Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 1 Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides care for up to five children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post, however there is an interim manager who has submitted their registration 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2022 Full Good 27/04/2021 Full Good 10/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently five children living in the home. When children move in to the home, they are sensitively welcomed. When children move on from the home, the staff and manager promote positive endings. One child, who stays in touch with staff and other children regularly visits the home. As a result, children continue to feel valued and cared for when they move on from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have their own bedrooms and are given the freedom to personalise them. Each child has their own ensuite bathroom, which provides them with additional privacy. However, not all children’s bedrooms and bathrooms are maintained to an acceptable standard. This was in contrast to the downstairs living areas, which presented as homely and well cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff know the children well and actively promote their welfare. Children have been supported to build trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. One child said, ‘I can talk to staff about relationships, gym and rugby, I can talk to them about anything.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their families in line with their individual plans, which has included family members coming to visit children in the home. Staff recognise that seeing family members can sometimes be difficult for children, so they ensure that children receive individualised support. One child’s parent commented, ‘I could not be happier; my child has made good progress and is happy.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills according to their individual needs. One child is currently preparing for independence and has been provided with an opportunity to practise semi-independent living in the home’s annex. As a result, the child can safely develop their confidence and skills with extensive support from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work collaboratively with professionals. They advocate on behalf of children to ensure that they receive the education that they need. Children are at different points in their educational attainment, with some in full-time education and some just beginning to re-engage in education. When children are struggling with educational attainment, the manager encourages creative solutions.

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

There have been occasions when children have been missing from home. The manager and staff team are proactive in their response, and the missing-from-care protocol is routinely followed. For one child, there has been a significant reduction in missing-from-home incidents since moving in to the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 4 Staff help children to safely manage their behaviour and feelings. Staff communicate well with children and support children to self-regulate. There are clear boundaries in place, and children are supported to understand what is safe and acceptable. The manager ensures that positive behaviour is regularly promoted and rewarded.

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

Holding a child to keep them safe is used as a last resort. When this does happen, records are detailed and contain the relevant information. Appropriate debriefs are completed with children, taking into consideration their views, wishes and feelings. Incident records are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by the manager.

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

Communication with professionals and family is excellent. Risk management plans evidence monitoring and evaluation. Staff encourage healthy risk taking and carry out regular direct work to support children to understand healthy and unhealthy relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in management. The new manager has been in post since March 2023 and has quickly developed a good level of management oversight in the home. She knows the children well and is ambitious and child focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff nurture working relationships with partner agencies. This promotes a comprehensive approach to meeting the children’s needs. Feedback from professionals is positive about the care that children receive and the progress that they are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is experienced, stable and consistent. The staff are clear about their responsibilities and accountabilities. They are child focused and understand how their practice has an impact on the children. Staff feel valued and supported by the managers of the organisation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that supervisions take place regularly in line with the home’s statement of purpose. The manager provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and the care that they provide to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1) (2) (b)(vii)(viii)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all children’s bedrooms and bathrooms are maintained to an acceptable standard. 18 August 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: 2504093 6

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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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Inspectors

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Sally Hallwood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 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 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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