Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 1 Registered provider: ROC Northwest

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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 one of several owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are currently three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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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: 1264537 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Good 15/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences of moving into or out of the home. The manager and staff take great care in the planning processes. They ensure that children have individual direct work. This helps to ease children’s worries or anxieties and provides them with a positive experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are warm, nurturing and caring towards children. Staff spend time with children and know them well. Children can identify a trusted adult they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns. One child said, ‘It’s a lot better since the new staff started, it doesn’t feel like a children’s home anymore, it is homely.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and encourage children to take part in their education. When there are barriers to education, staff do all they can to support children to overcome these. When children do not access full-time education, they are provided with structured educational activities throughout the day. As a result of this, one child has made significant progress. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child]’s education has really improved, he is now sitting in his exams, and this is a huge achievement for him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that children’s views, wishes and feelings are fully embedded in their support plans. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated in line with children’s individual needs and include actions from care plans and personal education plans. However, the most up-to-date copies of some children’s local authority plans are not accessible to staff in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been occasions when some children have struggled with their mental health and well-being. The staff and manager have ensured that appropriate medical advice is sought. Staff have ensured there are referrals to external agencies, to seek additional support. As a result, children receive specialist help that is individualised to their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between family and friends are promoted. Staff support children to see their families in line with their plans. Staff recognise that seeing family members can sometimes be difficult for children, so they ensure that children are supported to work through any difficult feelings they may have.

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

The manager and staff know the children’s risks and understand them. When assessing risk, the manager consults with other professionals. This means that staff are provided with the most appropriate strategies to help keep children safe.

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

There have been occasions when children have been missing from home. The manager and staff team are proactive in their response and the missing from care protocol is routinely followed. Assessments that are used to manage risks are regularly reviewed Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 4 and updated. When a child has been missing, incident reports are detailed and include the action that staff have taken to locate the child.

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

There have been occasions when staff have had to physically intervene and guide children to safety. This has been used as a last resort. Any holds have been in line with the home’s policies and procedures. Records are detailed and contain the relevant information. Staff have debriefs and reflective conversations with children after incidents. This means children’s views, wishes and feelings are fully considered. The manager ensures that staff are provided with a debrief and an opportunity to reflect on the circumstances leading to a physical intervention.

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

At times, children have displayed behaviours of concern. Records are detailed and it is clear what action staff have taken to manage the behaviour and minimise risk. Staff carry out regular direct work with children. These discussions are reflective, educational and purposeful. This practice is effective in supporting children to understand risks and is helping to keep them safe. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child]’s overall risk has reduced significantly since living in the home.’

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

Room searches are undertaken and often linked to incidents when a concern has been identified. Most room searches are documented and detail what action has been taken. However, there are some errors in the records and children’s views are not always included.

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

Investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm are shared with the relevant agencies and in line with statutory guidance. When there have been serious safeguarding allegations, these have been investigated by senior managers within the organisation. When a need for additional training is identified, this is provided to staff, but not always in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant change in the management team. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the previous registered manager resigned unexpectedly in August 2023. Following the resignation of the manager, several staff also resigned. This resulted in a period of unpredictability and instability in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new manager was recruited in October 2023 and she has since been registered with Ofsted. The new manager is experienced and qualified. She has worked together with senior managers to focus on staff recruitment. As a result of this, staffing levels have significantly improved, creating stability and consistency in the care for children. One child said, ‘It’s a lot better since the new staff started, it doesn’t feel like a children’s home anymore, it is homely.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is inspirational, confident and leads by example. She is ambitious for children and has high expectations for the staff team and its development. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 5 The staff team is relatively new and inexperienced. Staff are developing with support and guidance from the manager. New staff receive a comprehensive induction and training package. This helps to prepare staff for their role and to have a greater understanding of children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that supervisions take place regularly and in line with the home’s statement of purpose. The manager provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and the care that they provide to children. Regular team meetings also take place. These meetings are reflective and provide the staff team with opportunities to have discussions regarding the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed positive working relationships with professionals, parents and family members. The manager understands the importance of effective partnership working and how this contributes towards children’s positive experiences. One social worker said, ‘The new management team is hands on, and communication has improved. They consult with me more often.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 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, 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

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when children move into the home, they have access to the most up- to-date local authority care plans. 28 June 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a training need has been identified following safeguarding incidents, they take a proactive approach and implement the training immediately. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that when room searches take place, records are accurate and include children’s views. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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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: 1264537 7

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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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Inspectors

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Angeline Clarke, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 8 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 1264537 9

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