Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Assurance visit report: SC442864 1 SC442864

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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 three children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in June 2020.

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC442864 2

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The care of children

Children and young people benefit from the nurturing care that staff offer. Over time, they respond positively to this emotional support and develop trusting relationships with staff.

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The care of children

Staff listen to children and young people and understand their needs well. This enables young people who are new to the home to settle and begin to respond to the consistent care that staff offer.

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The care of children

Staff spend time with young people, supporting their individual needs. One social worker commented: ‘They don’t do a one size fits all. His care is tailored to him.’

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The care of children

Children and young people engage with the therapy that is regularly made available to them. This focused and specialist support enables them to explore their histories and the current difficulties they may face in their lives.

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The care of children

Staff promote a restorative approach to resolving any conflicts. This approach supports children and young people to develop their understanding of the necessary boundaries that are in place.

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The care of children

Children and young people are encouraged and supported to maintain contact with their families. This contact is safely promoted and in line with their local authority plans.

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The care of children

Some children and young people’s educational attendance is very high, and they have developed aspirations for their futures. Other children and young people who are new to the home struggle to maintain their attendance at school. Staff work hard to support their confidence and willingness to attend and provide varied opportunities to support their continued learning.

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The safety of children

Children and young people live in a safe environment and receive care from staff who understand their individual vulnerabilities. Over time, the risks associated with incidents of missing from home and damage to property reduce. This reduction is underpinned by the relationships that staff forge with children and young people.

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The safety of children

When incidents of missing from home do occur, staff are active in trying to stay in touch with children and young people and go to extensive lengths in searching for and trying to locate them. However, not all children and young people are offered an independent return home interview following an incident of missing from home.

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The safety of children

Staff develop and maintain effective professional relationships with other agencies to ensure that children and young people remain safe. Professionals spoken to considered that all the children and young people were safe at the home. Children Assurance visit report: SC442864 3 and young people identified staff that they trusted and could talk to about concerns or worries they may have. One young person said: ‘They do care about us all.’

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The safety of children

Staff consistently encourage positive behaviour and support children and young people to explore and adopt individual strategies to manage their emotions.

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Leaders and managers

The home is effectively managed by a committed and experienced manager. She has established positive and well-regarded relationships with children and young people. One young person commented: ‘She is considerate and always asks how we are. She puts our needs first.’

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Leaders and managers

Professionals felt that the manager acts as a strong advocate to ensure that the needs of young people are met by other agencies, for example in sourcing suitable educational provisions and ensuring that a young person is allocated a social worker in a timely manner.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular formal and informal support from the management team. This is complemented through advice and reflective practice discussions with the home’s therapists. These regular consultations ensure that staff continue to develop their understanding and insight into children and young people’s needs.

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Leaders and managers

The skills and knowledge base of staff is further enhanced through access to a wide variety of training.

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Leaders and managers

Overall, the home is welcoming and comfortable; however, some areas present as worn and in need of repair and refurbishment.

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Leaders and managers

At the last inspection, a requirement was made with regard to the stability and consistency of staff working at the home. Since April, there have been a number of staff changes at the home, and as a result this requirement has not been met.

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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, the 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. 31 January 2021 Assurance visit report: SC442864 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to developing a stable staff team.

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Recommendations

 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. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45 paragraph 9.30)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This particularly refers to renewing or replacing worn bathroom fittings and decor.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC442864 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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