Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 2642423 1 Registered provider: Radical Services 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

The home is operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in June 2021. The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home and were spoken to by the inspector.

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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: 5 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: 2642423 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2024 Full Good 07/03/2023 Full Good 14/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2642423 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children have lived in the home since the last inspection. The children are making good progress from their starting points and have developed secure and trusting relationships with the adults who care for them. This means that the children are supported to achieve the best possible outcomes, and they are happy and safe living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend their education daily. When difficulties arise, the management team is quick to act and advocate on behalf of the children and work with education professionals to ensure that the children receive an education package that meets their needs. This supports the children to work towards their aspirations and future goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood and met by the staff team. Children are registered at local health services and attend routine appointments. The staff and children are supported by a therapeutic practitioner linked to the home who offers support and guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s backgrounds, family dynamics and friendship groups. As such, staff build a rapport with the children’s family and friends and support them to see each other and stay connected with people who are important to them. This supports the children with their sense of identity and belonging. One family member said, ‘The staff are great, especially [manager’s name]. We get on well, we call every day and we are kept well informed.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The management team and staff ensure that they create and capture memories for the children. Staff and children take part in activities together, such as going to the gym, paddle boarding, go karting, celebrating birthdays and making candles and wax melts. ‘My journey’ journals capture the shared times together so that the children can look back at their time living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a homely and comfortable environment. However, staff have not developed a set routine to support children’s bedrooms being cleaned, and areas of the back garden require action.

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

Staff are trained in safeguarding practices and managing risk-taking behaviours. Staff understand the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Clear risk management and care plans provide the staff with guidance on how to reduce and minimise risks and how to support the children to meet their needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2642423 4 Staff have a calm and relaxed approach with the children. They are skilled in de- escalating situations and supporting children to regulate their emotions. Only one physical intervention has taken place to ensure that the child and everyone else remained safe. Staff are trained in physical intervention techniques.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are low in number. However, when incidents have occurred, the staff have followed the protocols in place and worked with the police and family members to locate the children and return them home safely. Children have a return to care interview and staff talk to them about why they went missing and how they can be supported in the future to return home.

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

The manager regularly reviews the children’s care and safety. For example, she referred a child for a specialist service to reduce the risks associated with smoking cannabis. As a result, the child is fully engaged with the service and their risks and vulnerabilities are reducing. On professional said, ‘They have been informally educating [name of child] around the risks of cannabis. They made a referral to a substance misuse worker; they [child] are engaging and this is monumental.’

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

Safeguarding incidents are low and are well managed. The manager takes appropriate action and communicates effectively with other professionals to ensure that the children remain safe living in the home. However, on one occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of the police being called out by the staff to assist a child during family time. This does not allow the regulator to have consistent oversight in a timely manner.

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

One complaint was raised by a child. Although the complaint was acknowledged with the child and investigated, the manager did not fully follow the home’s complaints policy. The manager did not ensure that the process undertaken to resolve the complaint was documented. This does not allow transparency on how the manager came to her conclusion regarding the complaint.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked in the home for several years prior to becoming the manager. She has a relevant childcare qualification and is working towards the management qualification. The manager has good day-to-day oversight of the home, staff and children. She is visible in the home and is supported by a qualified deputy manager. The management team speaks highly of the children and shares aspirations for their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the benefit of investing in, supporting, training and guiding the staff. As such, the staff team has remained in place since the last inspection and provides stability and consistency for the children. One child said that they would feel comfortable going to any member of staff if they had any worries or concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and training, attend team meetings and have had an annual review of their practice through an appraisal. This allows the manager and staff to reflect on their practice to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the children. However, practice would be further enhanced by the manager ensuring that all Inspection report for children’s home: 2642423 5 staff regularly attend team meetings and feedback being included in the appraisal from the children living in the home and other staff members.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they enjoy coming to work, staff morale is good and they receive adequate support from their colleagues and the management team. The manager has introduced research into staff practice. This supports the staff to remain up to date with any new developments, ideas and strategies to develop their practice in areas specific to each of the children, such as substance misuse and supporting children in understanding the dangers of going missing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2642423 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff establish a routine to clean all children’s bedrooms regularly and provide appropriate storage for children’s belongings. The back garden would also benefit from being cleaned up. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a complaint is received the organisation’s policy is followed and the process undertaken to resolves the complaint is documented. The complainant should be given the chance to say if they are happy with the outcome. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff regularly attend staff meetings, and that everyone working at the home understands their roles and responsibilities when new procedures are introduced to safeguard children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals include feedback from people working alongside the member of staff and from children living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: 2642423 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Radical Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 The Calls, Leeds LS2 7JU

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2642423 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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