Children's Home run by Your Chapter Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 1 SC489416 Registered provider: Your Chapter LTD Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a private provider. The home can provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 25 October 2021.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 9 February 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/02/2022 Full Outstanding 16/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/04/2019 Full Inadequate 17/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 3

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outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff are child centred and have high aspirations for children to reach their full potential. Children are cared for by an enthusiastic and considerate staff team that knows children well. Children quickly form strong, trusting and affectionate relationships with staff. Children experience care that anticipates and meets their needs. This gives children confidence to explore new ideas and activities that help them progress towards happy, healthy lives.

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outstanding

Staff provide an extremely caring and nurturing environment that enables children to have positive experiences and make exceptional progress from their individual starting points. Children say that living in the home has changed their lives for the better. One child said, ‘It’s like I was a locked door, and the staff have the keys, they have opened the door to a better future.’

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outstanding

Children understand how to make a complaint and say that they feel respected. Children are encouraged to contribute to any decisions affecting their lives and their views are listened to. Children are supported to contribute to their care planning and there is extensive and meaningful consultation with children. This means that children feel valued.

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outstanding

Managers and staff are committed to ensuring that children take part in education where they are supported to learn and develop. Managers and staff work effectively with education professionals to identify and overcome any barriers to learning. Children attend education where they are making significant progress.

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outstanding

Children enjoy taking part in a variety of activities including quad biking, swimming and going to the gym. Managers and staff have supported children to go on holiday together and have produced a video to capture their memories. Leaders, managers and staff encourage children to join local clubs and groups. One child has a season ticket for a local football team. Children are inspired to follow their chosen hobbies and interests, for example one child is supported to keep birds. This creates a strong sense of belonging for children.

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outstanding

Staff understand the importance of supporting children to maintain and develop their cultural and religious beliefs. Children say that they have been supported to observe their religious requirements, including dress, diet and visiting places of worship. Managers, staff and children spend time together learning about each other’s heritage and faith. Diversity is celebrated in the home.

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outstanding

Children are registered with appropriate healthcare services and are supported to attend relevant appointments. Managers and staff know children well and understand their individual health needs. They ensure that children access specialist health services to improve their health and well-being. Furthermore, children access Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 4 therapeutic sessions, which means that children’s emotional health is effectively monitored.

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outstanding

Children benefit from living in a caring and nurturing environment. Children are supported to decorate their rooms to reflect their own interests and identities. This makes children feel welcome and accepted.

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outstanding

Children’s moves in and out of the home are carefully planned and positive. Prior to children moving in, the manager consults with staff and children already working and living in the home to seek their views. The manager completes assessments which clearly identify how children’s individual needs will be met. Managers and staff travel great distances to visit children before they move into the home, and children can meet the staff team prior to moving in.

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outstanding

Staff support children to spend time with their families. Staff ensure that children have safe and meaningful experiences with people who are important to them. Staff have helped children to cook traditional cultural foods to take with them on visits to see family.

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outstanding

Children are safe and protected from harm. Children said, ‘it feels like a real home, not a children’s home. ‘and ‘They make sure we are safe’. There is a strong and robust response to managing risk. Children have individual risk assessments that are consistently reviewed and updated by managers. Staff understand these plans and there are clear actions identified for staff to take to minimise the risk of harm. Children are also encouraged to contribute to and understand their risk management plans. As a result, children’s risks around exploitation, substance misuse and gang affiliation have greatly reduced.

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outstanding

There are minimal missing-from-care incidents. Staff are proactive when children go missing from their home. Managers and staff search for children in a thorough way and liaise effectively with relevant professionals to ensure that children are supported to return home safely. There are robust missing-from-care protocols in place which are fully understood by staff.

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outstanding

Positive behaviour support is embedded into the home’s day-to-day practice. Children are helped to understand their feelings and behaviours. There are clear and consistent boundaries implemented by leaders, managers and staff. Children complete a significant amount of work with children and help them share their thoughts and feelings. Additionally, ‘research into practice’ topics are well considered, and discussion groups support the learning and development of children and staff. One child said, ‘I can see a difference in me, I didn’t do it on my own. I’ve never had guidance before and they have guided me. They can’t do it for me, but they held my hand and helped me.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 5 Staff rarely use physical intervention techniques to protect children from harm. However, when physical interventions have been used, these are appropriate to keep children and staff safe. Leaders and managers ensure that these are well

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outstanding

recorded in line with regulation. Debriefs are completed with staff and children. Children’s feelings and experience of physical interventions are well considered.

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outstanding

Leaders, managers and staff understand their roles in keeping children safe and their responsibilities in safeguarding children. Managers respond to safeguarding concerns and allegations quickly and efficiently. Records demonstrate clearly that information is shared effectively.

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outstanding

Staff encourage children to take age-appropriate risks. These risks are well considered. Independence plans for children are well thought out and support children to make the right choices. Children said that ‘positive rewards are good,’ and ‘if you do good you get good, you earn your rewards’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a caring, committed and motivated manager who prioritises the care and support he provides for children. He is instrumental in changing the lives of children. The responsible individual, deputy manager and staff are as equally committed to improving outcomes for children. One member of staff said, ‘The staff team goes above and beyond for the boys on a daily basis. This is something so special and unique.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong management presence in the home. Leaders and managers have implemented effective monitoring and review systems. Management oversight means that children’s plans are comprehensive and meet their individual needs. Leaders and managers make effective use of monitoring systems to reflect on the care provided. There is clear evidence of learning from practice. However, the manager has not included feedback from others when completing his quality-of-care review. This does not impact on children’s day-to-day care and overall experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff understand the plans for children. Leaders and managers work closely with placing authorities and are effective in requesting relevant information. The manager will challenge professionals when plans or care arrangements are not sufficient. One social worker said, ‘They bug me until I get it done.’ Managers have good working relationships with those services that support children. Highly effective communication with school, therapists and police provides children with effective all- round care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from a dedicated, motivated and skilful staff team. Leaders and managers create and maintain a culture in the home that inspires staff to be ambitious for children. Staff say that managers are supportive, caring and offer guidance. Staff receive purposeful and regular supervision sessions and staff are included in decision-making. This helps staff feel valued. Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 6 Managers and staff complete a range of training and development opportunities that are focused on meeting children’s individual needs. Leaders and managers ensure that children are cared for by a consistent, skilled and well-trained team. Staff say that they are well supported and developed. Some staff have been enrolled on to ‘leadership and management’ programmes to further enhance their skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have introduced an outcome file for each child. This demonstrates children’s achievements, progress and experiences. Managers and staff are consistently introducing creative ways to support children to achieve and develop. For example, managers and staff send children personalised letters, welcome cards, memory photo books, and videos. This demonstrates the significant and sustained progress that children make living at this home. Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 7

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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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)(5)) 12 April 2023

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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: SC489416 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Your Chapter Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Your Chapter, Hobart House, 3 Oakwater Avenue, Cheadle Royal Business Park, Cheadle SK8 3SR

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Inspectors

Nichola Croft, Social Care Inspector Kayleigh Treanor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC489416 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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