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

Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since May 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 11 November 2020 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on our website.

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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: 5 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 2

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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 children’s home: 1270297 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from the sensitive and nurturing care that staff provide. They are helped to fulfil their potential through the meaningful and trusting relationships that staff offer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people who have left the home have done so in line with the goals in their care plans. Careful and thoughtful planning ensures that they move on from the home in a positive way. Transitions are thoroughly planned and progress at the child’s or young person’s pace. The manager and staff value the children and young people they care for. For example, they appropriately maintain contact with them after they have moved on, taking a genuine interest in their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who join the home equally benefit from detailed plans that offer opportunities to visit the home over several weeks. This helps children to feel comfortable in their new home and establish a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people make progress across a wide range of measures, such as school attendance, a reduction in incidents and better regulation of their emotions. They are supported by staff to explore and express their feelings in a safe and appropriate way. Consistent boundaries and innovative incentives help children and young people to feel safe and work towards positive change and goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s and young people’s contact with their families is fully supported by the staff. Staff work proactively with families to promote contact that is emotionally rewarding for the children and young people. This supports them to develop a positive sense of their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen and respond to children and young people. Their views are regularly sought and reflected upon by the managers and staff. As a result, the care offered is individualised, responsive and adjusted to their developing needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy a range of fun and enriching activities that reflect their interests. They are also integrated into their wider communities and are supported to raise money for charities.

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

Staff have an informed understanding of children’s and young people’s individual vulnerabilities. This ensures that staff promote their welfare and that they are kept safe.

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

Since the last visit in November 2020, there have not been any allegations or complaints made by children or young people. There have not been any concerns Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 4 regarding drug or alcohol misuse, or risks associated with criminal or child sexual exploitation.

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

Children and young people say that they feel safe at the home and that staff listen to them. Staff provide a safe and nurturing environment that helps children and young people to manage their emotions and understand the consequences of their actions. As a result, the number of incidents, restraints and consequences have significantly reduced.

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

When children and young people behave in ways that are not socially acceptable, staff take an educative and sensitive approach to managing situations. Children and young people are supported to repair relationships and they assist in rectifying any damage caused to the home. This helps them to learn new skills alongside taking responsibility for their actions.

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

Staff use de-escalation strategies well. The positive relationships that staff forge with children and young people underpin their abilities to quickly resolve any potential incidents.

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

Individual support plans for children and young people have been developed to take account of the COVID-19 pandemic. These address the general issues, such as symptoms, isolating and the management of infections. However, the risk assessments do not yet include the potential impact of restrictions on children’s and young people’s mental health, the effects of social isolation and educational progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the needs of the children and young people well and takes an active role in progressing their plans. He provides strong leadership and role modelling to staff and promotes an open and learning culture in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children and young people benefit from the manager’s experience and knowledge base. For example, foster carers spoke highly of his involvement in the transition of one child and the involvement of their own children in the process. His direct involvement in this transition ensured that the new carers understood the child’s needs well and that the outcomes were positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager and value the changes that have occurred since his appointment. As a result, staff morale is positive and staff are fully committed to their roles and providing high levels of care to children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported in their roles through regular supervision, team meetings and consultation with the home’s therapist. These processes are used by staff and managers to reflect upon the care that is offered, work collaboratively and continuously seek improvement. Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 5 The manager understands the strengths and particular skills that each member of staff brings. He deploys these effectively to meet children’s and young people’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A clear training plan is in place to further support staff to develop and improve their practice. During the inspection, it was identified that training records were not up to date for all staff. Managers are aware of this issue and are liaising with senior managers on how to have better oversight of training needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the home is well maintained and welcoming. Children and young people are actively encouraged to choose the decor for their rooms. However, cabling in one of the bathrooms would benefit from being encased. The manager responded to this during inspection and agreed to ensure that this was actioned. Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff training records are kept up to date and are a comprehensive record of training completed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that cables in the downstairs bathroom are boxed in to prevent accidental or deliberate damage. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that the emotional health and well-being of children and young people are taken account of when responding to national restrictions that may be in place restricting their educational attendance, contact arrangements and socialisation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.4)

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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: 1270297 7

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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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Inspectors

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Fiona Millns, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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