Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 1 SC460593 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

The home is run by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2018.

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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 the setting on 26 January 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted 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: 23 September 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2019 Full Outstanding 26/06/2018 Full Good 14/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/05/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care provided at the home has made a real difference to the children who live there. The staff demonstrate skill in supporting and promoting the children’s progression. The children’s progress is captured through regular life-story work and reflective discussions about what has gone well. The progress that the children have made since living at the home has been good from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans fully address the children’s needs. They are regularly updated and contain relevant information and show the progress made by children. Good-quality care plans ensure that staff are consistent in their approach and are able to meet children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to learn independent living skills. Staff made great efforts to ensure that one child’s move from the home was celebrated and made very special. Staff maintain contact with children who have left the home and moved on to live independently. This helps to ensure that children feel supported in the next stage of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported through regular key-work sessions with staff. There is a wealth of information recorded about the work completed on matters such as staying safe online, education, alcohol, drugs, exploitation, COVID-19 and independence skills. Records provide a good insight into the support provided and the progress made by the children. Good-quality key working has helped to educate children on important matters and has promoted good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a therapeutic approach and children receive good support from therapists. The manager and the staff also benefit from regular reflective therapeutic training sessions and consultations. Children said that they can talk to staff about any worries or concerns. This has helped children to make progress in relation to their confidence, self-esteem and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported in relation to their identity. Difference and diversity issues are valued, supported and celebrated. Children are safe and supported to express their identity. This means that children are more confident and accepted to be themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is generally welcoming and spacious. However, the presentation of some areas of the home is a concern. There were some noticeable wear and tear issues. For example, some areas needed cleaning, some furniture needs repair or replacement, and general updating of the decor is also required in some areas. These matters detract from the overall presentation of the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 4

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

The children have enjoyed placement stability since coming to live in the home. Their individual risk-taking behaviour has reduced. However, there are still some high-risk concerns. Staff have a clear understanding of these risks and the work undertaken with children is helping to address the concerns.

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

Risk assessments are regularly reviewed, and management oversight is evident. Risk assessments outline all the known risk factors and set out strategies that staff should follow to reduce known risks. Good-quality, up-to-date risk assessments are helping to minimise the risk of significant harm.

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

The matching of children has been well considered and well thought out. The manager carefully considers the children’s needs and all risk factors as part of the matching process. This helps to ensure that potential risks are identified, and safety measures are put in place to address them.

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

There has been a recent reduction in incidents of going missing. Missing protocols are clear and up to date. Staff have a good understanding of what to do when a child goes missing, and they make extensive efforts to look for the children when they go missing from the home. Key-work sessions have taken place with children around missing behaviour. This has helped children to develop a better understanding of their personal safety.

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

Behaviour is well managed by the registered manager and the staff team. Members of the staff team have good relationships with the children. The manager and staff team are able to identify any subtle changes in the children’s behaviour and respond by putting appropriate support in place. This has resulted in a low number of challenging incidents and there have been few incidents of physical restraint.

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

Safe recruitment practice is in place to ensure that staff working in the home have the right experience and are willing to learn and develop in the role. New employees complete inductions which are comprehensive, and they receive regular supervision. Any concerns about staff are dealt with appropriately and promptly. This ensures that children are cared for by individuals who have undergone the required vetting and induction process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team is led by a qualified and experienced registered manager who aspires for children. She has a detailed knowledge of every aspect of the home’s operation, its strengths and areas for development. The manager is committed to achieving high standards of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has escalated her concerns with placing authorities to ensure that children’s needs are met. For example, the registered manager challenged a placing authority when there was not appropriate, prompt follow-up in relation to return home interviews. The registered manager also requests that Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 5 strategy meetings take place following significant incidents. This managerial challenge and escalation help to better protect children from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works hard to develop and maintain positive relationships with professionals and parents. Communication with parents and professionals was said to be very good. One parent described the home as ‘perfect’. They also stated that they were kept informed of their child’s progress and described the staff as ‘excellent’. The manager and staff work well with others in the children’s best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff have a clear understanding of the progress made by the children. Clear, measurable outcomes are evident from the key work that staff and the therapist have undertaken with the children. The children have made good progress overall from their starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of supervision is good and staff are well supported in their roles by the registered manager. Staff also have regular team meetings. One member of staff said: ‘The registered manager is amazing – she genuinely wants to develop the staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to regular training and development opportunities. Staff have had training in relation to specific children’s needs. This helps to ensure that staff have the skills and the knowledge to meet the individual needs of the children. Mandatory training is up to date, and the manager is aware of when training requires renewing.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 1 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 6 provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b) (2)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home is maintained to a high standard and routinely cleaned and that the home’s decor is improved.

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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: SC460593 7

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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

Brian Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC460593 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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