Children's home run by Yourcare (Northwest) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 1 Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were 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: 26 September 2023

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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: 2709686 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made considerable progress from their starting points. Relationships between staff and children are very positive. Staff know the children very well and understand their needs. Children have preferred adults they would approach if they had concerns; however, they trust all the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and receive child-friendly support to understand their needs. Staff support children to make healthy choices about food and exercise. Staff are quick to identify any health needs that children need extra support with and ensure that they contact health professionals for the additional support required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s plans are clear and concise. They are regularly updated and have detailed information and guidance for staff to follow to ensure that the care provided is consistent. Plans are child centred and include the child’s voice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend quality time with the people who are important to them. Managers advocate for children to have this time and ensure that it is supported safely and in line with individual plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to ensuring that the children have opportunities to develop their confidence and self-esteem. Children go on holiday abroad and are encouraged to take part in activities they would not normally do. Staff are qualified to enable the children to take part safely in outdoor pursuits, such as mountaineering and hiking in the Lake District.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved on from the home. Despite challenges in engaging the child with their new placement, staff made sure that the child’s views and wishes were heard, ensuring that the new placement was suitable for them and that the move was positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Detailed assessments are carried out to ensure that children's moves into the home are successful. There is a planned transition. The manager gathers relevant information from external professionals before a decision is made for the child to move in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated and maintained. The garden area is large and an ideal space for children to spend time outdoors should they wish to. Staff support children to personalise their bedrooms according to their tastes and preferences. There are large communal spaces where staff and children spend time. Children are relaxed and comfortable in their environment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 4

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

Staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities to children and how to manage and support them. Staff respond swiftly to emerging concerns, such as self-harm and alcohol misuse. The manager has clear oversight of any safeguarding incidents; however, not every incident has been reported to the regulator. All incidents are used as opportunities for learning for the staff and children.

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

Staff are recruited safely, and processes are in place to ensure that the right staff are employed to keep children safe. Any concerns around disclosures on recruitment are managed separately by senior managers, and additional risk assessments take place before employment is offered.

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

Room searches are only carried out when necessary. Two staff members are always present, and the child concerned is always given the option to be present if appropriate. Staff use the discovery of items as an opportunity to discuss harmful behaviour with children.

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

It has been a challenging period since the last inspection. The home has experienced several changes, particularly around management. Consistent routines and boundaries are now evident in the home, which provides children with stability. This is something that one of the children commented on and said that they now feel safe and ‘at home’.

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

The manager and staff have significantly improved their recording of incidents, including their reporting when children go missing from home and when children are held by staff.

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

Staff are proactive in their approach to managing behaviour. They teach children about the consequences of their actions and how they influence both themselves and those around them. The use of physical restraint in the home is rare. Children are only held when necessary. Staff accurately record incidents and provide the children with the opportunity to reflect afterwards.

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

Children have a voice in the home, and their views are listened to. They know how to raise complaints or voice their opinions if they are not happy about something. Children also understand that the staff team rewards their achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work effectively with professionals and carers to support children’s progress. They are focused on achieving positive outcomes for children. Partner agencies are consistently positive about the home. One social worker commented on the ‘exceptional progress’ a child made in their short time in the home and said that the home is the best placement she has worked with in over 14 years of practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 5 The statement of purpose is a comprehensive document that supports the reader’s understanding of the care that is offered in the home. Descriptions of staff’s qualifications are inconsistent. The manager reviewed these details during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an in-depth training programme for all staff, and it is completed in a timely manner. All staff are up to date with the home’s mandatory training. They have also received specialised training to meet the specific additional needs of the children in the home and have the necessary skills to care for the children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, where they discuss their performance and the children in their care. However, there are no opportunities for staff to reflect on their effectiveness or the children’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported. Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. The recorded minutes serve as a refresher for staff who are unable to attend. However, these meetings focus only on upcoming and past appointments for the children and the overall operation of the home, not on children’s behaviours. Consequently, the team misses opportunities for reflection and staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children know how to voice their complaints, and managers respond to any concerns they raise. Effective action has been taken to address the requirements and recommendations raised at the previous inspection. The manager uses feedback from the children, staff and the independent visitor to improve children's experiences and care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager actively and regularly monitors the quality of care provided. The quality of care review report contains an array of information and narrative and some evaluation regarding children’s progress. However, it does not consider the feedback from the children, their families, staff and external professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to when a child is taken to hospital due to health concerns. 28 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (4)(a)) 30 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— 30 April 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 7 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(g)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that team meetings are reflective and practice related.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 30 April 2025

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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: 2709686 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Yourcare (Northwest) Limited

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Inspector

Nicola Jeffery, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2709686 9 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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