Children's home run by Applecast Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2632727 1 Registered provider: Applecast Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for two children. The home provides short- term emergency, respite and bridging placements to allow the local authority time to decide on the most appropriate long-term provision for children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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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: 25 January 2023

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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: 2632727 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2023 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2632727 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is currently living at the home. There is a stable and consistent team of staff who are committed to ensuring that the child’s needs are met. The child has made significant progress during their time living at the home. The child has developed positive relationships with staff, who know the child well and who talk about them with pride.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Preparation for the child moving into the home has been thorough. Partnership working alongside the child, their parents and relevant professionals enables good sharing of information and gave the child opportunities to visit before moving into the home. As a result, the child settled into their surroundings with a sense of familiarity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a supportive home environment. Staff talk about the child with pride, and encourage them to take part in activities that make them feel happy and improve their self esteem, health and fitness. Staff recognise the importance of supporting the child to have age-appropriate and safe friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The location of the home provides the child with ample opportunity to explore nature and farm animals, learn new skills and be involved in local community events. Inside the home, it is warm and welcoming. The child’s bedroom is decorated to their specific taste and has been personalised accordingly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Advocacy is a strength of the home’s manager and the staff team. The child’s participation in their own plan is something that the staff team encourages. This has given the child the opportunity to be heard and listened to and enables the child’s voice to remain at the centre of future planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are well met. Staff accompany the child alongside their parents to health appointments. The child is encouraged to eat a balanced diet and have good routines. Staff do have regular discussions with the child around the use of e-cigarettes. However, there is no clear guidance for staff to follow in relation to the use of e-cigarettes by children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has been proactive in liaising with external professionals to secure education for the child. Staff support the child daily with their education timetable. The child engages well and is keen to increase their timetable.

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

Risk management plans are clear and detailed with strategies in place to safeguard the child. Staff respond effectively, which is validated by the reduction of risk-taking behaviour. Inspection report for children’s home: 2632727 4 Safeguarding incidents and incidents of concern are responded to swiftly, even when they occur without staff being there. Thorough recording of incidents is in place, which has management oversight.

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

Because staff have built a positive working relationship with the child, education around keeping safe online, promoting positive mental health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are ongoing discussions, which the child readily engages in and are not just isolated to key-worker sessions.

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

The child said that if they have any worries or problems, they can talk to the staff and they will listen. This encourages the child to talk openly about any concerns they may have and helps them to feel safe and cared for.

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

Children who have left the home have been fully involved in a robust transition plan supported by staff. Maintaining links with children who have left the home is important to the staff. This enables the child who has left the home to continue to have access to guidance and support

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a clear vision and oversight for service improvement. The manager is part of a local forum for providers, which she attends regularly, where ideas and good practice are shared. The manager shares ideas with the staff team to encourage good practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Together, they have good oversight of the home and make use of internal and external monitoring systems to improve the care provided in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision of staff takes place regularly and appraisals are up to date. Staff feel that supervision is a chance for reflection and to discuss areas of practice that can be improved as well as celebrating success. Staff feel confident in being able to access the manager at any time. They feel supported and listened to by leaders and managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers conduct annual appraisals with staff. Staff reflect on their work and set targets for the year ahead. The manager seeks the views of the child so that these can be included in staff appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. Leaders and managers use team meetings to share information and encourage staff to make suggestions for improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers and the staff team have developed positive working relationships with professionals, for example the child’s social worker, independent reviewing officer, education professionals, commissioners and health professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2632727 5

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children and staff are provided with written guidance which details the home’s approach to the use of cigarettes, e- cigarettes and related equipment by children. (‘Guide to the 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: 2632727 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eco Centre, Cobbs Brow Lane, Newburgh, Wigan WN8 7SF

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Inspector

Michelle Greenhalgh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2632727 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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