Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report children’s home: SC032838 1 SC032838 Registered provider: Appletree Treatment Centre Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight boys, aged between six and 12, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager, who is very experienced and highly qualified, has been registered with Ofsted since April 2014.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC032838 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2018 Full Outstanding 27/06/2017 Full Outstanding 09/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/07/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC032838 3

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outstanding

Children receive high-quality care and support that enables them to grow and flourish at this home. Most children have lived at the home for several years. They enjoy a settled homelife and a place that they affectionately call home.

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outstanding

Children in this home share a strong family-like identity. They enjoy positive relationships with each other as well as meaningful and affectionate relationships with staff. Staff actively love the children and vice versa, which is essential for them to thrive and make amazing progress. Children share and enjoy a strong sense of stability and belonging which makes them feel secure.

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outstanding

The manager and staff view their roles as professional therapeutic parents. They have good knowledge of the impact of children’s early experiences and traumas. This helps them to provide children with well-informed and research-led care. This results in children feeling unconditionally loved and accepted.

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outstanding

Children’s individuality is celebrated. They engage in play of their choice. Imaginative and creative play is encouraged alongside a healthy amount of physical exercise. External agencies commented that staff fully understand the unique personality and behavioural traits of children and tailor their care to meet these needs.

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outstanding

Healthy lifestyles are promoted, and children are helped to understand what a healthy life looks like for them. Children are provided with a wide choice of nutritious foods and get involved in meal preparation. Staff are clear that children should only take medication that modifies their behaviour if it is absolutely necessary.

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outstanding

Staff are attentive to and value children’s views and wishes. Children are regularly asked to contribute their ideas to the daily running of the home as well as their own personal planning and support.

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outstanding

The home is currently undergoing some refurbishment to improve its facilities and enhance the living space for the children and staff. Bathrooms have already been refurbished and work has started on developing a safe decked area for children to use in the summer months. A new kitchen has been designed to make the area homelier and more accessible to children.

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outstanding

Children say that they feel safe. Some children were able to articulate that they did not feel safe before coming to live at the home, but do so now. This is because staff can be trusted to keep them safe and they feel sure in the knowledge of this. Even Inspection report children’s home: SC032838 4 when staff use physical intervention, children understand that they do this to ensure their and others’ safety.

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outstanding

Risk assessments are highly detailed. They are frequently reviewed and updated. Staff spoken to as part of this inspection were familiar with the children’s individual plans and the strategies in place for supporting them.

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outstanding

Children are closely supervised which minimises opportunities to put themselves at risk. The biggest risk factors for most children are their personal safety (due to their age and behaviours) and their ability to emotionally regulate or the risk of them losing control. Staff are skilled at understanding the subtle nuances of each child’s behaviour which may alert them to increased risk.

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outstanding

Children get along well with each other. They are helped to understand one another’s feelings and to treat each other with consideration and kindness.

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outstanding

Behaviour management focuses on understanding the root causes of behaviour and helping the child to develop different coping strategies. Consequences are used infrequently. Those that are used are restorative in nature. This promotes better understanding of the impact of the child’s behaviour. Praise and rewards are used regularly to celebrate and promote positive behaviour.

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outstanding

Routine and boundaries are implemented consistently. Children understand why there are rules and boundaries in place and are keen to comply. The consistency and predictability helps children to feel safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post for a considerable length of time. She is an aspirational manager who has extremely high standards. She is an excellent role model for staff. Children openly adore and have the deepest respect for the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have a positive shared ethos, fed down through the management team. This results in them also having high aspirations and expectations for children. The unified belief that children can and will achieve has a highly positive impact on children’s progress and sense of self-worth. Staff are passionate about the children they care for. They are invested in ensuring that children achieve their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy a supportive environment and positive team cohesion. Morale is high, and staff are happy to come to work. Managers ensure that staff feel empowered and have opportunities to progress. Staff have access to appropriate training. The training they receive in respect of the therapeutic model of care has resulted in them developing an excellent understanding of how to implement this into children’s day- to-day care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Transition planning is excellent. The eight boys in the home are extremely well matched. This is due to the careful examination and analysis of pre-placement information. Managers appropriately challenge placing authorities when transition Inspection report children’s home: SC032838 5 plans are unsuitable. They ensure that children move on to appropriate placements that will give them the opportunity to continue to progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Effective monitoring systems ensure that standards are maintained. Both internal and external scrutiny are rigorous.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff work together with local therapists, health professionals, the local authority and placing authorities. Professionals speak highly of the service. They express sincere satisfaction with the care that children receive.

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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: SC032838 6

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Appletree Treatment Centre Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Meathop Park, Meathop, Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6RF

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Inspector

Gillian Walters, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC032838 7 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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