Children's Home run by Dalepeak Limited in Oldham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 1 SC005553 Registered provider: Dalepeak Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, there were three children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2010.

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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: 6 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: SC005553 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good 08/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have remained living at the home since the last inspection. This consistency of care has ensured that the children have good relationships with staff and are making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The large, detached home has many rooms and maintains many of its original features. The manager has incorporated these well while still ensuring that it feels homely and modern. There is a sensory room and two lounges available for children to spend time in. Children are celebrated through displays of their certificates, artwork and photos around the home. Additionally, children’s bedrooms are personalised and well furnished.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school and are doing well. During a period of absence from school for one child, the staff developed one room into a learning zone so that their education could continue to be promoted until they could return to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are supported to have their views heard regardless of their communication methods. Staff know the children well and can communicate effectively with them to obtain their views, wishes and feelings, ranging from day-to-day choices to bigger life decisions. Children who are nonverbal are being taught to communicate successfully using alternative methods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests, including football, drama and cookery. Additionally, one child has learned how to swim. Children enjoy lots of activities and are involved in fundraising for good causes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain relationships with those who are important to them. For one child, a relationship with a parent has been re-established, and they now enjoy regular time together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s culture and heritage are promoted by staff. Children’s individual needs relating to these are well met. Children’s decisions about whether they choose to follow their family religion are respected.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Staff prepare children well for appointments and planned operations. As a result, children receive healthcare that improves their quality of life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

As children prepare for the next stages in their lives, they are encouraged to develop their life skills. Staff are keen to ensure that the children leave the home with the skills needed to help them as adults and to ensure that they can be as independent as possible. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 4

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

Staff use a Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) model. They are supported by an enthusiastic practitioner who provides support, advice and guidance. As a result, incidents are rare, and when they do occur, staff are skilled at de-escalating and supporting children to regulate their emotions. Additionally, there have not been any restraints. However, the language used to describe children’s presentation in records is not always helpful.

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

The practitioner completes weekly clinical consultations that provide staff with a plan about what support they should be offering to children. As a result, staff have regular conversations with children about their individual risks. These conversations help to minimise the risks to children and help to keep them safe.

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

There has been one referral made to the local authority designated officer. The manager handled the incident swiftly and effectively, reporting the concerns raised. However, there is not a clear process in place for the staff to follow that ensures any allegations are managed appropriately in the absence of the manager.

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

Positive reinforcement outweighs the use of negative consequences. Children’s views are obtained on all measures of control or discipline, including when children’s rooms have had to be searched to ensure their safety.

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

Children have appropriate access to technology, including mobile phones. The staff monitor children’s use of technology to ensure that they are safe online.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He is described by one professional as a ‘phenomenal manager.’ The manager is a good advocate for children and works with other professionals to ensure that children’s decisions on their future are taken into account and that they are provided with the right support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported, and they receive regular supervision sessions where the manager offers support and guidance and encourages them to reflect on their practice. Additionally, the manager is confident in addressing staff practice issues quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a good advocate for children and works with other professionals to ensure that children’s views on their future plans are taken into account and that children are provided with the support they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. These also include team training sessions from the PBS practitioner. The staff’s input is important to the manager. He actively involves staff in decision-making while also ensuring that the children’s voices are heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits every month. However, feedback from others or actions for the manager to take are rarely included in the report. The manager recognised this and Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 5 requested a new independent person so that he can continue to make improvements to the quality of care provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good oversight of the children’s progress and experiences and uses systems effectively. Additionally, he has good relationships with the other professionals involved in the children’s care. He leads a team that is committed to the children’s development and that is motivated by their successes. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that there is a clear process in place for the staff to follow when a child makes an allegation against staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)  The registered person should ensure that the staff record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third- party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC005553 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QE

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Johnson

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005553 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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