Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 1 Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who may present with needs that are associated with behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2018.

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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 (SCIFF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 16 and 17 December 2020 to carry out an assurance 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/08/2019 Full Good 27/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/07/2018 Full Good 27/02/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a caring and nurturing environment in which they receive care and support that bring stability to their lives. They receive the help that they need to recover from harmful experiences and to move forward in their lives. A parent said that they were proud of what their child had achieved and how they had turned their life around.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children told the inspector that they are happy here and have people around them that they trust. A child explained that they were having an issue at school, but was confident that, ‘[Name of staff] was sorting it out’, for them. This happened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build warm, consistent and positive relationships with children. They show children that they care about them and know what is important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are strong advocates for children’s education. All children are in education and are making steady progress. Staff spoke proudly about children who have left the home and how they are continuing with their college courses and aspire to go to university.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s social and emotional health and well-being is supported effectively. Staff ensure that the children have access to services and professionals to help them overcome past trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children proudly told the inspector about their activities at army and navy cadets and how they are taking part in Remembrance Day parades. Staff said that the children’s involvement in cadets has significantly improved their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff worked tirelessly to ensure that the children remained in contact with their family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children said that they are enjoying the opportunities to spend more time with their families and to go out to see their friends.

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

The manager and staff have created a safe home environment that protects children from harm. Children feel safe and have a strong sense of belonging. They know that they can talk to staff about their worries and that the staff will help them to be safe. Children are now safer from the risks of abuse and going missing from home.

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

Staff are trained in safeguarding and child protection. Consequently, staff have the skills and knowledge to observe, identify any potential concerns and act to protect the children. Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 4 The home has experienced a difficult time in recent months, which resulted in several children leaving the home. Staff worked well with professionals to help mitigate any risks to the children and to keep them safe. Professionals have praised staff for their efforts during this time.

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

Children know and understand the house rules, for example, that they cannot use their games consoles during school hours if they have not gone to school. Staff are consistent in their approach to supporting children and as a result the number of incidents in the home has declined.

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

Sanctions are occasionally used to help bring about changes in children’s behaviour. However, the records do not always include information regarding the length of the sanction or the effectiveness of the action taken.

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

Staff recruitment practices are sound. However, recruitment records and interview notes do not demonstrate why a member of staff has been deemed suitable for their role. This is a recording issue and does not have an impact on the safety and well- being of the children.

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

The home is well maintained and provides a homely, safe environment for the children. Children’s bedrooms reflect their individual tastes and interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and qualified registered manager. She works in partnership with the staff to ensure that the children are fully supported and their individual needs are met. Together, they are creating an environment that is changing children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective staffing arrangements ensure that there are enough suitable, experienced and qualified staff available to meet the children’s needs. Staff work together cohesively and receive good levels of support and say that the manager is approachable. However, some staff have not had regular opportunities for professional supervision. The registered manager is aware of this and is taking appropriate steps to rectify this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s workforce development plan needs updating. This is because it does not contain current information on the frequency of staff supervision and staff training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are not yet maintained to a consistently good standard. Some records such as risk assessments contain out-of-date and conflicting information and other records do not fully tell the child’s story. The registered manager is aware of this and work to address it is ongoing through team meetings and training opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Her monitoring of the service is effective and is helping to Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 5 bring about change. Monitoring by the independent person is beneficial and is helping the home to progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and parents are complimentary about the staff and the positive differences they are making to the children’s lives. Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 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

he 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;

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Requirement Due date

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—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv)) 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that records of the recruitment process outline why a person has been deemed suitable to work with children. 31 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. 31 December Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 7 (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(vii)) 31 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the workforce development plan reflects the actual training undertaken by staff and the frequency of staff’s supervision. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.9)  The registered person should ensure that children’s records tell the story of the child’s time in the home and are written in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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) Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 8 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Chris Scully, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1264537 10 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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