Children's home run by Next Stage 4Life Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2602585 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life 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 owned by a private provider and is registered to care for up to two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in 2020, and the manager registered in May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: 12 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: 2602585 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2023 Full Good 17/01/2023 Full Good 21/09/2022 Full Inadequate 27/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2602585 3

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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. This planned move was supported by a thorough and effective plan, developed with the child and other professionals. This enabled the child to successfully move on and sustain positive relationships with managers and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for children moving into the home is comprehensive, and the manager carefully considers their needs against the needs of the child already living in the home. This supports children to live together safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have built secure, trusting relationships with children. Children talk to staff about their feelings and staff respond sensitively. Staff plan direct-work sessions with children to address their identified needs. Staff also speak to children about emerging concerns and use online resources to support these conversations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff to understand their own culture and identity through fun and educational activities. Staff also provide children with opportunities to learn about other cultures by organising themed events in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is promoted by the managers and staff. One child has made good progress with their learning and attends school regularly. For one child, attending school is more difficult. However, staff support educational activities throughout the day, and the importance of positive routines is recognised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s health needs. Managers work effectively with health professionals to ensure that children are provided with the right support. Children are supported to access health appointments when they need them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals speak highly of staff. One said, ‘The home is amazing. Staff have built good relationships with [name of child]. They understand what works for them and how to support them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a safe and comfortable home. Photos of the children are displayed, which adds to the family feel. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to their individual tastes and provide them with a relaxing space to spend time.

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

Holding a child to keep them safe is used as a last resort, in line with the home’s therapeutic approach. When one child has needed to be held, they have been supported to understand the reasons for this. Managers review records and discussions with staff take place. However, records do not always help children to Inspection report for children’s home: 2602585 4 understand the actions taken by staff as they do not detail the hold used to keep them safe.

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

Children have clear plans that detail the actions staff should take if children go missing. When one child has been missing from home, staff remained in contact with them and went out looking for them. When the child returned home, an independent return home interview took place. Managers and staff worked with the child to understand why they did not return home. Safe plans were developed and missing- from-home episodes have reduced.

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

Managers and staff know and understand children’s individual vulnerabilities. Plans set out what action staff should take to address any risks. Specialist support is provided to children by the in-house therapist. This is helping them to explore difficult feelings and increase their self-esteem and confidence.

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

Children are supported to manage their feelings safely. Managers and staff encourage children to talk about what strategies help them when they are distressed. Concerns in relation to self-harm have been responded to quickly. Leaders and managers adopt a multi-disciplinary approach to safeguarding. This ensures that the strategies to support children meet their individual needs.

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

Careful recruitment processes ensure that children are cared for by safe and suitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high aspirations for children. She is committed to ensuring they receive high-quality care. She knows the children well and has built trusting relationships with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When one child made an allegation of harm, it was not immediately identified by leaders and managers. Once identified, swift action was taken to ensure the child’s safety and relevant safeguarding professionals were notified. The manager has implemented a robust monitoring system that has strengthened her oversight of any incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are supported by leaders and managers, and they work together to make child-centred decisions. Supervision takes place regularly. Staff reflect on their practice and the progress children are making. Managers have recognised when children have struggled to build relationships with staff and worked creatively with staff to successfully address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. Managers use resources and research to help staff understand the impact of children’s experiences. Guidance from the in-house therapist is proactively sought and disseminated to all staff. This enables staff to develop their practice and ensure that children are supported effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2602585 5 Staff receive a thorough induction to the home and an annual appraisal of their performance. However, appraisals do not include the views of children and other professionals. This is a missed opportunity to further develop staff practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2602585 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager within the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information should 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)  The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of children and other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 2602585 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Stage 4Life Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Anna Belshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2602585 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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