Training records were not up to date, despite the system for capturing this information being improved. More pertinently, the system is not being used effectively to ensure that staff complete mandatory training within organisational timescales. Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2019 Full Good 14/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2017 Full Outstanding 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 4

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Recommendations

 Whenever possible, staff in day to day contact with children should include staff from the different gender groups. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22) Specifically, ensure that there is a written plan that clearly identifies how children will have day-to-day contact with positive male role models working in the home.  The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Specifically, ensure that staff training records are kept up to date and used effectively to ensure that staff complete or refresh all mandatory training requirements.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Meadows Care Ltd, Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9EN

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Inspector

Paul Scott, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 6 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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