Children's Home run by Dalepeak Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 1 SC005553 Registered provider: Dalepeak Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 1999 and changed their conditions of registration in January 2023 to care for children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: SC005553 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good 08/01/2020 Full Good 31/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home and one child has left. Children are consulted about any changes that impact them and the home. Staff work with professionals and family members to get a shared understanding of children’s needs before they move in to or out of the home. This means that children’s transitions are individualised and take place in a planned and sensitive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are decorated in consultation with them, to make them personalised. They are furnished to reflect children’s likes and interests. Children’s diversity can be seen in their bedrooms. This includes the display of flags that represent children’s heritage and personal care items to support health and skin care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. The school attendance of all children is 100%, and they are developing their independence skills in school and at home. Staff attend events that are important to children, including education open days. This makes the children feel valued. Children do not currently have the opportunity to spend independent time out of the home. However, for one child, this is being reviewed in line with their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities, which are centred around their individual interests. They also have the opportunity to spend time as a whole group. The children and staff members recently took part in a Santa Dash and raised money for a local charity. A large photograph of this event is proudly displayed in the entrance to the home. One professional said, ‘Since moving to the home, [Child’s name] is settled and much happier. They are doing things they have not previously had the opportunity to do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s family time is supported and promoted in line with their care plans. Where children have lost contact with family members, staff are proactive in supporting them to rebuild their relationships. This supports children’s sense of identity and gives them confidence that adults listen to their wishes and feelings .

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are promoted. All three children are registered with local health services. When children have reservations about health treatments, staff use creative strategies to address any worries and concerns and encourage them to engage, which supports their good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements, no matter how small, are recognised, celebrated and rewarded. Children are building memory books, which capture special moments in photographs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 4

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

Children feel safe and can identify an adult who they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns. Risk assessments are individualised and clearly detail children’s risks and the actions that should be taken to reduce them. Staff know the risks that the children face, and they use direct work to enhance the children’s understanding of them. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated following any new concerns or incidents, and are supported by clear individualised behaviour support plans.

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

Children have individual behaviour support plans. Staff are supported by the positive behaviour support lead practitioner to understand children’s behaviours and how these are linked to their experiences. The positive behaviour support lead practitioner spends time in the home with children and staff to identify any good practice and areas for development.

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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 necessary, staff hold children in conjunction with the home’s policies and procedures. Children and staff have the opportunity to discuss such incidents. However, it is not clear in case records if non-verbal children are given the opportunity to share their views using communication aids. All records of restraint are scrutinised by the manager to review practice.

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

Staff implement good routines and boundaries for children. These were clearly observed over the course of the inspection and are recorded in children’s records. This consistent and predictable care supports the children to feel safe.

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

The manager and staff have effective links with external professionals. Staff are aware of the procedures to follow if they have any concerns, and communicate safeguarding matters promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated, experienced and suitably qualified manager, who is well supported by a deputy manager. They know the children very well. Staff feel supported. Supervisions take place regularly, in line with the statement of purpose. However, not all those supervising staff have completed relevant training. Supervision focuses on practice, children’s progress, and staff’s health and well- being. One member of staff said, ‘Supervision is helpful, but I can talk to a manager at any time about anything and they listen.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have annual appraisals, which are a two-way process between the appraiser and appraisee. They identify clear action plans for practice development. Appraisals would be enhanced by the inclusion of feedback from children and external professionals, including teachers and social workers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and areas for development. He has good oversight and monitoring of children’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 5 records. The detail in some records could be expanded to include reflection on staff practice and areas for further learning and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are well attended. They have set agendas and provide a forum for staff to discuss children’s needs and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Positive feedback has been received from external professionals in relation to the quality of care provided and communication with the manager and staff. One social worker said, ‘Communication is good, and staff attend meetings and contribute to care planning.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 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, 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

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that all children are given the opportunity to take part in a debrief after a restraint is used. Where children are non-verbal, alternative means of communication should be considered and recorded. 31 March 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are provided the opportunity to reflect on and develop their practice in supervision from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional and in team meetings. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of children and other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on individual children’s needs and developmental stage. This includes decisions about when to allow a child to Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 7

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Recommendations

spend time out of the home independently. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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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: SC005553 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QE

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Inspector

Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 9 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under

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Inspector

the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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