Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC065189 1 SC065189 Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a number of children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children or young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in May 2020. She is suitably experienced and worked in the home prior to becoming the manager.

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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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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: 19 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC065189 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/02/2020 Full Good 11/07/2018 Full Outstanding 06/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC065189 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from stable and consistent care. They make individual progress and achieve outcomes in line with their care plans. A particular strength of the care offered to young people is the longevity of placements. Some young people have lived at the home for four years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

As a result of the stability offered, young people develop trusting relationships with staff. These relationships underpin the progress that young people make, and over time they develop emotional resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a range of good role models for young people to identify with. They spend time with young people and support them to safely navigate the transition into young adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are treated as individuals and are understood well by the staff. They feel listened to and valued, which reflects positively on the quality of care being provided. Parents and professionals described the staff as ‘being like family’ and ‘acting as parents would’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s identities are fully supported, and staff work hard to develop and maintain relationships with young people’s families. This significantly contributes to supporting the local authorities’ plans for young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people have access to therapeutic support, and some make regular use of this input. In addition, some young people’s families also benefit from this service to support their care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged to develop plans and aspirations for their futures. This includes ensuring that they have access to education, training and employment. Staff offer good levels of support to promote young people’s skills in independence.

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

Young people are not exposed to risks associated with drug and alcohol misuse, criminal exploitation or child sexual exploitation. Incidents of being missing from home are infrequent and are for short periods of time.

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

Young people feel safe living at the home. They feel that staff listen to them and that they can talk to staff about matters that concern them.

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

Staff understand each young person well and support them to make age-appropriate decisions in line with their growing levels of independence. Inspection report children’s home: SC065189 4 Young people are given consistent support and advice, to understand and manage their emotions. As a result, incidents in the home have reduced in frequency and duration. Since September 2020, there have been no physical interventions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager was registered in May 2020. She is suitably experienced and worked in the home prior to becoming the manager. As a result, she has known some young people for many years. The stable relationships she has forged with young people ensure that she understands their needs well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and parents speak highly of the manager and staff. Local authority social workers consider staff to be providing significant support and input into the transition of young people back to their families.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads a dedicated staff team and provides formal and informal support and guidance to staff. This ensures that young people receive holistic and responsive care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is suitably staffed, and turnover of staff is low. As a result, young people know the adults who care for them very well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are proud of the work they do with young people. Staff are supported through individual supervision and regular team meetings. However, these meetings would benefit from greater focus on young people’s progress, and from incorporating the advice given by the home’s therapist.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A wide range of training is available to staff, alongside additional training that is tailored to meet the specific needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Case records are kept up to date by staff but do not always clearly relate to young people’s goals or outcomes. Staff do not have access to all young people’s annual health assessments. Although the manager has requested this information on several occasions, it has not been escalated within the local authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the requirements made at the previous inspection. Although young people’s bedrooms benefited from redecoration and new furniture, minor damage has occurred since. In addition, a shower tray requires replacing. Inspection report children’s home: SC065189 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of key working are focused and are reflective of children’s goals and plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that a record of staff discussions relating to children’s progress is clearly recorded in team meetings. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  The registered person should ensure that when the local authority or another relevant person does not provide the necessary documentation, such as annual health assessments, to the home, the home must provide challenge and escalate matters accordingly. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that damaged bedroom furniture and a damaged shower tray is promptly replaced. (‘Guide to the children’s homes

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Recommendations

regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC065189 6

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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 children’s home: SC065189 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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