Children's home run by Next Stage 4Life Limited in Bolton

Inspection report for children’s home: 1185828 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life LTD Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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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: 1185828 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2023 Full Good 01/03/2022 Full Good 13/11/2019 Full Outstanding 23/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1185828 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they enjoy living in this home. Staff work hard to build positive relationships with children. As a result, children want to spend time with the staff. Staff take children’s views seriously and act on them. This means that children contribute to decisions made about their care and take pride in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager ensures that thoughtful care planning takes place before children come to live at the home. Children moving into the home are welcomed sensitively. On one occasion, the registered manager purchased a set of books by the child’s favourite author for their introduction visit to the home. A social worker said, ‘It made me feel that [name of manager] had listened to who the child was, not just what the risks were.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have an excellent understanding of children’s health needs. They support children to attend all health appointments. The registered manager works closely with other health professionals to support children’s physical and emotional well- being. This ensures that children’s health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high aspirations for children. Staff support children to access education in line with their individual plans. Children who do not access full-time school benefit from educational activities that support them to regain their confidence in learning. One child, who had said that they would not complete any exams, completed all their exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff help children to rebuild relationships with their families. This enables children to maintain a sense of belonging and develop their support networks for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities. This helps children to develop their confidence and social skills. Staff encourage children to contribute to local charities. This develops children’s empathy and sense of responsibility within the local community. Staff capture children’s experiences in memory books. These are a reminder for the children of their positive memories while living in this home.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They have created a culture in which there is a conscientious approach to keeping children safe.

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

Children’s known risks reduce because of the care that they receive from the staff. Children’s plans identify their known risks and provide staff with clear steps to take to keep children safe. Staff talk to children after every incident, which teaches Inspection report for children’s home: 1185828 4 children to manage difficult feelings safely. As a result, children’s unsafe behaviours reduce.

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

Boundaries for children are clear, and children are rewarded for positive behaviour. Staff undertake direct work with children to enable children to understand their own needs and steps that they can take to keep themselves safe. Children are enabled to take risks in line with their individual abilities. This includes supporting children to develop their independence, including independent travel and interview skills. This helps children to develop their confidence and life skills for the future.

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

Children who go missing from home experience well-coordinated responses from staff. When children return home, they are offered the opportunity to speak to an independent person. Staff evaluate and reflect on incidents to help them understand the reasons why children go missing.

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

Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children safe. The registered manager gives children and staff the opportunity to share their views after an incident. This ensures that practice in this area remains safe and appropriate.

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

The home environment is well maintained and decorated to a high standard. Health and safety checks are routinely completed. This means that the children live in a safe environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is supported by a highly motivated assistant manager. They complement each other and have created an environment that is child-focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working in this home and feel supported by managers. Staff attend regular supervision and team meetings. This enables them to contribute to decisions about changes in practice and understand children’s evolving needs. Managers identify staff development needs and ensure that they are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers identify shortfalls in staff practice and take decisive action to address them. This helps staff to understand what is expected of them and ensures that children receive consistent care. The registered manager takes immediate action to respond to allegations made about staff, and as a result, children are safeguarded. A local authority designated officer said, ‘They [the registered manager and responsible individual] should be commended for their diligence.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager nurtures positive working relationships with external professionals. As a result, children’s needs are met. External professionals said staff communicate well with them and advocate for the children. Managers contribute to multi-agency planning meetings, which inform decisions made about children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the quality of care that children receive. He continually looks at ways of developing the care provided to children. The registered manager has introduced plans that are written from the Inspection report for children’s home: 1185828 5 child’s perspective. Children are encouraged to read and contribute to their own plans. This enables them to understand decisions made about their own care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no shortfalls identified and no breaches of regulations. Consequently, there are no requirements or recommendations made. Inspection report for children’s home: 1185828 6

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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: 1185828 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Regency House, 45-53 Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4QR

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Inspector

Sally Griffiths, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1185828 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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Inspector

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