Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 1 SC477939 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 provides care for up to three children who may experience emotional and/or additional difficulties. It is operated by a private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in February 2019.

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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: SC477939 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2022 Full Good 15/05/2019 Full Good 17/04/2018 Full Good 27/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

As a result of living in this home, children have made clear and measurable progress. There is an ethos to provide children with family-like care. In relation to their experiences of living in the home, a child said, ‘This home is more like a family home. We have meals together and spend time together. This is 10 times better than any other house I have lived in.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from living in a warm, welcoming and homely environment. Their pictures are displayed throughout the communal areas of the home. Children’s bedrooms are individualised to reflect their own interests. This helps them to feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are nurturing and show warmth towards children. They speak about children with pride. When children return home, they are greeted by staff who are enthusiastic to hear about their experiences throughout the day. This helps children to feel welcome by people who genuinely care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills in preparation for adulthood. They can identify what progress they have made as a result of the care and support provided to them by the staff. A child said, ‘I have made progress in my independence skills. I am now on level 2 independence and will be able to move on to semi-independence in the future.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain contact with their family members. This has resulted in one child having increased unsupervised time with their family members. This helps children to maintain a sense of family identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Generally, the home is in good condition. However, the flooring in the communal bathroom requires attention.

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

Children told inspectors that they feel safe living in the home. Children have key staff members who they speak to about any worries or concerns. Children are encouraged to talk about things that matter to them and are supported and listened to by staff. This means that children feel listened to and have a sense of safety and security. Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 4 Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities, risks and know what they need to do to keep children safe. When children display risk-taking behaviours, there is a consistent response from staff. As a result, children’s risks significantly reduce from their starting points.

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

Children are supported by staff to understand and manage their emotions. Over time, there has been a significant reduction in incidents in the home. A child said, ‘I am much better at managing my anger, I don’t get as upset as I used to do.’

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

Staff use door monitoring systems at night to monitor the movement of children. While there are agreements in place with children’s local authorities, not all children had been consulted on the use of this monitoring. This means that one child was not fully aware of why this monitoring is in place.

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

Staff support children who display high risk-taking behaviours in the community. However, the staff did not discuss a significant incident with all the children’s social workers. This means that social workers were not fully aware of the circumstances and able to consider any risks to their child.

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

During the inspection, staff were smoking in the home’s garden, which is in view of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager. The manager speaks fondly of the children in her care and is ambitious about their futures. The manager has developed a positive culture with a focus on staff development and support. Consequently, children receive consistent care from a well-trained and motivated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children in her care well and has developed positive relationships with them. Throughout the inspection, children were observed to seek support from the manager and engage in meaningful discussions about their lives. In relation to the manager, a child said, ‘She is ace. She will always make time for the children over anything else.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and has plans in place for the ongoing development of the home. Since the last inspection, notable improvements have been made and all requirements and recommendations have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations for the standard of care and support that children receive. When children have not received the support required from Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 5 statutory services, the manager has challenged this. As a result, children are supported to have continued access to the services they are entitled to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported by the management team to improve their practice and further their own learning. New staff members are well supported through their induction programme and are allocated a mentor. During team meetings, staff are encouraged by the manager to share good practice or learning through presentations. This helps to develop staff’s confidence, knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about their roles, working environment and the support they receive from the manager. A staff member said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘She (the manager) is by far the best manager I have ever worked with. [Name of manager] is very proactive and organised and keeps all her team organised. [Name of manager] is very approachable and wants the absolute best for her young people and team.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 6

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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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Requirements Due date

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

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Requirements Due date

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

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Requirements Due date

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

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Requirements Due date

Specifically, the registered person should notify all children’s social workers when there is a serious allegation made against a child. 2 March 2023

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Requirements Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirements Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(c)) 2 March 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are not exposed to staff smoking. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that the downstairs toilet is maintained to a good standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3) Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 7

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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: SC477939 8

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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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Inspectors

Rob Neild, Social Care Inspector Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC477939 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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