Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Kirklees

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 1 SC460593

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Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were three children living in this home.

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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. The inspector 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: SC460593 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 speak positively about the staff. They say that they trust the staff. The quality of these relationships enables the children to seek advice, guidance and support from the staff about the matters that affect them the most. The children trust that the adults who take care of them will help them, for example when discussing their emotional and mental health.

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The care of children

The children benefit from regular conversations with the staff. Staff listen to the children’s views, and they act on them. Following the children’s request, a large trampoline has been purchased for the garden. The children were observed to enjoy using it. The staff also record their general conversations with the children, and they explain to the children how and why decisions are made.

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The care of children

The children are making progress. One child’s emotional and mental health have improved due to the support they have received to develop their own coping skills. This has resulted in more independence, an increase in their confidence and improved self-esteem for the child.

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The care of children

While there has been redecoration in some areas of the home, there are still areas that look tired and in need of repair. The children’s bedrooms are newly decorated and nicely personalised with photos and other items. However, shared areas such as the bathroom are still in need of redecoration.

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The care of children

The children have been supported to have fun and enjoy their school holidays. They have been on holiday, taken trips to theme parks and gone swimming. Children’s social skills increase because they are encouraged to attend clubs such as boxing and go to the gym. The children say that they enjoy spending time with the staff and joining in with group and individual activities.

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The care of children

While one child’s attendance in education has increased, the staff have not been successful in encouraging another child to attend school. The manager understands the value of education and continues to have regular communication with the virtual school team and education providers to secure an educational placement for the new children living in the home.

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The safety of children

Detailed safety plans are in place to safeguard the children from the risk of missing- from-home episodes. The staff complete mapping exercises to establish people and places of concern for the children. This information is shared in multi-agency Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 3 meetings and across different police forces. When children do go missing from the home, the staff are proactive in searching for the children, and they encourage the children to come home.

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The safety of children

The staff have recently come through a challenging period in the home. The manager identified that on some occasions, the staff did not consistently follow the behaviour plans in place for one child. There is ongoing training and development with the staff to ensure that the quality of care provided is always consistent.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments and safety plans for the children are easy to follow and include all of the children’s relevant information. These assessments include known triggers for the children and how the staff can best support them. The therapeutic worker attends the home regularly. He helps the staff to understand the children’s trauma behind their risk behaviours and what strategies they can use to better support the children.

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The safety of children

Children say that they feel safe living in this home. They say that they are confident to speak to any member of staff or the manager if they are worried or concerned. The children are aware that they can speak to their social worker or an advocate. One child said, ‘I also know that I can speak to Ofsted,’ if they felt that the staff were not helping them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is open, honest and transparent. She recognises the recent challenges in the home and has supported the staff to reflect on them. Team development days have helped the staff to recognise the importance of teamwork, effective communication and working together. One member of staff said, ‘I feel these days have helped us. The atmosphere is much better in the home. We are communicating better.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager provides detailed reports and notifications to Ofsted and all other relevant child safeguarding agencies. This ensures that all professionals are kept up to date with what is happening in the home. These reports provide information that allows Ofsted and other professionals to evaluate the quality of care that is provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has monitoring and review systems in place that allow her to identify any shortfalls. The manager ensures that any shortfalls are addressed and acted on quickly. The manager works with the staff to help improve their practice and to continue to increase their knowledge and skills in the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is supported well by the senior leaders within the organisation. The leaders and managers hold regular meetings and reflective sessions to look at what has gone well and not so well. The organisation’s therapeutic team attends and supports these meetings. This helps to create a culture of learning and development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 4 The organisation’s therapeutic wraparound service provides the staff with a safe place to discuss their feelings. This was particularly welcomed by the staff during the more challenging period. This helps the staff to feel valued and cared for at work. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/08/2021 Full Good 23/09/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 6

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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, The 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)) 27 October 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children and is a homely, domestic environment. In particular, the registered person should repair the wear and tear in the home and redecorate the areas that look tired. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).  The registered person should ensure that when children placed in the home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15). Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9EN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Alison O’Donnell

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Inspector

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC460593 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 looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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