Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 1 SC066428 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 owned home is registered to care for up to five children who can no longer live at home. The children may have a diagnosis of autism or associated conditions and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager resigned from this home in January 2022. However, she is continuing to support the new manager until April 2022.

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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. We last visited this setting on 18 November 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider.

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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: 18 November 2019

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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: SC066428 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/11/2019 Full Good 26/06/2018 Full Good 19/09/2017 Full Outstanding 07/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive their care from a staff team that knows them well and understands their needs. This promotes positive and nurturing relationships that support children’s progress and general well-being. A child said, ‘I do not want to leave this home. I am happy here.’ Another child said, ‘I really like living here. I would give the home and staff 10 out of 10 for everything they do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a child moves into or out of the home, a good transition is planned. An impact risk assessment shows that the home considers the child’s disabilities, history and behaviour and the needs of the existing children in the home. However, the manager has not considered the home’s location area report as part of this process. As a result, she has not considered any identified potential risks and whether these would have any bearing on the suitability of the placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in this home have different levels of communication and different conditions associated with autism. Staff work closely with the children’s health professionals to ensure that they understand their communication and care needs. For example, when one child came to the home, he could only speak in a few selected words. He can now form sentences and make his wishes and feelings known. Another child has a life-long condition that must be monitored daily. Staff have worked closely with the allocated nurse and completed a range of training in this area. The child now understands his condition, and he did a presentation to new staff as part of their induction training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that their views, wishes and feelings are taken seriously. They have opportunities to talk to staff, and they are encouraged to comment on all aspects of their care. Records that are kept in the home show the progress that children are making. However, there is little information on how this progress is achieved. Therefore, this does not show a child’s journey throughout their stay at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education, and they develop effective relationships with education providers. The children attend a variety of different educational settings. The children’s education was disrupted throughout the COVID- 19 restrictions, but staff made sure that their routines were followed. They were provided with educational material from the schools and sourced alternative activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have all the necessary educational documents to support the children’s progress. This is consistently reviewed. The home advocates for children when the appropriate provision is not in place. Children know that the home has high aspirations for them. This, in turn, helps them to believe in themselves. One child said he wanted to go to college to complete an animal care course, and another child wants to work with machinery. A teacher said, ‘Their communication over the Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 4 child in our care has been very good, and they have managed such a challenging time for him very well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities on a day-to-day basis to engage in enjoyable and fulfilling activities. Staff recognise and encourage their individual talents and interests. Children take part in a range of activities, such as walking, bike rides, visiting castles and sensory play areas. This supports them to develop skills, have fun and build positive friendships.

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

Children said that they are safe at the home. Staff complete regular training in a range of safeguarding topics. As a result, they understand their roles and responsibilities in protecting the children. When serious incidents occur in the house, the staff team is adept at managing them safely.

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

Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff in the home. It is clear from the interactions between children and staff that children can talk to staff about important issues. The written records kept in the home and the feedback from the children provide evidence of this.

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

Arrangements to protect and safeguard children are good. Children feel safe and readily share any concerns or worries with staff. One young person said of the staff, ‘I can talk to them about anything.’ Another child said, ‘They will give me a cuddle when I am upset.’ Staff support children’s understanding of personal safety. Individual key-work sessions in areas such as being safe online and out in the community help children to develop their knowledge and understanding, and to make safer choices.

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

Risks to children are quickly identified and acted on. Staff demonstrate that they understand their role in protecting children from harm. Staff contribute to risk assessments and help to formulate plans to reduce risk. Risk assessments give staff clear information on the action to take if an incident occurs. As a result, staff provide a consistent response to the children.

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

High levels of supervision mean that children have not been reported missing from this home. Staff understand what they need to do to de-escalate negative behaviours. This promotes a positive and non-confrontational culture. This, in turn, helps children to develop their own ways of managing conflict in a more constructive manner. Good records are kept if a child has needed to be held. Children and staff take part in debrief sessions, so that they can learn from the incident. The manager evaluates all incidents to look for patterns or trends. Therefore, staff practice can be discussed, altered or routines can be changed accordingly.

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

Safe recruitment and health and safety practices at the home mean that only suitable staff work with children and that the home is a safe place to live. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 5 Children have plenty of space to play together or have time alone. Their bedrooms are homely and welcoming. Children have personalised their rooms to reflect their character and taste.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2020. She resigned from this position in January 2022 to open a new home for the company. However, this has been delayed. Therefore, she remains at the home and is supporting the new acting manager. Effective arrangements are in place for her ongoing support and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a balance of new and experienced staff. Half of the staff team have achieved a National Vocational Qualification at level 3. New staff are at different stages of completing a similar qualification. Staff receive training to support their learning, and the manager has a clear system in place to make sure that staff receive mandatory and additional training. Therefore, staff have the skills and knowledge to support children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team receives regular supervision that is reflective and is underpinned by development and individual strengths. Personal development plans focus on the development of individual staff members. Additionally, staff have monthly team meetings where they share examples of good practice, training and development information to aid their learning. As a result, staff say that they are supported, valued and motivated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s case records are generally good and contain relevant information. This means that staff have all the information that they need to plan effectively for the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works positively with external professionals to help ensure that children receive effective care and support. In circumstances where external services fall short, the manager can challenge them and advocate for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring and review systems help the manager to identify the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. She can alter her practice accordingly. However, the independent visitor does not regularly consult with the children, their parents or stakeholders. This is a missed opportunity to receive impartial feedback about the home and to support ongoing improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 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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Recommendations

 The independent person should regularly consult with each child, their family or carers and with professionals involved in the child’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the steps taken by staff, to secure good progress and outcomes, are clearly recorded within the young person’s documents. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact of any risks that the location risk assessment has identified for individual

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Recommendations

children. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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 for children’s home: SC066428 7

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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

Pam Nuckley, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 8 regulates and inspects 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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