Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: SC386003 1 SC386003 Registered provider: Appletree Treatment Centre Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to five children between the ages of six and 12 years. The home’s statement of purpose states that it offers care to children who may have social and emotional or mental health difficulties and associated or specific learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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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: 27 September 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: SC386003 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2022 Full Good 20/05/2021 Full Good 09/07/2019 Full Good 12/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC386003 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, four children were living in the home. The inspectors spoke to the children. Children said that they are happy living in the home and that staff are kind. Children have positive relationships with each other and the people who care for them. Inspectors observed children receiving age-appropriate, affectionate and nurturing care. Children thrive from living in a warm, safe and caring home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Therapists provide children with weekly individual therapeutic support. This support helps children to develop better strategies to regulate their feelings more positively. The therapeutic model used within the home supports staff to understand and respond to trauma-based behaviours. Effective partnerships between therapists and staff provide children with an integrated, holistic approach. This helps and supports children’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend the company’s local independent school and are making significant progress from their starting points. One professional said, ‘Before the child moved into the home, the child was only managing two hours of education a day. The child is now attending full-time education.’ This supports children’s learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted individually and as a group. The home has regular children’s meetings, which all children attend. The manager responds to children’s requests from the children’s meetings. This shows children that their views are welcomed and considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical environment of the home is welcoming and made to feel like a family home, with photos and pictures displayed on the walls. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. The manager should ensure that the use of door sensors is kept under review. This review should be recorded on the child’s records.

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

Children have developed trust in the people who care for them. This enables children to share any worries or fears that they may have. This means that staff have a good understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and how best to meet their needs.

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

Consistent boundaries and routines are in place, which children respond to well. There are clear expectations of them in relation to behaviour. Praise and rewards are used regularly to celebrate and promote positive behaviour. Consequences for unwanted behaviour are not used in this home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC386003 4 When physical interventions have been used, these have been used to protect children or others around them and are usually for the shortest duration. In relation to one record of a physical intervention, inspectors interpreted that the staff member had escalated the child’s behaviour, rather than de-escalated it. However, from further discussions with the managers, it became apparent that this interpretation was because the incident had not been recorded accurately.

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

Children are supported through disclosures and these are shared with the appropriate agencies quickly and in accordance with statutory guidance. This supports and protects children.

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

Staff receive training to build their skills and knowledge, particularly around safeguarding so that they can keep children safe. Staff were able to discuss the safeguarding process and procedure to follow if a child makes an allegation. Staff also understand whistle-blowing procedures.

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

Health and safety procedures in the home are robust, clearly monitored and up to date. This is helping children to stay safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked in the home for a number of years and has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The manager is supported by a deputy manager, who has also worked in the home for a significant number of years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have successfully recruited staff. The home now has a stable staff team. However, a waking night staff post is still vacant. Staff in the home have worked collaboratively to cover additional shifts, meaning the use of agency staff has been minimal; agency staff have been used on two occasions. The ethos of the home is to provide the children with predictable care from staff they know.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for children. For example, one child’s record contains incorrect information. The manager has escalated concerns to have this removed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is achieving its aims and objectives as set out in its statement of purpose. However, the manager should ensure that the statement of purpose is updated after any changes to the service or staffing and is sent to the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of professionals have provided complimentary feedback on the quality of care provided to children, as well as the effective communication that is in place. One professional said, ‘I am highly impressed with this home. It is well managed, with a clearly committed, well-trained and supported staff group.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC386003 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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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the use of door sensors is necessary and proportionate for each child, and is kept under review and revised. This should be recorded on the child’s records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).  The registered person should ensure that they develop and keep under review a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should be updated after any changes to the service or staffing and sent to the regulator. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5).

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful and clear recordings. Physical intervention records should provide sufficient detail and clarity for the purpose of internal and external review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).

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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: SC386003 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Appletree Treatment Centre Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Meathop Park, Meathop, Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria LA11 6RF

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Inspectors

Nicola Clements, Social Care Inspector Tracey Sykes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC386003 7 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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