Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 1 SC061158 Registered provider: Radical Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is one of several children’s homes operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child. The home’s statement of purpose states that children living in this home may have a range of social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The previous registered manager left their role in April 2021. A new manager has recently been appointed. They have submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/08/2021 Full Inadequate 29/05/2019 Full Good 05/12/2018 Full Good 16/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home reopened in April 2023. A new manager and staff team were appointed, and improvements were made to the environment. However, during this inspection, the child’s bedroom was found to be in an unacceptable state of cleanliness. Managers took action to rectify this during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was supported to move into the home in a well-planned way from another of the provider’s homes. Staff visited the child in her previous home before the move. During the transition period, staff who had been caring for the child moved with her to the new home. This helped her to quickly settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has developed positive relationships with staff, who have an understanding of her behaviours. The child’s social worker said that the child’s behaviours have improved since moving to the home and that staff have helped her to settle. The child is making positive progress. She is now spending time out of her bedroom, playing with her toys and art and craft materials.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to attend school and she has 100% attendance. The manager has worked with agencies to find a provider for equine therapy to complement the educational and therapeutic routines already in place. This will support the child’s emotional well-being and develop her love of animals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to try new activities, including volunteering with animals. During the school holidays, staff have developed an activity plan, including a holiday and spending agreed time with family members. This helps the child to know what she will be doing, supports her routines and provides a visual reminder.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use an online journal app with photos and comments to record the child’s experiences. The tool is shared with parents and the child’s social worker. There are also plans for it to be shared with the child’s education provider to allow them to update it.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child attends primary health appointments. The child is prescribed glasses but says she does not like wearing them, and no direct work has been undertaken to help her understand the importance for her well-being. Furthermore, the manager was unable to confirm whether a missed optician’s appointment earlier in the year, when the child lived in a sister home, had been rearranged.

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

Staff understand the child’s needs and their risks. Risk assessments clearly identify the concerns for the child as well as potential triggers and include strategies and guidance for staff to follow. Risks around going missing from home, substance Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 4 misuse and self-harm are minimal. Staff are proactive and follow the child when she has walked out of the home, engaging positively with her to support a safe return home.

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

Staff use a variety of ways to engage with the child to support her understanding of risk. This is tailored to her needs and level of understanding. However, there is no specific guidance for staff on monitoring the child’s use of her mobile phone, despite the increased risk of exploitation. Checks of the phone by staff have not been consistently carried out or recorded. This means the potential risk to the child from inappropriate access to online material is not monitored effectively.

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

Staff’s approach to addressing inappropriate language used by the child is not consistent. A plan has been devised, however, it is not specific about the actions and responses that staff should take. This is confusing for the child, who receives different responses from staff.

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

There is a core staff team working in the home. New members of staff are recruited through safe processes and are slowly introduced to the child to make sure she is not overwhelmed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is new to the home. She has a developed a good understanding of the home and has senior manager support in place to help her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high expectations for what the child can achieve and for the development of the staff team. There is good oversight of training, which is completed in a timely way. However, staff have not had training in autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which would support them in their work with the child. The manager acknowledged this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. Staff supervision is reflective, considers success and challenges, and reviews staff progress from month to month. There is also a strong focus on staff well-being, given the intensive care that they provide. As a result, staff feel valued and supported, and feel that their views and ideas are welcomed by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings have a detailed agenda. As well as a focus on the child’s progress, the manager uses the meetings to discuss external monitoring of the home and good practice. The child’s voice is evident throughout, with the child being encouraged to join in the meeting when appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed supportive relationships with parents and professionals. She has used these relationships to challenge professionals to achieve better outcomes for the child, particularly around education. The manager is confident to share her views and concerns with leaders when this is about inappropriate staff practice or the placing of children in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 5 Although some management systems do not provide up-to-date information, the manager has introduced additional checks. She shows initiative and is aspirational for the home. She has plans to improve the home including from physical improvements to the child’s bedroom and the garden area. Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that risk assessments include specific actions around monitoring of the child’s mobile phone use. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  The registered person should ensure that staff respond consistently to inappropriate language from the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  The registered person should ensure that staff receive training in autism and ADHD awareness. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure the home environment is clean and safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff support the child to wear prescription glasses and to attend regular optician appointments. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3)

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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: SC061158 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Radical Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspectors

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Paul Robinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC061158 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 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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