Preston Springs Farmhouse

Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 1 SC441080 Registered provider: Bryn Melyn Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The service is owned by a private company. The home is registered to care for three children. Children come to live at the home because of family or placement breakdowns. Some children have difficulties that make their situation very difficult. Some children experience abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager. The current manager has been in post since July 2021. He is in the process of applying to Ofsted to be the registered manager. He is currently completing the level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care, and the children and young people’s services residential management pathway.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2019 Full Good 18/07/2018 Full Good 06/03/2018 Full Good 02/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are three children currently living in the home. One of these children has lived in the home for over three years. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out and one child has moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. Soft furnishings and photos of the children create a homely feel. Children enjoy living in a spacious and comfortable home and have been supported to personalise their rooms. One child told the inspector that he was happy living at the home. This helps the children to feel valued and to develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education and are progressing well. Children who have previously experienced barriers to attendance and learning are now attending full-time education. Staff work closely with education providers to ensure that children are provided with learning in line with their needs. As a result of this, children have made considerable progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in ensuring that children’s health needs are met, with all primary healthcare appointments taking place. Staff understand children’s additional heath needs and support children to attend specialist appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with people who are important to them. Staff develop good relationships with children’s families and understand the importance of these relationships. One parent told the inspector that the staff were like an extended family. For some children, their relationships with their family members have improved, which has resulted in one child having overnights stays with his family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to participate in activities in the local community. For example, one child has an interest in fishing and will go on a regular basis with staff. During the inspection, the child was eager to show the inspector her fishing equipment. Another child has a passion for nature. Staff have purchased him a National Trust pass. In addition, children have experienced other enjoyable activities such as swimming, walking and trips to theme parks. These activities provide children with a sense of enrichment and enjoyment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive help to develop life skills, so that they are prepared for their future. For example, one child is being supported to apply for a part-time job, and another child is being supported to cook meals independently. Both children are developing their confidence and are making progress with their independence. This helps children to prepare for their futures. Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 4

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

The committed staff work hard to keep children safe. Staff are consistent in their approach as they understand children’s risk and behaviours and the plans in place to manage these. During the inspection, children told the inspector that they felt safe and identified key members of staff that they can talk to.

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

Children’s care plans provide staff with a clear overview of their risks and behaviours. The plans are reviewed by the manager and are updated when new risks emerge. Staff work alongside external professionals, such as social workers and teachers, to gather key safeguarding information. This joined-up approach ensures that children are effectively safeguarded.

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

Staff respond quickly when children go missing. This is because staff understand what they need to do in such situations. Staff undertake thorough searches for children using their knowledge of the likely places that children will have gone to. When required, staff do not delay in reporting children as missing to the police. When children are located, staff take the time to understand the reasons why they may have gone missing. However, the manager does not always ensure that return home interviews take place.

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

Staff use rewards to encourage children to make positive choices. Children respond well to this practice and enjoy receiving rewards for their good behaviour. Children are included in setting their own goals. T his helps children to feel valued and to want to make positive choices.

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

Physical restraints have reduced since the last inspection. Staff only use physical restraint when it is necessary to safeguard children and others. Following incidents, children receive good support which enables them to reflect on their emotions. Records reflect thorough accounts of incidents and include the manager’s oversight and evaluation. However, some records did not record the details of the individual restraints used. This recording shortfall has not compromised the safety of the children.

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

Professionals told the inspector that communication from the home is excellent. Staff provide regular updates and feel that any incidents are well managed. They are happy with the strategies put in place by the home and feel that the home manages risk well.

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

Allegations into possible harm are investigated thoroughly and swiftly. Children are supported and protected throughout the process. The manager ensures that any identified learning is actioned and verified.

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

Safer recruitment practice is in place for most new staff joining the home. This includes all appropriate references being completed in accordance with regulation. However, during the inspection the inspector identified that not all references are verified before staff commence their employment. The registered manager reviewed Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 5 the recruitment process during the inspection and additional measures were put in place to prevent this happening again.

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

The manager has not reviewed the home’s location risk assessment in over a year and, therefore, the assessment has not considered current risk factors. The manager was aware that this was outstanding and intends to review this assessment soon.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager has been in post since July 2021 and is becoming increasingly established in his role. The manager has worked hard to develop his staff team and to put children at the centre of their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s effective monitoring means that he has a sound understanding of the strengths of the home and the areas for development. The manager continually makes improvements to the home, which enhances the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and feel supported by the management team. This has contributed to the home having a stable staff team. This means that children are looked after by familiar adults who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to developing the staff team and enabling it to progress professionally. Staff benefit from a varied training programme which is tailored to help staff meet the individual needs of the children. Most staff hold a level three qualification and those who do not are working towards it. This equips staff with the level of knowledge and skills needed for the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff have regular supervisions. These are beneficial and productive and support staff in developing their skills further. The manager is also well supported by senior managers and receives regular supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good communication between staff and other professionals helps to promote a collaborative approach to meeting the children’s needs. Professionals are positive about the home and the support provided to children. A social worker told the inspector that, ‘The home is amazing.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 6

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to references being verified before staff commence employment. 30 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1)(2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the location risk assessment not being reviewed for over a year. 30 December Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, 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. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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 for children’s home: SC441080 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bryn Melyn Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton BL1 4AG

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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC441080 9 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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