Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Blackburn with Darwen

Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 1 SC467268 Registered provider:

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people irrespective of gender. The home specialises in caring for young people who have been, or who are, experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There is a registered manager at this home.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 10 to 11 February 2020

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2018 Full Good 18/10/2017 Full Good 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 09/03/2020

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children can see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon during consultation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  Ensure each child’s attendance at the necessary primary and secondary health services. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.11)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the quality standards’, page 45 paragraph 9.30)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who come to live here have experienced trauma, neglect and chaotic lifestyles. Trusting and stable relationships with the staff, alongside orderly daily routines, are the key to the young people’s success. For example, young people’s risky behaviours, including aggression, violence and criminal activity, are greatly reduced. This contributes to young people’s overall feeling of safety and security. Young people enjoy spending time together with the staff and participate in recreational activities, such as ice skating, trampoline parks, swimming, gymnasium and trips to Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 4 football matches. They also have pets that they take good care of. Furthermore, young people are showing pride in their appearance and their self-confidence is growing. Young people who have previously struggled in an educational setting are now attending the company school full time and making good progress. The staff work seamlessly with

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

the teachers to make sure that young people are getting the best out of their education. Moreover, the staff complete homework and read with young people daily. These are all positive experiences with young people. Young people are in good health. They eat healthily, exercise and have therapy with a trained professional. They are registered with appropriate healthcare services and most young people attend all necessary appointments. However, the staff have failed to follow up an appointment instructed by the nurse. This does not ensure the optimal outcomes for this young person. The manager addressed this during the inspection. Care planning is generally good and young people’s day-to-day needs, such as routine privacy and fun, are met. Consultation is regularly undertaken with young people to ensure that they can voice their views and opinions. However, the results of their views being acted on by staff are not always fed back to young people to show them that their

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

views count. The staff have a very good understanding of young people’s backgrounds. The staff make sure that young people see their family members regularly to maintain these relationships. Memory boxes and books are being collated with young people to give them an understanding of their life journey.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people feel safe and protected. The staff help them to understand risk and how to stay safe through key-working sessions that are overseen by the company therapist. Risk assessments are much improved and guide the staff in protecting young people from potential harm. Young people’s behaviour is well managed by the staff. Sanctions and physical interventions are appropriately reviewed. Equally, incentives and rewards are used to positively reinforce behaviour. Complaints are welcomed by the staff and resolutions are sought in the best interests of young people. Respectful and trusting relationships continue to be at the heart of all care practice. Incidents of young people going missing from care are well managed. If this does happen, staff are proactive in their responses. They follow each young person’s missing- from-home protocol and report to all relevant agencies in a timely manner. Despite the

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

best efforts of the staff, young people have not always had an independent interview from the placing authority following their return home from being missing from care. This is a missed opportunity to share pertinent information to protect young people. Effective safer recruitment practices help to protect young people against unsafe adults working in the home. Checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and obtaining references from previous employers are part of this process. Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered in September 2018. He is suitably qualified and experienced in working with young people who have emotional and behavioural needs. The manager is supported by an assistant manager. They are passionate and committed to providing high-quality care to young people. A social worker commented: ‘The staff are excellent. He has come so far in education and behaviour. The change in him is remarkable.’ The staff members spoken with during the inspection said that they enjoy their work. They feel supported by the manager and their team members. The staff are suitably qualified or working towards a recognised qualification. They have good-quality supervision, appraisal and training. Staff meetings are regular and provide an opportunity for staff to review young people’s progress. There is a consistent and diverse staff team in place. Staff provide stability, predictability and positive role models for young people to identify with. Furthermore, staff are

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

energetic and passionate about the work that they do with young people. Quality audit systems are in place and provide an overview of care practice. The management team has systems in place to monitor the care provided. Managers are fully aware of the strengths and areas for development in the service. For example, they intend to refresh the décor of the home, build an outdoor play area and to review the recording of sanctions. The recommendations from the previous inspection have been addressed. There is a process in place to notify significant events to the relevant authorities. However, Ofsted was not notified of a significant event. This prevents information sharing in the best interests of young people.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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: SC467268 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Caroline Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC467268 7 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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