Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066072 1 SC066072 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

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides support, assessment and therapeutic intervention for children in need of short-, medium- and long-term care packages.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2018.

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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: SC066072 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2021 Full Good 05/06/2019 Full Good 26/06/2018 Full Good 29/08/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC066072 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from the time and attention that staff offer. They make progress in an environment that values them as individuals. Children are at the centre of staff practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children make progress. This includes increased educational attendance, learning to recognise and better manage their emotions and improving their health through attendance at appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff establish and maintain good routines and boundaries for children. This offers children a sense of stability and helps them learn strategies and appropriate ways of communicating their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from readily available therapeutic input. This specialist support also informs and guides staff in their care of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they like the staff and that they are listened to. Over time, they develop a sense of belonging. Positive relationships between staff and children are strengthened through sharing a wide range of activities and celebrating events together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Social workers for all the children considered that the home was instrumental in children making progress. One social worker commented, ‘This is the right home for him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good planning has enabled children who are new to the home to settle quickly and immediately benefit from individualised care.

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

The children living at the home are not at risk of child exploitation, nor do they misuse drugs or alcohol. Incidents of missing from home are infrequent and have usually been as the result of the ‘pull’ back to their home areas. However, these incidents have decreased.

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

Staff are resilient when faced with challenges from some children who disregard the boundaries that are in place. Staff are consistent in their approach and effectively utilise de-escalation strategies to resolve incidents that occur. Over time, incidents have reduced and children have begun to change their approach to negotiating their requests.

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

Children are offered advice and support to help them recognise their feelings. This helps children develop the social skills they will need throughout life. Children say they feel safe at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066072 4 Staff and managers understand well the risks that some children’s behaviour may pose to others. Children are supported to keep themselves and others safe. Management and consideration of risks are subject to regular multi-agency meetings.

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

Since the last inspection, there have not been any complaints. Allegations that have been made are subject to appropriate investigation and local authority designated officer oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads an effective and committed staff team. Her oversight of the home ensures that children’s plans are progressed and that children receive suitable services from other agencies. She has excellent insight into each child’s needs, personalities and vulnerabilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support they receive and the leadership that is offered. This is also evidenced in regular staff meetings and individual supervision that are focused on children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, staffing has stabilised. It has only been during times of COVID-19-related sickness that none-core staff has had to be used with frequency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak highly of the manager and the good levels of communication and information sharing. They expressed a high level of confidence in her ability to ensure that children receive good care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the last inspection, a recommendation was made regarding maintenance of the home. Some of those identified improvements have been met. However, the kitchen presents as worn with many of the cabinets having laminate that is split and cracked. In addition, some of the downstairs toilet tiles are cracked with sections missing, and a radiator has significant amounts of rust. These aspects detract from what otherwise is a welcoming and comfortable home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A recommendation was also made regarding the planning of direct work with children. Key-working review documents are now being used by staff. However, it remains unclear from the recordings what areas are to be addressed for the coming month. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066072 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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 home’s overall aim 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

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring repair and maintenance of the home with regards to refurbishment of kitchen fittings and the downstairs toilet. 31 August 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that direct work with children is regularly reviewed and that key working is planned and focused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC066072 6

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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

Pauline Yates, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066072 7 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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