Children's Home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Tameside

SC357979 Unique reference number 3 March 2010 Inspection date Alicea Churchward Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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3 December 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 6 Inspection Report: SC357979

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Brief description of the service

The premises have been purchased by a local authority. It is a substantial property, which has been completely refurbished; it is suitable for purpose and indistinguishable from surrounding properties. The home is close to all amenities and public transport.

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Summary

This is an unannounced interim inspection. The purpose of the visit was to assess how the home is currently meeting the key national minimum standards and Children's Homes Regulations. In addition progress on how recommendations have been met from the last inspection was monitored. The home's Registered Manager was on leave at the time of this visit. The assistant manager was present and given verbal feedback at the end of the process.

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Summary

Staff are positive about working in the home and report being well supported to undertake their roles. Young people are at ease in the home and openly discuss areas of concern. They continue to make excellent progress.

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Summary

Concern has been raised in respect of recording and monitoring of complaints in the home; this is not currently having an impact upon the outcomes for the young people. The overall quality rating is outstanding. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the time of the last inspection two recommendations were made in respect of risk assessment of young people administering their own medication and ensuring that a fire drill is held at night. Both matters have been fully addressed and the home continues to make exceptional progress.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. At the time of the last inspection a recommendation was made to ensure that young people keeping and administering their own medication are assessed by staff as sufficiently responsible to do so. Where young people administer their own medication, this is now recorded in individual risk assessments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Privacy and confidentiality are maintained; no young people report any breaches of either. The home has a clear room search policy and guidelines for staff to follow in such an event. No room searches have been undertaken.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a system to record complaints. There are two separate records, a bound book and a file, in which the complaint, investigation and outcome are recorded. There has been one complaint in the home since the time of the last inspection. Records demonstrate that this was dealt with appropriately and swiftly resolved. The system of recording does not allow for good 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC357979 monitoring of complaints, however. A recent visit to the premises to monitor such matters was conducted on behalf of the registered person, and indicates there were no complaints.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are reluctant to complain because they are content in the home and get on well with the staff, but they do have matters to raise. Issues were raised with the inspector and passed to the assistant manager, with permission from the young people. There is regular contact with the children's rights service and placing social workers. Some of these issues were swiftly resolved on the day of this visit.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have undertaken training in safeguarding which is regularly refreshed. This is a longstanding staff team who are clear about their responsibilities and are familiar with the individual needs of the young people placed and the organisation's whistle-blowing policy. Local safeguarding procedures are accessible in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is no bullying in the home and individual risk assessments are in place for each young person. There is a policy to follow should any bullying become evident. No bullying is reported by the young people or staff in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The absence of young people without permission is low and has reduced considerably. All absences are recorded and demonstrate that this is the case. The young people can stay out at friends if this has been assessed by the staff in the home as suitable. There is no indication that when young people return late to the home it is because of the quality of care provided. The young people in placement appear to be very settled and appropriately placed in this home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour is managed very well. The use of sanctions is very low, there have been no restraints and records demonstrate that this is the case. Staff and young people have established very good relationships over time and this has proved productive. Positive behaviour is rewarded and encouraged. Staff receive training in behaviour management which is regularly refreshed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a variety of very good risk assessments and risk management plans; these include the building and young people's activities. They are regularly reviewed and updated as required. In addition there is certificated maintenance of fire equipment, gas, electrical appliances and public liability. At the time of the last inspection a recommendation was made to ensure that the records of fire drills demonstrate that a fire drill is held at night; this has been addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information in respect of staff recruitment is maintained by the home in orderly and accessible files. The home does not use agency staff. Regular casual staff are employed by the authority. Workers used by the home are known to the young people and their continuity of care is not disrupted. No new staff have been employed in the home; all staff information was inspected at the key inspection of the service and was found to meet with regulatory requirements. The home has a good visitors' policy which is adhered to in practice.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC357979

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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.

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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): • regularly review the records of complaints by children to check satisfactory operation of the complaints procedure. (NMS 16.7) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC357979

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