Children's Home run by Nurture Childcare Services Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 1 Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may have learning disabilities and/or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who is currently in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection since the home registered in July 2021. There is one child living in the home, and he has lived there since the home opened. He is happy living there and said, ‘I like it here, it is nice and quiet.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a good quality of care that has enabled him to make good progress. The home is a safe, caring and supportive environment. The home is in a rural location with ample outdoor space for the child to explore. The home is warm and homely. It is beautifully furnished and decorated. The child’s bedroom is personalised to his taste.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experiences care which is individualised to his needs. Care plans are detailed and give clear direction for staff. The child has helped to write his care plan. This promotes his identity and supports him to build self-confidence and resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Impact risk assessments are completed carefully to inform placement decisions around the suitability of new admissions. This ensures that the needs of the children are met safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends school every day. Staff transport him to school, which allows him to remain at his chosen school. This is important for consistency and maintaining routine and familiarity. The manager and staff ensure that the child’s health is promoted. The child has a clear health plan and is registered with the relevant primary healthcare services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This child is supported to maintain positive relationships with this family. Staff work closely with the child and his family to ensure that the time spent together is enjoyable. His family visits the home each week, and they all enjoyed Christmas day there together. This helps children maintain relationships which are important to them.

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

Staff manage challenging behaviour effectively in line with the detailed behaviour management plans for the child. The child is encouraged to reflect on incidents in a constructive way. Inappropriate behaviour is challenged and de-escalated as appropriate. Staff reinforce clear boundaries and provide daily routines and stability for the child. This is supported by praise and recognition of his achievements.

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

The manager and staff develop detailed risk assessments and management plans for the child. These are monitored and updated, so they remain relevant. However, when staff from other homes have worked in the home, they have not always supervised the child in line with his risk management plan. This has not led to the child being harmed, and the manager has addressed the issue with staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 4 The child is being supported to learn how to keep himself safe. Key-work sessions are individualised in line with his needs. Topics covered show that areas of risk are discussed and are in line with the child’s care plan.

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

When concerns are raised regarding staff members conduct in the home and in the community, these are dealt with swiftly and appropriately to safeguard the child. However, on one occasion, the home’s child protection procedures were not followed, as the manager has failed to notify the relevant people in a timely manner.

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

The safety of the child is promoted by preventing unsuitable adults from working in the home. New staff are background checked and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed.

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

Staff complete regular health and safety checks and follow a range of safety procedures to protect the child from potential hazards. This includes fire drills, to ensure the child knows what to do in case of an emergency. This means the child lives in a home that is physically safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She has applied to register with Ofsted. She is ambitious for the child and is passionate about providing good care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has created an environment which is supportive for staff. Staff speak highly of the manager, saying she is approachable and supportive. Supervision is regular and allows staff the time to reflect on the care they are providing to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable and consistent staff team. It knows the child well, and this is good for continuity of care. Staff are suitably qualified or currently undertaking their qualifications in residential childcare. There is a good training programme in place, including training specific to the child’s needs. This provides staff with the essential skills and knowledge for their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has implemented an effective monitoring system. As a result, the manager has a good insight into the home’s strengths and areas of development. Good evaluation has meant that the manager has been able to identify opportunities to learn from incidents and develop good practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works closely with partner agencies to help meet children’s needs. The inspector gained positive feedback from a social worker who said, ‘They always attend meetings and encourage [the child] to attend. They have been great.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the registered manager ensuring all staff work with the risk assessments and any concerns regarding staff are shared with the local authority designated officer in a timely manner. 19 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 6 The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to ensuring Ofsted are notified of allegations regarding staff members. 19 April 2022

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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: 2645878 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Seighford Hall, Clanford Road, Seighford, Stafford ST18 9NL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Natalie Williams

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Inspector

Rachael Crook, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2645878 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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