Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 1 Registered provider: Meadows Care 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 may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2023 Full Good 27/07/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Good 12/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from well-planned moves into and out of the home. One child has returned home to their family and another child has moved into the home. The child who has left said, ‘They [staff] put me on the right track, I give them five stars.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they feel safe and happy living in this home. They know that staff care about them and are proud of them. They make good progress from their individual starting points. One child said, ‘Staff don’t judge you. You can tell them anything and they will just listen and help you.’ Children’s progress is supported by the high standard of nurturing care they receive from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a pleasant and welcoming environment for children. There is a busy happy atmosphere with children and staff singing and laughing together. Children’s achievements are reflected, and photos are on display throughout. Their bedrooms are personalised. This promotes pride and belonging in the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff enjoy spending time together in the home and on trips out. Staff plan lots of activities based on children’s individual interests. This includes trips to theme parks, bowling, shopping and volunteering for a charity. All children have a memory book that captures pictures of special occasions and fun times that have taken place during their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have had complex early life experiences and disrupted attachments have specialist help provided to them in a timely manner. The staff have a good understanding of child development and trauma. The therapeutic model used in the home has benefitted the children in building relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to stay in touch with family members and are proactive in arranging family time. This enables children to build on significant relationships and develop an ongoing sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education attendance has improved taking account of children’s individual starting posi- tions. Staff are proactive in helping children access education. They supported one child prepare for her interview at college. They took her on a tour to familiarise her with the building this has helped her to prepare for the next step.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been a lot of decoration and improvement work to the home and for the most part it is looking very comfortable and homely. Some areas of the home still require ren- ovation. It is not clear when these works will take place. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 4

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

The staff team understand children’s risks. Risks are reviewed and strategies to keep children safe are adapted. Over time, risks are reducing for children. This means that they gain a higher level of independence. Children’s progress is not linear, but risks have reduced from children’s starting points.

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

Since the last inspection, staff have not had to physically hold children to keep them safe. Staff have positive relationships with children. They use their relationships alongside structured incentives to help promote good behaviour. This helps children understand that behaving well achieves positive outcomes for them.

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

Children’s incidents of missing from the home are reducing. However, there have been several incidents of children missing from home. Staff have been tenacious in following risk assessments, working with partner agencies and doing all they can to bring children home safely. On two occasions missing from home interviews have not taken place. It is not clear who made this decision and the reasons why. This is a missed opportunity to understand why children go missing.

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

Children have been at risk of sexual exploitation. Staff have had training to help them to understand and manage these risks. There has been close monitoring of children’s social media use. Clear safety planning, reduction of risks and a gradual build-up of trust has led to more independence for the child.

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

Children know how to complain. When they complain they are taking seriously and staff and the manager work to resolve issues quickly. Children have trusted adults that they can talk to when they are worried about something. Children feel listened to. Their safety is increasing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an in-depth knowledge of the children and the progress they are mak- ing. She is aware of their individual risks and vulnerabilities and of the strategies in place to protect them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partner agencies are consistently positive about their experience of working with the home. An education professional said, ‘In all my experience of working with children’s homes, this is the best home I have worked with.’ Good communication is a key strength.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regular and well attended. These meetings provide a forum for staff to discuss the children in depth. The meetings are also used to reinforce relevant staff training and to test their knowledge. Staff have opportunities to reflect on their work and ensure that they are working cohesively. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 5 Managers support new staff. The induction programme is comprehensive. It is com- pleted in modules over a six-month period. New staff are provided with a guide to work- ing in children’s residential care and the ethos of the company. This helps new staff to understand their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are clear plans to develop the workforce. The manager is keen to develop the staff and to promote an educative and supportive ethos throughout the home. Staff are consistently learning new skills and developing their knowledge about how to help the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that the manager is supportive and approachable. This is extremely helpful to staff particularly those who are new to working with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that children experience living in a home that is clean and tidy throughout and that all external structures are maintained effectively and fit for purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that if a return interview is not required it is clear who has made this decision and why. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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: 1250915 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 9EN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Alison O’Donnell

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Inspectors

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Sophie Thomson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1250915 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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