Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire East

SC060590 Unique reference number 7 January 2010 Inspection date Elizabeth Taylor Inspector Random Type of 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: SC060590

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to accommodate three young people, of either sex between the ages of eight and 17 years. The category of registration is for young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The house is a four bedroom, two storey detached house with a garden to the front and parking space for two cars at the rear. A garage and two sheds are also located at the back of the parking area. The house is approximately a 10 minute walk from the nearest town centre which offers a range of shops and other public amenities.

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Summary

Young people benefit from the homes' clear planning processes and comprehensive risk assessments. These promote their welfare and safety. The home ensures young people can access a range of health services to meet their varied needs. Good attention is given to promoting young people's self-esteem and confidence and to helping them develop ways to resolve conflict or concerns in an acceptable manner. 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

Three recommendations were made during the last inspection. Young people's placement plans now contain objectives showing how the home promotes their health. However, some of the objectives lack sufficient detail to show how they can be assessed to be met. This is raised as a new recommendation. Strategies for managing challenging behaviours are regularly reviewed for their effectiveness in helping young people. This ensures young people are helped to develop ways to reduce incidents of inappropriate behaviour. Although young people do not receive a copy of their care or placement plan, they understand what the home is aiming to help them achieve and how this contributes to their future goal.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Each young person has a placement plan which includes measures to promote their health and well-being. Outcomes for young people are identified but do not always demonstrate fully how the home meets some elements of assessed needs, such as the promotion of self-esteem. Placement plans and associated documents such as risk assessments do set out in detail how young people are supported in terms of their physical, emotional and general wellbeing. The home ensures young people have access to a range of health professionals including the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS). Staff support and care for young people well and ensure their health needs are addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people are afforded privacy and their confidentiality is upheld. Staff treat them with respect and seek their views on matters that affect them. Appropriate locks are fitted on external doors which allow young people easy entry into and out of the home. Locks are also fitted on 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC060590 communal room doors though none of the young people expressed concern that these are used inappropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are aware of the home's formal complaints procedure but say they prefer to tell staff informally about any concerns. They say they trust staff to resolve issues. Records show there have been no formal complaints received since the last inspection. This demonstrates young people's level of satisfaction with the informal process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are trained to take appropriate action, in line with individual needs, to ensure young people are kept safe. The home's policies and procedures ensure safeguarding issues, such as bullying, missing from care and behaviour management are properly addressed and recorded. Young people say bullying is not an issue in the home. Young people either absent without permission or missing are reported promptly, in accordance with a protocol developed with the local Police. However, records show incidents when young people are absent or go missing rarely occur. This indicates young people feel settled in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are treated fairly. Negative and inappropriate behaviours are properly challenged by staff. Good use is made of deflection techniques and negotiation to resolve conflict. Records show staff are consistent in their approach following detailed individual placement plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessments. However, risk assessments are dispersed in various folders in the home. This means it is not possible to be confident that staff respond consistently to behaviours which pose a high level of risk to young people. Nevertheless, all measures employed to manage behaviours are used to effect positive change and improve outcomes for young people. Strategies adopted by staff ensure that young people's self confidence and self esteem is considered and promoted at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Records show health and safety measures in the home are given good attention. Fire safety alarms and appliances are regularly checked and regular drills and evacuations are conducted. Gas and electrical fittings are serviced annually. This ensures facilities and services within the home are assessed as safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All visitors to the home are asked for proof of identification though their visits are not always logged. This potentially places young people at risk.

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Organisation

The organisation is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC060590

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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): • ensure small, measurable objectives are defined in outcome planners to promote young people's health (NMS 12) • ensure risk assessments are drawn together to form a clear overview of children's known and likely activities (NMS 26) • ensure all visitors to the home are recorded. (NMS 27) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC060590

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