Children's Home run by Invigor Adolescent Care Limited in Manchester

Inspection report children’s home: 2605180 1 Registered provider: Invigor Adolescent 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 operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to three children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2605180 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2605180 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide care for three children and offer them consistency and stability in their lives. Children benefit from well-planned, individualised care that promotes their needs effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived at the home for almost a year. One child moved into the home in July 2022. They have settled in quickly and were made to feel welcome by staff. The social worker said, ‘I felt reassured that all that could be done to ensure a successful transition was done.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two out of three children are engaged in education and their regular school attendance is encouraged. Staff are working to secure a suitable educational provision for another child and a school provision has been identified. The social worker said, ‘The home has been proactive in the search for an educational provision.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s interests and hobbies. They ensure that children are engaged in positive and constructive activities. For example, children have enjoyed go-karting, canoeing, camping, ice skating, football and visiting the gym. Children have visited football museums and attended professional football matches with staff. A child said, ‘I love it here. I don’t want to move. Staff are caring and are more like our parents than carers.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met effectively. They are registered with the health services they need to be healthy. Staff ensure that children attend their routine health appointments and encourage them to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. One child has lost weight and now eats more healthily and benefits from playing rugby and going to the gym.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote family time, which ensures that children sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. A social worker said, ‘They have been instrumental in the recent contact between [name of child] and his mother.’

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

Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of children. They reliably place the safety of children at the centre of their practice. Robust risk management plans are used by staff to keep children safe from harm. Children are kept safe and say that they feel safe.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviours safely and effectively. They implement consistent rules and boundaries and have high expectations of children’s behaviour. They help children to manage their own feelings and behaviours safely. The use of Inspection report for children’s home: 2605180 4 consequences to address negative behaviour are restorative, balanced and fair. There have been no restraints, and staff are trained in behaviour management and de-escalation. A child said, ‘If I’m having a bad day, I know I can go to any of the staff. I used to get angry a lot, but staff know how to help me calm down. I’m a better person for that.’

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

There have been no complaints from children since the last inspection. However, there has been one third-party complaint. The manager resolved the complaint quickly with the complainant, who was happy with the outcome.

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

Staff are trained in child protection and are alert to the risk of harm. There has been a steady reduction in risk-taking behaviour and missing-from-care episodes. Staff actively look for children if they are missing from the home. They follow the home’s procedures and work closely with the police to secure children’s safe return. Return home interviews take place, which helps staff to understand the underlying reasons why a child might go missing from care.

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

Significant incidents are shared with the appropriate authorities. This ensures that professionals can provide children with effective help, protection and support. Staff work with the police and other safeguarding agencies to keep children safe from harm. A social worker said, ‘The staff are awesome and genuinely care about my child. I have no concerns and am so glad he is where he is.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection. Children benefit from a home that is managed efficiently and effectively. The registered manager is well qualified and leads staff by example and channels their efforts effectively. Staff are committed and enthusiastic about their roles. They strive to make a positive difference to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet the aims and objectives that are set out in the home’s statement of purpose. The care provided by staff contributes to change and improvement in the children’s lives. A child said, ‘I’ve been in many children’s homes, and this is one of the best. It’s brilliant. Staff are friendly and dead supportive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings and benefit from professional and regular supervision. Staff have undertaken a diverse range of relevant training to develop their understanding, knowledge and skills in caring for children. Most of the staff are suitably qualified, and those who are not qualified are enrolled to complete their qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A stable staff team provides children with stability and consistency in their lives. Staff work well together as a team, and there is shared ownership of practice. Staff share the home’s ethos, approach and philosophy in caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The accommodation provided for children is physically safe, appropriately secure, warm, comfortable and homely. Children’s bedrooms are personalised in accordance Inspection report for children’s home: 2605180 5 with their feelings and wishes. The home is nicely furnished and tastefully decorated. However, there are areas of the home that have been recently replastered and require painting. The manager has booked decorators to address this issue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective arrangements for monitoring the performance of the home. The manager produces a six-monthly quality of care review, and development plans are in place. Combined with other monitoring activities, there are positive arrangements to secure the home’s improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2605180 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that scuffed or replastered walls are redecorated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 3.19)  The registered person should ensure that they work closely with the placing authority so that a child is supported to attend a suitable educational provision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: 2605180 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Invigor Adolescent Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Warren Bruce Court, Warren Bruce Road, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1LB

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2605180 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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