Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Kirklees

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 1 SC460593

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Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company. A team of staff provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in December 2021. An interim manager has now been in post since May 2022 and her application to register with Ofsted is in progress.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, the presentation of the home has improved. Children’s photos are now on display and the home was recently decorated. Staff have taken appropriate action to ensure the living areas are well furnished. This means that children enjoy living in a home that feels welcoming and homely.

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The care of children

Staff and managers recognise that stability of children’s education is important. For one child who recently moved in, the plan was for them to move to a more local school. However, staff presented an appropriate alternative plan to the local authority, which meant that the child did not have to change schools. Consequently, the child has maintained relationships with teachers and friends, and crucially their learning was not disrupted.

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The care of children

Staff promote a open culture and embrace diversity. They talk to children about issues, including gender identity. Children learn to value difference and be accepting of each other. This helps to create an understanding and harmonious atmosphere at the home.

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The care of children

Staff promote children’s hobbies and interests. One child likes anime. Staff join them in dressing up as characters and attending special events. When showing the inspector photographs of this, the child said, ‘It’s good isn’t it?’ The child clearly felt valued by the staff.

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The safety of children

Effective safeguarding arrangements are in place when children go missing from home. When children go missing, staff use the children’s plans to inform their practice. Communication with the police and the local authority is good. Records relating to missing-from-home episodes are thorough. Children who go missing receive a coordinated response that helps to safeguard them.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are in place and are updated when new information comes to light. One risk assessment does not consider the impact of the child’s behaviour on other children. This means staff do not have clarity on what they need to do to keep all children safe when incidents occur.

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The safety of children

Staff talk to children about risks and personal safety. They are creative in their approach to this work and will revisit topics if children do not engage. Staff helped one child to understand the dangers of knife crime by using fact-finding exercises Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 3 and quizzes. The quality of level of engagement helps children to learn how to keep themselves safe.

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The safety of children

Room searches take place when there are concerns about a child’s safety. Staff tell children when they need to search their room. Records identify any items taken away. Children understand why staff need to enter their personal space without their permission.

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The safety of children

The manager deals with allegations against staff in line with the home’s procedures. Where there are concerns, the manager uses evaluation to inform a risk assessment. The manager consults the local authority designated officer when required. This helps to ensure that children are better protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has made many improvements to the running of the home. However, some requirements from the previous inspection remain unmet. For example, incident reports do not always contain management evaluation. This means that learning from incidents is not consistently taking place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has been in post since the last inspection. The manager has also had additional support from another manager within the company. This has helped to strengthen the leadership of the home. In addition, staff and children have benefited from consistent management support. As a result, children and staff are experiencing more stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management oversight is improving but remains inconsistent. Consistency of information between documents is not always present. One child’s risk assessment did not contain the same information as their care plan. This could lead to confusing practice and may have an impact on the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager makes notification under regulation 40 when serious incidents occur. However, reports do not always contain enough detail. This means that the regulator cannot be sure that the manager has taken all available steps to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has established good working relationships with social workers and other key professionals. Communication is effective. When needed, the manager has challenged other agencies where she has concerns about a child’s safety. This has helped to ensure that children receive a well-coordinated approach by those who are involved in their care. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/08/2021 Full Good 23/09/2019 Full Outstanding 26/06/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments are accurate and up to date and that staff understand and follow these. 30 November 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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 home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each 30 November 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 6 child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that day-to day oversight is improved to ensure that all information, including incident reports, is reviewed and evaluated and shortfalls are addressed. Ensure that children’s plans are up to date to improve consistency.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there is sufficient detail within the record to enable the regulator to understand how children are being safeguarded effectively. 30 November 2022 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 7

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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

Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 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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