Children's home run by Next Stage 4Life Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2534179 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life LTD

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of inspection. Both children were seen and spoken to.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022.

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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 outstanding

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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: 13 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: 2534179 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2024 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Good 25/05/2021 Full Good 12/03/2020 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: 2534179 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel supported by staff, who understand their individual needs. Staff hold children in high regard. One child said, ‘Staff help me learn patience and make me calmer.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive relationships with staff, promoting their overall well-being and success. These strong relationships contribute to a sense of security and trust, allowing children to feel supported and valued in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with those who are most important to them. Staff maintain communication with family members. One family member said, ‘They [staff] have been brilliant in communicating daily progress. I text daily and they respond. I feel included.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage children’s complex needs effectively, providing the necessary care and support that allows children to progress. Children are encouraged to take ownership of their journey, leading to positive outcomes and continued growth. This enables children to navigate challenges and make meaningful progress in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to become more independent and develop new skills, depending on their age and understanding. Children work with staff in preparing meals and washing their clothing, creating a partnership and confidence, which helps to promote their independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access activities and are encouraged to develop their hobbies. This enables children to develop their social networks and confidence both inside and outside of the home.

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

Staff demonstrate a strong understanding of the risks associated with each child and take appropriate action to mitigate these risks. Risk assessments are regularly updated and comprehensively reflect the specific needs of each child. This ensures that care is tailored and responsive to the individual requirements of the children.

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

Children are listened to. Staff support children to express themselves, offering greater insight and learning from children’s feedback.

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

Children who go missing are safely returned. Staff are responsive to the safeguarding needs of children, effectively reducing the frequency that children go missing. Children are supported through return home interviews by an independent person, ensuring that the child’s voice is heard in the process. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534179 4 The manager and staff have good working relationships with wider agencies. Staff effectively source support for each child based on their individual needs, ensuring that the required assistance is provided when challenges arise. This reflects a holistic and person-centred approach to care, addressing both the immediate and long-term needs of the children.

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

Children feel safe. Staff provide a supportive environment for the children, with strong safeguarding measures in place. Children understand how to complain and they feel confident to do so.

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

Children are supported by an in-house therapist. The manager and staff work closely with the therapist to achieve the best outcomes for children. The therapist said, ‘I feel children are incredibly safe in the home and within the team, both physically and psychologically. If sad, children are wrapped around. If lonely, sad or angry, they are cared for.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the children in their care. They provide effective leadership and ensure that the children’s needs are at the forefront of decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is proactive in advocating for the needs of children, particularly in the stability of placement for all children. The manager will work closely with wider agencies to advocate for each child, achieving the best care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager challenges wider agencies when they are not meeting the needs of the children, ensuring that external partners remain accountable and responsive to the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of their care of children. These are actioned planned by the manager, who reflects with staff on using innovative ways to strengthen their quality of care reviews.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

To ensure that feedback from children and their families is gained and consistently available for them, the manager sends out requests for feedback with a transparent nature. Professionals, families and children have benefited from this opportunity to share their voice, adding to a feeling of being valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager inspires staff to be better and is ambitious in continuing to improve their service with children. Staff are confident in the manager’s leadership. This leads to an environment where staff actively aim to develop their practice to better support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has successfully achieved a stable workforce, which contributes to consistency and continuity of care for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534179 5 Staff feel supported and find comfort in having the manager on site. This promotes staff confidence and a positivity that is sustained by the manager through continued high aspiration for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has great working partnerships with wider agencies. Due to the challenges for one child in working with one-to-one therapeutic support, the manager has utilised the in-house therapist to receive guidance to complete the therapy sessions with the child. This means that the child receives therapeutic support through a trusted individual. Due to them providing support to the child in this way, the child has made progress in emotional regulation and their understanding of relationships. This innovative thinking and approach to providing support to the child has resulted in significant progress for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2534179 6

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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: 2534179 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 146 Bolton Road, Atherton, Manchester M46 9LF

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Inspector

Paul McKay-Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2534179 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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