Children's Home run by Next Stage 4Life Limited in Bury

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1270297 1

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Next Stage 4Life Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 5 May 2020 and holds the relevant qualification.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place on site. The focus of the visit was to ensure that children and young people are safe and to measure the progress made since the last inspection on 5 November 2019.

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This monitoring visit

Children and young people say they are happy and that they feel safe and well cared for. They benefit from positive, trusting relationships with the staff team that implements clear, age-appropriate boundaries. One child said, ‘The staff care and are interested in me. They help me to learn new things and I know they want what is best for me.’

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This monitoring visit

Staff work closely with education providers to promote children and young people’s educational attendance and achievements. One young person has been supported back into education and now has clear goals and aspirations for the future.

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This monitoring visit

Alongside formal education, children and young people are helped to learn life skills, and in preparation for transitions and independence. They have access to online training courses where they can learn about relevant topics and achieve certificates.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have enabled children and young people to keep in touch with people who are important to them. They created safe areas in the home to accommodate visitors following national restrictions and have supported virtual communication. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1270297 2 The home has an experienced manager who has been in post since February 2020. The manager provides clear leadership and guidance to the team. He is supported in his role by a deputy manager and three senior residential childcare workers. Together, they have strong oversight of staff practice, care planning and progress in the home. They have introduced several changes to develop the service, including implementing clear boundaries and establishing a collaborative approach to caring for children and young people.

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This monitoring visit

The staff group is relatively new but it is a stable team that works together consistently. Staff are empowered and motivated by the manager and morale is high. The management team robustly addresses any practice issues and provides support to staff through relevant training, regular quality supervisions and appraisals. Work to improve practice is ongoing and a gap in recording was identified and addressed during the visit.

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This monitoring visit

The use of agency staff is minimal and, if needed, the team is supported by staff from another home managed by the same manager or by specific bank staff who know the children, young people and home well.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents are well managed and responded to appropriately. However, the manager did not notify Ofsted of one serious incident.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reviewed the quality of care but did not include a clear action plan for the next six months. He has now implemented a development plan to further improve the service.

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This monitoring visit

Five requirements and three recommendations were made at the last inspection. Suitable action has been taken to address all of these.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/11/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1270297 3

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Recommendations

 Regulations 35-39 detail the records that must be kept in children’s homes. All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. Children’s case records must be kept for 75 years from the date of birth of the child, or if the child dies before the age of 18, for 15 years from the date of his or her death. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  Regulation 40 (4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40 (4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40 (4)(e)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including

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Recommendations

the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)  The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Regency House, 45-53 Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4QR

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: William Roberts Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1270297 4

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Inspector

Caroline Bertram, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1270297 5 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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