Children's Home run by Dalepeak Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 1 SC005553 Registered provider: Dalepeak Limited 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 operated by a private organisation. The provider states in its statement of purpose that they provide care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered to care for children with learning disabilities since January 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 8 February 2022

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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: SC005553 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Full Good 08/01/2020 Full Good 31/10/2018 Full Good 24/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of inspection, one child was living in the home. Another child was due to move in imminently. Transitions into the home are well planned. Staff work hard to get to know children prior to moving in. Consultations with children’s previous placements are thorough. This provides staff with a detailed understanding of children’s needs and preferences. Social stories are undertaken with children to introduce them to their new home and when new children move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with opportunities to enjoy new activities and interests. Children enjoy youth groups and discos that are specific to their needs. These provide children with opportunities to socialise and enjoy events in the local community. Staff understand children’s interests and areas of difficulty. The use of social stories with children prepares them for new experiences. This is a key strength of this home. This supports children’s understanding and expectations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to support children with education. They are proactive in identifying local provisions for children to attend. Staff advocate for educational placements that meet children’s specific needs. They recognise the difficulties that children may experience when starting new schools. They advocate for bespoke arrangements so that the impact on children is minimised. When there are delays in children starting school, staff ensure that they provide children with structure and routine to their day. They provide educational opportunities for children in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop independence in line with their level of understanding. Direct work is undertaken with children using pictorial aids and preferred communication methods. This supports children to express themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with family in line with their local authority care plans. Staff have personalised the child’s bedroom with photographs of family and those who are important to him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved on from the home since the last inspection, after living in the home for several years. Staff provide continued support to children when they transition to independence. One child was provided with financial support to undertake driving lessons. Another child was provided with household items to support him in his new independent accommodation. Children maintain contact with staff, which demonstrates the strong relationships that they develop in the home.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and needs well. Staff spend time with children before moving in to the home. As a result, staff have a good understanding of children’s likes and preferences. Careful consideration is given to new children moving in to the home. Assessment of risk for children is undertaken in partnership Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 4 with social work professionals before children move in. This minimises the impact on children already living in the home.

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

Children’s records include clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow to support children’s individual areas of need. However, there is no clear record of a child’s overall assessed level of risk. This means that it is difficult to monitor and track children’s progress.

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

Staff spend time getting to know children. This develops their understanding of children’s preferred methods of communication. Twice-weekly consultations with the positive behaviour support lead provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and seek guidance on how to best support children. This provides staff with a good therapeutic understanding of factors that can impact on children’s behaviour.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour with children through rewards and praise. When incidents of challenging behaviour do occur, staff manage these well. Staff work hard to understand children’s preferred communication aids. This means that children can communicate with staff, who understand them. As a result, children are able to express themselves and staff can support them to manage their behaviour and emotions safely.

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

There have been no incidents of restraint since the last inspection. However, for the child living in the home, there is no clear guidance for staff on how to hold him in accordance with his preferences if an incident was to occur.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager. He has worked in the home for an extensive period. He is passionate and committed to providing good- quality care to children. He works closely with professionals involved in the children’s care. However, concerns have not been escalated to the local authority when documentation has not been received within timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by an established team. Additional staff members are due to start imminently to ensure that there are sufficient staff to care for the children. The manager has plans for further recruitment of staff before any further children move in to the home. However, the statement of purpose has not been reviewed or submitted to Ofsted following changes to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager. One member of staff described him as ‘the best manager I have ever had’. The manager supports his team both professionally and personally. This helps staff to feel valued in their roles and as individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision and team meetings. Therapeutic team meetings provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and the care being provided to the children. Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 5 Staff have access to a wide range of training opportunities. Bespoke training is provided to meet children’s specific needs. Staff were provided with opportunities to work in other homes to gain experience and knowledge in working with children with learning disabilities during renovations to this home. However, the manager does not have robust oversight of staff training and is unable to access an up-to- date training matrix.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The external and internal monitoring of the home is good. The manager has implemented detailed development plans for the home. These identify strengths and weaknesses in the home. This has supported him to identify actions to improve the home moving forward. He uses the feedback from the regulation 44 visitor to make improvements to the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(b)) 28 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans.(Regulation 5 (c)) 28 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 28 April 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is an up-to-date record of the training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert to any signs that might indicate that a child is in any way at risk of harm. Specifically, ensure that Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 7 risk assessments are clear in identifying children’s assessed levels of risk and the recording of this is clear. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.12)

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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: SC005553 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QE

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Inspector

Claire Hobbs, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC005553 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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