Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Blackpool

Inspection report children's home: 1240843 1 Registered provider: Care 4 Children Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 2017.

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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: 12 February 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 1240843 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 1240843 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both young people have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. These secure relationships underpin the stability of care that contributes to young people’s progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people value the role that education plays in their lives and they are developing aspirations for future studies and careers. Staff ensure that good healthy routines are established and maintained to support young people’s learning and overall development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to offer a varied and interesting range of activities to promote young people’s positive use of leisure time. These activities also act to strengthen the relationships between staff and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are treated as individuals and staff understand their personalities, strengths and vulnerabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported to develop age-appropriate independence and skills they will require in adulthood. Staff offer on-going advice to young people to support their growing sense of independence and so they remain safe when out in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One young person is in preparation for moving on from the home, however he does not benefit from an up-to-date local authority pathway plan. As such, the details of the future support he can expect have not been agreed.

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

Staff understand well the risks associated with young people’s behaviours and act appropriately when concerns increase. Up to date risk assessments provide clear advice to staff on how to respond to concerns regarding young people’s safety and are followed well in practice.

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

When young people are missing from the home, staff follow agreed procedures and are active in searching for them. Staff liaise promptly with other agencies to assist in young people’s safe return to the home. However, requests by the manager to hold meetings with the local authorities when the number of such incidents have increased has not been successful.

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

Staff work hard at developing young people’s awareness of potential risks associated with some behaviours. They make appropriate referrals to specialist agencies, such as the drug and alcohol team. However, some young people have refused to engage with this support. Although staff have received basic training in this area of work they have not benefitted from additional training that would support their work with young people. Inspection report children's home: 1240843 4 Any allegations or complaints have been dealt with in a transparent and timely way. Young people know how to complain and say they feel safe at the home.

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

Since the last inspection there have not been any physical interventions by staff. This reflects the positive relationships that exist within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and suitably qualified manager. She has a good relationship with both young people and is involved with their day-to-day lives. This involvement provides her with an excellent insight into their plans, achievements and areas of their lives that need further support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is ambitious for both young people to achieve their potential and ensures that they receive high standards of care from staff. She provides both formal and informal support to staff to enable them to offer consistent and individualised care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

To improve the care that is offered by staff, the manager has recently introduced key-work planning documents that help her to regularly review completed key-work activities. In addition, she has also introduced pre-supervision questions for staff to complete. This brings focus to the discussions that take place and ensures that staff reflect on their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers provide staff with well-documented regular supervision. However, there have been gaps in the manager herself receiving supervision from her line manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are internal processes in place to enable managers to review the quality of care that is provided. However, there are significant delays in the completion of the independent visitor’s reports and these reports being submitted to Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Apart from the absence of a pathway plan for an eligible young person, case records and other documentation are clear, well-maintained and easily accessible. Inspection report children's home: 1240843 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child (Regulation 36(1)(a)). 31/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)). In particular, that the reports are submitted to Ofsted in a timely manner. 30/04/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. ('Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2).

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in training and development of staff in the home. ('Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.11). In particular, that staff receive good quality training in working with young people who misuse drugs and alcohol.

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Recommendations

 Where a placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child's needs (see regulations 5(c)). ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 12, paragraph 2.8). Inspection report children's home: 1240843 6

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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: 1240843 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care 4 Children, 1 Stuart Road, Bredbury Park Industrial Estate, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SR

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Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 1240843 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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