Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC476083 1 SC476083

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Registered provider: Radical Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to three children. One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is not a registered manager in post.

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Inspection dates: 4 October

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection dates: 4 October

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: SC476083 2

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Findings from the inspection

T he setting does not have serious or widespread concerns.

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The care of children

The child has built trusting relationships with some staff members. Some staff members have left, which has caused the child to feel insecure and led to an increase in behaviours that test boundaries.

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The care of children

The child has access to weekly therapeutic sessions with the company psychologist. These have been helpful for them, and they engage well in the sessions.

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The care of children

There has been a recent decline in the child’s attendance at school.Staff are working hard with the school to encourage the child to attend, but have not been able to improve the child’s attendance This means that the child is currently missing out on education and the opportunity to socialise with peers.

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The care of children

Staff are creative in finding activities that the child will engage with and enjoy. They have bought the child a bicycle and gone out on trails with them. Staff have also supported the child to have days out at monster truck events and to watch the football team he supports. The child has had some fun times and exciting experiences.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the child’s risks and have risk assessments in place that are regularly updated. However, these risk assessments are not signed by staff, so it is not possible to know if all staff have read and understood the risks and the strategies in place.

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The safety of children

The child has not gone missing from home since the last inspection.

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The safety of children

Staff, particularly those who have been caring for the child for a long time, know how to manage the child’s behaviour effectively. However, there are some difficulties with setting boundaries and not all staff are able to manage all the child’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is a permanent manager in place who has applied to be registered with Ofsted. The leadership team has responded effectively to the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC476083 3 Staff say that the manager is supportive of them. The manager has a good relationship with the child and is able to challenge them when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers’ monitoring systems have improved and address any issues in the home that need to change. The manager analyses any incidents and supports staff and the child to help develop strategies to prevent incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

When the child has made a complaint about staff, the manager has addressed this quickly.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/10/2021 Full Good 11/03/2020 Full Outstanding 15/01/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC476083 4

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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 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

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

In particular, this includes removing or disabling locks on internal doors that could restrict children from accessing all areas of their home. 5 November 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, 5 November 2022 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC476083 5 where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment.

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Requirement Due date

the expectations in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child’s learning.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that even if not attending school the child has access to a structured day with educational content.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children have up-to-date and relevant risk assessments, which are shared with all staff. 5 November 2022 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC476083 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Radical Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC476083 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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Inspector

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