Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

SC065679 Unique reference number 26 January 2010 Inspection date Jacqui Gosling Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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18 September 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: SC065679

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Brief description of the service

The home is a local authority children's home that provides emergency short term residential accommodation for a maximum of five young people of either gender, who are aged between 12 and 17 years on admission. The purpose of the home is to provide a safe and secure environment that promotes the welfare of the young people.

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Brief description of the service

Placements are for a maximum of 12 weeks duration, other than in exceptional circumstances, during which plans to return home or another placement will be made and initiated. One young person is currently living at the home.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a purpose designed and newly built home located in a quiet residential area five minutes walk from the town centre and a mainline railway station. It is well served by public transport links and situated close to the motorway and other major road networks.

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection is carried out to assess the home's performance against national minimum standards under the staying safe outcome area. Progress towards meeting actions and recommendations made during the last inspection report are also checked. Young people currently resident at the home gave their views of living here.

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Summary

The home safeguards young people and promotes their wellbeing. There are clear safeguarding procedures in place. The home is good at helping young people share their views, and their concerns are taken seriously. Required information is recorded appropriately. The home is a safe and secure environment. 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

Since the last inspection the home has taken action to address all the previous actions and recommendations.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home now promotes and protects the health of the children accommodated in the home by having weekly meetings to discuss all the ongoing needs of the young people. The complaint records have been updated and now comply with national minimum standard requirements.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Action has been taken to ensure a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons are working at the home. The management have recruited three agency staff on a long-term contract until the recruitment of further permanent staff is completed. The home has now completed the required night time fire drill.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Young people currently in placement now have a personal education plan and the home has put in place a new process to ensure all young people have a personal education plan meeting in the first weeks of their placement. In addition young people of compulsory school age who are not in school have an educational programme during normal school hours, the home has made successful links with a local Pupil Referral Unit to organise appropriate provision. Senior managers now ensure emergency and/or statutory reviews take place when they are due by 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065679 addressing this with placing social workers. The results of all statutory reviews are now recorded on the young people's files as required.

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Improvements since the last inspection

All staff are now receiving at least one and a half hours one-to-one supervision each month. Staff meetings are now occurring monthly as required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Information held on behalf of all young people is correctly stored in lockable facilities. Staff are aware of their responsibilities to promote privacy and confidentiality and their practice is consistent with the local authority policies and procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of young people is promoted by an appropriate complaints policy. Young people say 'I know how to make a complaint'. There is an appropriate system in place to record any concerns made by young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home ensures staff are equipped and trained with the knowledge and understanding to fulfil their role and responsibilities regarding protection and safeguarding. The procedures in the home fully comply with the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know that bullying behaviour is not allowed and they say 'staff will intervene to ensure they are protected from bullying by others should the need arise' and 'they feel safe living here'. The staff are proactive in creating a culture within the home that provides support to vulnerable young people. There are appropriate policy and guidance for staff to follow if young people are absent from the home without permission.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are assisted to develop appropriate behaviour through the encouragement of acceptable behaviour and constructive staff responses to inappropriate behaviour. Behaviour management policies are robust and strategies have, as their prime objective the creation of a safe, supportive environment. Staff complete the required training to ensure if physical intervention is necessary it is consistent with guidance.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is positive and effective interaction between staff and the young people. Staff appear very comfortable with their role, and records identify they clearly understand the need for boundaries while maintaining a good relationship between themselves and young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home that provides for their physical safety and security. There are appropriate risk assessments for all aspects of the safety of the premises and grounds including serious incident planning, the behaviour of the young people and their activities.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The health and safety and fire records show that robust procedures are in place to protect young people and keep them safe. All the fire systems are regularly tested. Staff and young people undertake fire drills in excess of requirements. Relevant certificates show that regular servicing and maintenance is completed on all gas and electrical equipment. Certificates of Public and Employer liability are displayed as required. Staff monitor all visitors to the home. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065679

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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

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC065679

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