Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 1 SC066428 Registered provider: ROC Northwest Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. The home provides care for up to five children who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties, physical disabilities, special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND),

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

There are five children currently 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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2024

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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: SC066428 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2024 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good 18/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children were observed to have warm and sensitive relationships. Children receive individualised care that is tailored to meet their needs. This is a key strength of the staff team. Children receive consistent care from a dedicated and stable staff team. Staff speak enthusiastically about the progress that children make and their achievements since living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from good-quality moves into the home. Plans are developed in partnership with children, their families and external agencies. This wrap-around care ensures that children are provided with a high level of staff support that enables them to make progress in the home. One parent said, ‘The transition into the home was excellent. I could not have asked for anything better.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home as staff struggled to manage his complex needs and behaviours. The manager ensured that she completed a lessons learned exercise following this move, to identify any learning and any changes in practice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the value of including families in their children’s care. Children are supported to safely spend time with family members, including family celebrations. The work to re-establish relationships with children and their families has proven to be extremely valuable. One parent said, ‘The staff helped me to rebuild my relationship with my son.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to take part in a wide range of activities. Professionals say the staff are skilled at providing children with opportunities to express and promote their individual interests. Photos displayed in the home are a testament to the unique and valuable experiences that children have and the memories they make. One child said, ‘I am happy living here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s unique methods of communication and are skilled at interpreting children’s body language and any changes in their presentation. Staff use a range of communication aids and social stories to help children to express their wishes and feelings. Recently, staff worked with school staff to learn more about a child’s communication style.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children learn skills to be more independent. Each child has goals that they are working towards with support from staff. One child’s has improved their personal hygiene skills, and other children can now prepare a meal for themself. Additionally, one child has recently secured part-time employment. This is significant progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are not aware of the local offer, which sets out the support available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This is a Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 4 missed opportunity to access additional resources for children. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and nurturing environment. The home is furnished to a good standard. However, attention is required to the kitchen worktops and flooring in the hallway, as these are worn and tired. Two of the children’s bedrooms require repainting to ensure that the children have a clean and pleasant environment to play and sleep in.

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

Staff prioritise children’s safety. They supervise children in the home and teach them the skills to keep themselves safe in the home and local community. Since the last inspection, there have been occasions when one child has gone missing from home. The staff team worked in partnership with the police to ensure that there was a coordinated and robust response to managing these incidents well.

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

Medication storage systems are safe. However, some children require medication to be given to them in a drink without their knowledge. In such cases, parents provide written consent to the covert administration of the medication by staff. However, leaders and managers have not sourced information from a medical practitioner about the potential consequences of diluting medication in drinks.

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

Staff use key-worker sessions to help children understand how to keep themselves safe. They use a range of resources, such as worksheets and online quizzes, to provide information on issues affecting children, such as bullying, staying safe online and building relationships.

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

Recruitment procedures and robust checks are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted before starting work. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children in the home.

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

Behaviour management is effective. Staff use a range of de-escalation techniques, such as ‘change of face’ and redirection. They are consistent in their approach, and this enables children to understand and manage their emotions. Restraint practices are used only as a last resort, and all documentation is detailed.

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

Leaders and managers respond effectively when children make allegations. They ensure that actions are taken to protect the child in line with the home’s policies and procedures. Additionally, staff know what action to take if a child protection concern arises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and has worked in the home for a number of years. She is supported well by her deputy. They are child-focused and knowledgeable about the children’s complex needs. Managers advocate well for the children and work effectively Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 5 with professionals, raising concerns through multi-agency meetings. This improves the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider employs highly committed and enthusiastic staff. Staff understand the children’s needs very well and recognise the importance of helping them make progress. Staff are skilled in providing nurture and reassurance in a family-type culture. This nurturing care helps children to flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive relevant training. This ensures that they have appropriate knowledge in the care and management of complex needs. Staff receive a high level of reliable support from the registered manager. The strong and committed staff team works hard to consistently support positive outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have been able to strengthen and reflect on their practice because of the good- quality support and regular supervision that is provided. The manager ensures that the staff receive annual appraisals. For new staff, there are good-quality induction processes in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective auditing systems. Areas of improvement are identified through the manager’s internal and external monitoring systems. This improves practice. Feedback from parents and professionals is positive. They say that children are settled and well cared for. One professional said, ‘There is good communication, and a personalised and individualised approach is taken.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met all the previous requirements and recommendations that were raised at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 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 quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that children’s bedrooms are painted, flooring is replaced in the hallway and worktops in the kitchen are replaced. 27 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that medical advice is sought to understand any potential consequences of putting medication in a drink. 27 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make sure that managers and staff are aware of the local offer that sets out the support available for children with SEND. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.4)

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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: SC066428 8

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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

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066428 9 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

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