Children's Home run by The Rubix Care Group Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2767334 1 Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

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 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2767334 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the home’s first inspection since it registered in November 2023. One child is currently living in the home. The child’s move into the home was well planned and successfully undertaken. The child’s social worker spoke positively about how staff supported the child to move into the home and become settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has good relationships with staff and can identify adults who they trust. Staff encourage the child to engage in activities outside of the home that meet their needs. This includes going for walks, going out in the car and going out for meals. As a result, the child is happy and their overall daily life experiences have significantly improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s complex needs. Clear healthcare plans are in place and the child’s health needs are being met. Staff are sourcing external assessments and have implemented support services to meet the child’s needs. One social worker said, ‘Staff are doing everything they can for [name of child] and I couldn’t ask for better.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Independence plans are realistic for the child. Staff have clear plans in place to support the child in developing their independence skills. Staff are helping the child to develop the skills they will need when they leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage the child to spend time with their family. This is important to the child’s sense of self and their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not in full-time education and currently has one-to-one tutoring in the home. The staff have not always been successful in supporting the child to engage with the tutor. Staff and external agencies are working together to find the right solution that meets the child’s educational needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a warm atmosphere and feels like a family home. It is furnished to a high standard. Staff have offered to personalise the child’s bedroom, but the child has chosen not to. During the inspection, some bathroom doors were locked, which prevented the child from accessing them.

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

Risks for the child are well known and understood. There are clear risk assessments in place with detailed guidance for staff to follow. Staff are taking steps to help reduce potential risks to the child in the community. For example, staff have supported the child to make progress around road safety. Inspection report for children’s home: 2767334 3 Staff communicate well with the child and implement a clear routine to reduce the likelihood of them going missing from the home. There have been no instances of the child being missing from care.

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

The child’s behaviour is managed well using positive reinforcement. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s complex needs and there have been no consequences used. Staff can prevent behavioural incidents escalating by using effective de-escalation techniques and distraction. Staff can identify changes in behaviours. This means that behavioural incidents are responded to quickly and effectively by staff.

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

Medication for the child is well managed. There are clear plans in place which include detailed guidance for staff to follow when administering medication. Records of medications administered are completed by two members of staff and nightly medication checks are carried out. The manager also carries out weekly medication audits.

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

Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding issues and the thresholds for sharing information. Professionals involved with the child said that staff are good at communicating with them.

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

Effective recruitment procedures in place enable the careful selection and recruitment of staff. Monitoring of visitors to the home further protects the child from potential harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since 2 January 2024 and has applied to register with Ofsted. She is an ambitious and child-centred leader. She knows the child well and understands their needs considering her short time in post.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel supported and listened to by their manager and they enjoy coming to work. Staff say that the manager is approachable and that they can raise any worries or concerns. One staff member said, ‘She really cares.’ The team of staff are enthusiastic and passionate about offering good-quality care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals say that the staff provide excellent care for the child. The child’s social worker said, ‘This has been the absolute right move for [name of child].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with a wide range of training to meet the child’s individual needs. The manager has plans in place to provide additional bespoke training for the staff team due to the emerging needs of the child. As a result, staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to promote the child’s safety and welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is of good quality. Staff have plenty of opportunities to discuss and reflect on their care of the child. Staff’s strengths and future aspirations are discussed. Any shortfalls in practice are raised during supervision sessions, and staff are given clear guidance on their tasks to carry out. Inspection report for children’s home: 2767334 4 There are effective monitoring and review systems in place. There is good management oversight, and the manager understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2767334 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that bathroom doors are unlocked when not in use and that children are free to use any of the home’s bathrooms. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.42)  The registered person should ensure that any child who is not in education is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and engage in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: 2767334 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Rubix Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1, Cottam Lane Business Centre, Cottam Lane PR2 1AF

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Inspector

Leanne Carr, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2767334 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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