Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 1 Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of several homes owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since March 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five 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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Outstanding 11/07/2023 Full Good 16/08/2022 Full Good 27/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children experience a warm, family-orientated environment that nurtures their well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand each child’s journey, ensuring that the care they provide is personalised and prioritises their needs. This thoughtful approach provides children with a sense of stability, belonging and emotional security, which helps them feel valued and to develop positive relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff actively seek new experiences for children. At Easter, the home holds a party where children can invite family. This is an annual celebration that children look forward to and is documented in the family photo albums in the home. Children feel that staff appreciate and value the time spent with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children attend education. Staff have supported a child who previously disliked attending lessons, by setting up interviews at a variety of colleges and exploring possible course options with them. This has inspired the child to achieve and instilled confidence in their ability to succeed. This has led to improved attendance, focus and responsibility in preparing for exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work alongside external agencies to advocate for each child’s needs. This results in changes that promote stability, self-reflection and overall progress in education, health and relationships, shaping a brighter future for every child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children maintain connections with family and friends. While children value their external relationships, they say that their home is more than just a place to live; it is a true family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff can recognise children’s strengths, support their resilience and help build their confidence. Staff use outcome tools with children. These provide a visual representation for children to monitor their progress and focus on their specific needs. The sense of ownership for children in their journey results in progress.

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

There has been a significant reduction in missing-from-care incidents and risk-taking behaviours. This is the result of an outstanding multi-agency approach that ensures that children receive individualised, holistic support to secure stability and positive well-being.

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

Staff understand each child’s needs, experiences and risks, ensuring that they receive proactive safeguarding measures rather than reactive interventions. Their ability to anticipate challenges and implement preventative strategies sets a high standard of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 4 The manager is committed to maintaining excellent standards of safeguarding by continuously enhancing staff’s knowledge through, for example rigorous training, reflective supervision, interactive quizzes, and scenario-based learning. This results in a highly skilled team that can respond swiftly and effectively to any safeguarding concerns.

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

Children said they feel valued and heard when they raise complaints. Every concern is managed with diligence, treated with utmost seriousness, and always brought to a fair and constructive resolution, reinforcing children’s confidence in the care and support provided.

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

Children feel protected but also deeply cared for, with some saying that the environment makes them feel ‘loved’. Reponses to safeguarding concerns are prompt, well informed and recorded. This demonstrates the staff’s ability to create a nurturing and emotionally secure environment.

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

Children receive regular key-work sessions and support, and meaningful consultations empower them to better understand their emotional well-being and mental health. Through tailored education and support, children develop stronger coping mechanisms, which leads to a notable decrease in high-risk behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads with vision, creativity, and an innovative approach to care, continually improving practices in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff said that the change in leadership has been transformative. Since the current manager’s appointment, improvements have been consistently implemented, creating an environment where staff feel valued, empowered, and encouraged to enhance their professional knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high expectations for the children, advocating for their needs and rights. This commitment to excellence echoes throughout the team, ensuring that every child receives consistent, high-quality support from knowledgeable and dedicated staff. Since the manager has been in post, staff and children said there have been significant improvements in quality throughout the home. One child struggled with sleep patterns, routine and general self-care, resulting in barriers to them progressing. The manager was able to quickly see issues with the prescribed medication and advocated for review. This brought about significant changes for the child, concluding with improved routine, well-being and sleep patterns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff create strong connections to the needs of children, enabling a response to behavioural and emotional needs without delay. This leads to significant progress for children as they navigate trauma and develop emotional resilience. One child has not had stability or a sense of family in their life, and so by maintaining a stable team of staff, the child experiences this. One child said, ‘It’s like a family environment.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 5 The manager remains driven by continuous improvement for children and staff. Workforce development and training remain at the core of the home’s ethos, ensuring ongoing growth, responsiveness, and excellence in care through meaningful consultations with children, staff and stakeholders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Multi-agency work is strong, ensuring effective planning for children. Monitoring progress and promptly addressing challenges reinforces a responsive approach to each child's needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive structured and informal supervision, creating an environment where they are supported. Staff receive an induction, alongside ongoing professional development opportunities, resulting in a stable, experienced team that provides continuity and security for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 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: 2504093 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: ROC Northwest Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Paul McKay-Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2504093 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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