Children's home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: SC483692 1 SC483692 Registered provider: ROC Northwest Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of a number of homes operated by a private provider. It is registered to care for four children who may have social, emotional or learning needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post is vacant. The interim manager has applied 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 requires improvement to be 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: 29 November 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: SC483692 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Outstanding 11/02/2020 Full Outstanding 28/11/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC483692 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming and there are lots of photos of the children around the home. Four children are living in the home, and each child has their own bedroom. Children have the freedom to personalise their bedrooms to their individual tastes. This helps them to develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a strongly positive culture in the staffing team. Staff are warm, nurturing and caring towards children. Staff have been influential in supporting the children to develop their confidence. Staff spend time with children and know them well. The practice observed throughout the inspection was very positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school or college. When there are barriers to education, staff support children to overcome these. One child who had been out of education for a significant period now attends full time. Their attendance is high and they are making progress from their starting points. One headteacher said, ‘[Name of child] has settled in really well. The support from the home has been excellent, it is refreshing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are held in the highest regard. Staff always place the well-being of children at the centre of their practice. Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated. Children have lots of opportunities to have fun and take part in a wide variety of activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have struggled with their mental health and well-being. The manager ensures that children have access to external services, to seek support. This means that children are receiving specialist help tailored to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independence, according to their individual needs. One child is currently preparing for independence. Staff carry out regular direct work with them and have supported them to identify volunteering opportunities. This is helping to develop their confidence and social skills, to prepare them for future employment.

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

The manager and staff know children’s risks and understand them. Together, they identify and assess new risks. The manager ensures that risk management plans are up to date, clear and directive. The plans reflect each child’s personal needs and risks.

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

There have been occasions when children have self-harmed. The records of these incidents are clear and evidence what steps staff have taken to support children. The manager ensures that effective liaison takes place with relevant professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC483692 4 This helps to ensure that the most appropriate safety plans are in place to support children. As a result, staff help children to stay safe, and their risks are well managed.

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

Staff use alarms on children’s bedroom doors to manage and reduce risk during the night. The manager regularly reviews and assesses the use of the surveillance. However, the assessments did not contain clear strategies for staff to follow. The manager quickly resolved this issue during the inspection.

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

Staff sometimes hold children to keep them safe. This is done as a last resort and holds are in line with the home’s policies and procedures. Records of interventions are detailed and contain the relevant information. Staff speak with children after each incident. This ensures that children’s views, wishes and feelings are fully considered. Incidents are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by the manager, who has excellent oversight. As a result, learning outcomes are identified and incidents have significantly reduced.

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

Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to about any worries or concerns they may have. Children know how to make a complaint and who to complain to if they have any concerns.

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good

The manager has been in post since June 2023. She has a positive impact on the operation of the home and the progress and experiences of the children. However, the manager failed to apply to be registered for a period of more than 12 weeks. This means the judgement for leadership and management will be no more that requires improvement.

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good

The manager leads by example. She is inspirational, confident and ambitious for children. She is a positive role model and has high expectations for the staff team and their development. The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. As a result of this, the staff work together to provide a consistent and stable home for children.

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good

Staff receive supervision regularly, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Supervisions are well planned, structured and reflective. Supervision is delivered by a suitably experienced manager or supervisor. Staff receive annual appraisals. These are equally reflective. They focus on staff development and practice and involve feedback from children.

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good

The manager nurtures positive working relationships with external professionals and family members. The manager understands the importance of effective partnership working. This contributes to children’s positive experiences in the home. One social worker said, ‘Communication from the manager and staff is brilliant. They send me regular updates; they attend all meetings and are very accommodating.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC483692 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, 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that when a manager has been appointed, their application to register with Ofsted is submitted in a timely manner, in line with the social care common inspection framework guidance. 10 November

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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: SC483692 6

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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

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC483692 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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