Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 1 SC442402 Registered provider: ROC Northwest

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is one of several homes operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may have emotional and social difficulties and/or special educational needs.

p.1

Information about this children's home

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager has been in post since May 2020.

p.1

Information about this children's home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 31 October 2023

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 2

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Outstanding 15/02/2023 Full Good 16/03/2022 Full Good 14/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The dedicated and skilled staff provide excellent care to children. Children make great progress in a safe, caring and engaging environment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff care deeply for children. They are highly motivated and provide exceptional care. Staff actively focus on each child’s needs and use a trauma-informed approach based on research that shows how early trauma affects brain development and behaviour. Staff understand how trauma affects children. When children react with anger or withdraw in stressful situations staff recognise that this reaction comes from the child’s past trauma. They create a safe space where children feel safe and secure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work closely with schools and teachers to support children’s learning. Staff are pa- tient and engaging when children don’t engage or struggle with education. This means children feel supported and less pressured. Children who once struggled with education are reaching goals they never thought possible. One professional described a child’s edu- cational progress as ‘outstanding’. They said ‘[name of child] smashed their GCSE’s. The staff at [this children’s home] have turned two really amazing children around. Strong educational progress opens doors for children’s future opportunities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff make it a priority to support children to maintain links with family and friends. Chil- dren’s friends are encouraged and warmly welcomed to the home. Inviting friends to the home helps the children to develop important social skills and to create positive experi- ences and memories.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff consistently make themselves available to children and clearly enjoy time with them. Staff use their knowledge and skills to teach children how to play musical instruments, learn martial arts and develop arts and crafts skills. Children have fun and these opportunities and experiences are supporting them to develop greater self- confidence and self-esteem.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff prepare and support children extremely well when they leave this home, and equally meticulous care, and thought, are given when children move in. Sensitive plan- ning, preparation and checking in with children help them to manage these moves suc- cessfully. One family member said ‘staff did everything they could to set [name of child] up for the big world. Staff weren’t like staff to her; they were like family’.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All professionals enthusiastically acknowledge the significant change and improvement in children as a result of the nurturing care they receive. Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 4

p.3

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

Safeguarding practices are highly robust and effective. Thorough safer recruitment prac- tice ensure that staff who work in the home are professionally qualified and safe to work with children. Staff are vigilant and well-trained to recognise and respond to safeguard- ing issues. Staff keep children safe in this home and children feel safe.

p.4

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

Risks are generally managed well by the staff team. Staff consistently role model safe, responsible behaviours. The manager and staff are vigilant to inherent risks around low mood and anxiety for one child. Staff are extra attentive, check in regularly, offer calm- ing activities or extra encouragement. This helps the child feel supported and more se- cure.

p.4

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

Children are supported to understand risk and staff make time to ensure that children are taught how to keep themselves safe. As a result, there are few concerns in relation to risky behaviours. Staff have an impressive understanding of children's individual needs and risk management strategies. However, records on file are not consistently updated or available to ensure that there are accurate, accessible written accounts of children’s current needs.

p.4

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

The manager and staff show strong commitment to supporting one child by consistently offering help and encouragement to enable a child to recognise and manage potential risks. The manager and staff team should continue to support the child in negotiating the fine balance between their personal choice and what is best for them.

p.4

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

The manager and staff are strong advocates and where appropriate, they professionally challenge on behalf of children. Children trust that their views will be shared and considered.

p.4

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

Staff have excellent relationships with children. The focus of the home is to promote positive behaviour with consistent messages about safe and acceptable behaviours. Staff are confident in de-escalating situations and have used effective strategies to support children's physical and emotional well-being. Children are extremely happy to live in this home

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides strong and visionary leadership. He always keeps the wellbeing and development of children and staff in mind. An experienced and knowledgeable deputy supports him. Together, with a united and dedicated staff team, they make every effort to continually improve and maintain high standards. The staff team’s exceptional commitment and competence directly contribute to the outstanding outcomes for the children in their care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an excellent oversight of the service. They have high stand- ards of the staff and ambitious expectations of the children. The manager is fully aware Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 5 of the strengths and challenges of the home and has clear plans in place to address any shortfalls.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff are well trained and that they receive regular, good- quality supervision and support. However, the leadership team should ensure that in the absence of the manager, supervision and support is consistently maintained to the same exceptional standard.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Ongoing professional development is a priority with creative training specifically targeted to meet the needs of each individual child. All staff have completed special training in understanding children’s mental health, this includes bereavement and loss, self-harm, suicide awareness and attachment. Robust training has greatly improved the skills of the staff in supporting children with difficult emotions. A child who once struggled with form- ing positive relationships now has better connections and relationships with staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have excellent relationships with the teams’ supporting children. They proactively share information with relevant professionals and confidently advocate to ensure that children receive timely and targeted support. One professional said, ‘They are a supportive team that works well together with other professionals. We all just felt like a family working together.’ When everyone works together with their combined skills, shared goals and commitment, it has a positive impact on children. Children feel safe and well supported.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers value feedback from children, families and professionals. Staff are open and reflective and use feedback to make continual improvements to the care pro- vided to children. For example, notice boards and fire extinguishers were re-positioned to create a more homely environment. This shows to children that their thoughts and feelings matter and makes relationships with staff stronger.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is very effective. He provides clear and consistent leadership that inspires confidence and loyalty from staff and creates a stable, positive environment for children. Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 6

p.5

Statutory requirement

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.6

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there are up to date records on file relating to care planning for children, risk assessments, and missing from home arrangements. 15 November 2024

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child’s expressed wishes conflict with their best interests, a reasonable view is taken about the best way forward ensuring that any potentially hazardous risks are safely managed. The reasons for reaching any decision should be carefully explained to and understood by the child or children concerned. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 22, paragraph 4.9)

p.6

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: SC442402 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 1AG

p.7

Inspector(s)

Paulette Forbes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC442402 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.

p.7

Inspector(s)

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 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 .

p.8

Inspector(s)

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector(s)

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

p.8