Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

SC025739 Unique reference number 9 March 2010 Inspection date Simon Morley Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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16 November 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: SC025739

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people of either gender, aged from six years old up to 17 years old. Children and young people are supported to stay at the home until they move into more independent accommodation.

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Brief description of the service

The property is a four bedroom, detached house in a quiet residential area. The first floor of the home has individual bedrooms for children and young people, a bathroom, a staff sleep-in room and office. On the ground floor is the kitchen with dining area, utility room, playroom, lounge, shower room and another staff sleep-in room and office. At the rear of the house is a car parking area and a separate garden, with a lawn and raised bed for growing vegetables. To the front is an enclosed garden and some on-street parking. The home is close to all public amenities and schools are within walking distance.

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Brief description of the service

There are two young people resident at the home. Both young people were present for part of the inspection visit and participated in the inspection process.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection of the arrangements to protect children and young people from harm and help keep them safe.

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Summary

There is some good practice in the home helping to keep children and young people safe but the procedures, record keeping and communication about child protection referrals are not robust enough. As a result, this outcome and the overall quality rating are judged to be satisfactory.

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Summary

The registered provider is required to ensure that any allegations of abuse or neglect affecting the welfare and safety of young people lead to a prompt referral to the local authority child protection team, and accurate records are kept of the referral and any subsequent action. The overall quality rating is satisfactory. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no improvements required of the registered provider at the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is satisfactory. Children and young people who live at the home feel safe and benefit from staff who are good at listening to their concerns. If they want to, children and young people can have a key to their bedroom to ensure privacy and there are lockable bathrooms to bathe in private. Personal information about children and young people is kept secure in the office although they are able to see their individual records kept about them and add their own personal statements. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC025739 Children and young people are confident about complaining and know how to contact a variety of authorities if they want support with any complaints. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Children and young people have good relationships with staff and can sort out problems through discussion.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are trained in child protection and understand the correct procedures and what to do to help keep children and young people free from harm. These procedures are not always followed as the proper authorities have not always been informed. Care practice, record keeping and communication between the staff team about protecting young people has occasionally been weak. This does not demonstrate good practice but so far it has not significantly impacted on the children or young people's safety.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an effective approach to resolving any disputes between children and young people and keeping them free from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When a child or young person goes missing, staff are pro-active in getting them back home safely. Afterwards, as an extra precaution, the child or young person can talk to someone independent of the home in case they have any worries they have that they might not want to talk to staff about. It is not clearly recorded that children and young people have this opportunity but the young people present at the inspection did confirm it is offered to them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff actively encourage good social behaviour, preferring to reward good behaviour by giving incentives to children and young people rather than imposing negative consequences for poor behaviour. Children and young people are clear about accepted standards of behaviour and think the rules are fair. Only if a child or young person's safety is in danger would staff physically intervene. Staff are trained how to do this in a safe way and practice is monitored well to ensure the safety of the children and young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are strict procedures for the recruitment of new staff to make sure only suitable staff are employed to work in the home.

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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. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC025739

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Due date Action Standard

30 April 2010 ensure the prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the children's home is situated, of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the children's home (Regulation 16 2 (b)) 30 April 2010 ensure written records are kept of any allegation of abuse or neglect, and of the action taken in response (Regulation 16 2 (d))

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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 on return to the home a child is seen if possible by his/her social worker or a person independent of the home to consider the reasons for the absence. Where this is not possible the reasons are recorded and agreed with the placing authority. (NMS 19.4) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC025739

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