Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

SC008487 Unique reference number 25 January 2010 Inspection date Mark Kersh Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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16 October 2009 Date of last inspection .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487

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Brief description of the service

This is a children’s home which can accommodate six young people. It is owned and run by a private organisation. The property is a semi-detached house situated on a suburban road, close to local amenities and transport links and is indistinguishable from other houses in the area. The young people have their own single rooms. Food, care and accommodation are provided for all residents.

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Brief description of the service

Education can be provided by tutorial time offered by the organisation at an additional cost to placing authorities. A range of activities are provided and a vehicle is provided for general transport including to and from school. Information about the home is given to young people, their family and placing authorities.

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Brief description of the service

There are currently five young people living at the home, at the time of this inspection, one young person was present and contributed to the inspection.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to focus on the recommendations made at the previous key inspection on 16 October 2009. These recommendations were made under the outcome areas of staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution and organisation. Being healthy and economic well-being were not inspected during this visit.

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Summary

There are good arrangements in place to ensure young people living in this home are safeguarded and protected. Young people receive a good level of support, their attendance and achievement in education is good and there are opportunities for them to carry on with their preferred interest and hobbies. The planning and reviewing process clearly sets out how young people are to be looked after. The views of those using the service are ascertained in respect of the quality of care provided.

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Summary

Young people are looked after by a competent and stable staff team and relationships between them are good. Staff receive good training opportunities. The management team provide staff with good levels of support and effective measures are in place when areas of need are identified. However, the staff qualifications do not meet requirements.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the previous inspection there were five good practice recommendations of which four have been complied with. The Registered Manager was asked to ensure fire evacuation drills take place at night. Ensure young people's views inform choice of any individual or group holiday. Obtain and record the opinions and views of the parents of the young people. And ensure arrangements following discussions in relation to contact arrangements are in place for all young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The fire records show that two night time fire evacuation drills have been carried out involving young people and staff. The weekly meetings enable young people to discuss their views and 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 preferred holiday choice. The opinions of parents in relation to the service the home provides have been sought and are recorded and placing social workers feedback forms have been received by the home. There are currently no issues in relation to contact for the young people accommodated. The home has taken the necessary steps to comply with these recommendations and improve the services provided.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The recommendation made at the previous inspection in relation to staff qualifications has been carried forward following this inspection. The home does not currently meet the ratio of a minimum of 80% of all care staff having completed their National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy and dignity is respected. Each young person has their own bedroom and staff are courteous by knocking before entering their rooms. Young people have a key to their bedroom allowing them to keep their personal possessions secure. Issues of personal hygiene are discussed sensitively with young people. Washing and toilet facilities for young people and staff provide privacy when in use. Staff demonstrate their good understanding of confidentiality and all written information is stored securely for this purpose. Young people can make and receive telephone calls in private.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know what to do if they have a concern or complaint about the care they receive in the home. They receive information which is easily understandable about the services the home offers, and this information has a section in relation to complaints. There have been no complaints made by young people following the previous inspection. The complaint records show two complaints made by a neighbour, both have been resolved satisfactorily and recorded in detail.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Safeguarding procedures are in place and staff demonstrate their understanding of how to recognise, respond and report any suspicion of abuse. All staff are trained in the home's child protection procedures. There are no safeguarding concerns in relation to any of the young people. The home is effective in addressing issues around bullying, and young people and staff say there are currently no bullying issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When young people abscond staff take all appropriate measures in line with procedural guidance to ensure they know young people's whereabouts. Telephone contact is always maintained. Detailed records show instances where young people have been reported missing, however, in the main this has often been young people returning to the home later than their agreed time. Staff say there are no concerns in relation to young people absconding. Should any significant event occur, staff know which appropriate authorities to inform.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's safety and welfare is promoted well. Staff deploy a range of measures to assist young people manage their behaviour. Rewards feature far more than sanctions and restraint has not been used for some considerable time. All staff are trained in behaviour management and safe restraint techniques. Sanctions imposed for inappropriate behaviour are fair and agreed by young people, within the sanction records. 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 All reasonable steps are taken to protect young people, staff and visitors in the event of a fire. Fire procedures are clearly explained to young people, staff have completed fire awareness training and all visitors sign to say they have received evacuation instructions, when entering the home. Regular recorded tests are carried out to check the homes fire safety systems and evacuations are carried out at appropriate intervals. Detailed written risk assessments are in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

place for fire safety and for any identified hazards inside and outside the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Ofsted has undertaken an audit of staff personnel files in May 2009; any shortfalls found are being addressed by the provider. There are no recruitment issues within this home. The Registered Manager is fully involved in the recruitment of new staff and ensures all of the necessary vetting checks are returned prior to new staff commencing work in the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive a good level of support, education is promoted, interest and hobbies are encouraged and developed. Each young person has a detailed placement plan tracker clearly identifying how individual needs will be supported. Detailed records following key worker sessions show staff working with young people on specific identified outcomes. Regular meetings take place between young people and staff, records show they are actively involved in discussions and staff address all comments and views raised by young people. Young people have access to people independent of the home, for support, and the contact details for Ofsted are clearly displayed within the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is actively promoted and young people's attendance at school is generally excellent. Staff provide good support to young people and they communicate well with teaching staff, ensuring consistency at home with school. Suitable arrangements are made for young people in securing appropriate education provision, staff work well with education departments and ensure young people receive an education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are actively encouraged to get involved in a good range of leisure activities within the home. Resources are sufficient to enable young people to carry on individual interests and hobbies. Regular discussions are held between staff and young people, when discussing day trips or considering holiday plans.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Each young person has an assessment of need which is continually reviewed by their key worker and monitored by the Registered Manager. Young people's placement plan trackers set daily achievable targets under the outcome areas of Every Child Matters. These are reviewed each month and amended where necessary. Plans cover young people's cultural and religious needs.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are encouraged to participate in statutory reviews and confirm they feel confident to contribute their views at such meetings. Key workers act as good advocates on behalf of young people who are less confident in expressing their views. There is good planning and preparation prior to a statutory review. The home produces a detailed report and young people are consulted in relation to the care they receive in the home. Young people are supported in maintaining contact with their family and those people they consider closest to them. Any 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 changes to contact arrangements are discussed and agreed during individual young people's statutory reviews.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Policies and procedures are followed for admissions to the home, careful consideration is given in respect of any new admission and the impact this may have on themselves and other young people. Referral information is scrutinised and only when all risks have been considered are agreements made with placing authorities to accommodate young people. These steps ensure young people are not placed inappropriately. In any event of a young person being placed as an emergency admission, planning meetings are always arranged within 72 hours of the admission. This ensures the home has all of the essential information required to meet the needs of young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Good methods of consulting with young people exist as part of the reviewing process as well as daily consultations with staff. Consultation arrangements are in place for placing social workers and young people's families. Questionnaires sent out are returned from social workers and work is ongoing to receive this information from parents.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The home's statement of purpose provides detailed information to parents and placing authorities about the services the home provides, and is available on request. This document makes clear the home's commitment to equality and diversity. There is good information for young people within a welcome pack they receive on admission to the home.

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Organisation

Young people benefit from the effective leadership provided by the management team who are committed to promoting good parenting strategies. The management team are suitably qualified and experienced, including supervisory experience and are able to cover the Registered Manager's absence. All staff have completed their induction including mandatory and refresher training. New staff will commence their NVQ at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People, in February 2010. All staff receive regular supervision, which allows them to identify areas of professional development, self evaluation and to discuss young people's needs. Team meetings are held regularly and sufficient time is allocated for staff handovers.

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Organisation

Good arrangements are made for reviewing the quality of care to ensure the smooth operations of the home. The Registered Manager routinely audits the home's administrative systems to make sure that what staff do, they do well. External monitoring takes place monthly and is carried out by a person independent of the home. These visits take into account the views of young people, parents and staff. Following each visit a report is sent to the home and if issues have been identified actions are specified to meet these.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales. 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • ensure that at least 80% of all staff have a qualification at NVQ level 3 or an equivalent qualification. (NMS 29.5) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487

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