Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC411030 1 SC411030

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Meadows Care Limited

Monitoring visit 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 three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently managed by the company’s operational development manager, with assistance from a team leader. This arrangement is to cover the temporary absence of a registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out in response to an increase in the number of notifications received by Ofsted. The notifications relate to safeguarding incidents outside of the home and children’s adherence to court-imposed restrictions.

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This monitoring visit

Professionals spoken to consider that the managers and staff team have suitable insight into, and respond appropriately to, the risks that some children’s behaviour may pose to themselves or others.

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This monitoring visit

When risks associated with children’s behaviours increase, there are timely and well- coordinated responses from the management team. These responses include requests for multi-agency meetings in order to address the concerns and review children’s safety plans. Staff are supported in their role through clear and up-to-date assessments of risk.

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This monitoring visit

The managers and staff establish and maintain strong professional networks to ensure that children are offered care that protects their welfare. One social worker commented, ‘They [staff and managers] have been proactive in making sure they receive the right responses from everyone in working towards the plan and pushing the plan forward.’ Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC411030 2 Through living at the home, children have made individual progress over time. This includes children learning to self-regulate their emotional responses and making safer choices with regards to their friendship groups and their actions. When children’s understanding of previously completed work is in doubt, staff develop plans to revisit these areas with children. This ensures that learning is embedded and in line with children’s cognitive abilities and learning styles.

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This monitoring visit

Children spoken to say that they feel safe living at the home and that staff listen to them. Staff support contact between children and their families, which promotes their sense of identity. Children benefit from longevity of placement at the home, which contributes to providing stability and continuity of care.

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This monitoring visit

Where appropriate, managers and staff have considered children’s leaving care needs and are actively involved in the timing of these future events. However, neither staff nor children have access to up-to-date plans that will provide the necessary detail for such moves.

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This monitoring visit

Some children do not regularly attend school, and the work by staff to encourage children’s participation in education has not been reviewed for its efficacy. Although staff use incentives to encourage children, some of the incentives used, such as prolonged access to the internet at night, have not been agreed in conjunction with the social worker.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/07/2019 Full Good 23/10/2018 Full Good 24/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC411030 3

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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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)) 31 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to staff having access to up-to-date pathway plans. 31 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. In particular, that staff review, in consultation with the social workers, the use of internet access as an incentive for children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC411030 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: 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 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC411030 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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