Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 1 SC464809

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Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home registered for up to five children. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in this home may have a range of social and emotional difficulties, learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has not registered with Ofsted. This is his first role as a residential manager, and he is working towards his management qualification in residential childcare.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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: SC464809 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children have positive relationships with the staff team. Children say they are well cared for and enjoy spending time with staff.

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The care of children

Staff take appropriate action to ensure that children are registered with health services. Their health needs are regularly monitored, and any additional health needs are met.

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The care of children

The staff team does not work consistently with all children to support daily routines and keep them engaged when they are educated from home. One child had no clear time to be up on school days and staff were not aware of a timetable that was in place for him. This means that the staff team has not been proactive in preparing the child for returning to school.

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The care of children

There are clear plans in place for family time within children’s contact plans, including when staff are required to supervise the visit. Staff understand the plans and challenge any concerns when necessary to ensure that children are kept safe.

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The care of children

When children move into the home, staff talk to them about what it is like to live in the home and help them to settle in. When possible, children are supported to move on from the home with planned and structured transitions.

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The care of children

Senior managers have arranged for some maintenance work to be carried out to the garden and some of the communal areas in the home. This needs to be made a priority to ensure that children live in a homely environment.

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The safety of children

Children say they feel safe in their home. Staff talk to them about how to keep themselves safe. Staff undertake direct work to educate children about the consequences they may face from their risk-taking behaviours.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good understanding of risk management when working with children. Children’s risk assessments guide staff on the action they should take to safeguard children.

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The safety of children

Restraint is rarely used in the home. Children are helped to find safer ways to manage their emotions. The manager uses debriefs to look at alternative strategies to support children, or to make changes to staff’s behaviour management approach. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 3 All incidents are responded to appropriately by staff and prompt action is taken to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

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The safety of children

There have been several incidents of children going missing from the home. Staff follow risk assessments and take appropriate action to try to prevent children from going missing. Debriefs with children are used to identify follow-up work to address the risks associated with children being missing.

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The safety of children

On one occasion, the manager has failed to formally address when a staff member has not shared key information in relation to a child’s missing-from-home incident. This means that staff have not been held accountable for their practice or any lessons learned considered in relation to their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager and deputy manager work collaboratively together. Staff say that they feel well supported by the senior team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, managers have ensured that the requirements have been suitably met. The manager ensures that there are suitable numbers of staff on shift to offer continuity of care to children and to meet their needs. Plans are underway to recruit a third team leader to strengthen the senior leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Training that is specific to children’s needs and identified at matching stages, such as substance misuse, internet safety and attachment, has not been undertaken by any of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager’s monitoring of records has improved. His evaluation of records demonstrates that he uses reflective practice to make changes to improve the quality of care and to direct the staff team about how best to support the children. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Full Good 04/02/2020 Full Good 11/12/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 5

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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 education standard is 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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, 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

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(x)) 11 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 11 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 6 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(h))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of the children. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Cheryl Field, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC464809 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 who are 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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