Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

SC390577 Unique reference number 27 October 2009 Inspection date Helen Walker 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: SC390577

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for one young person of either gender, aged from 10 to 17 years old. The home is a three bedroom detached property situated in a residential area of a large town. The accommodation is over two floors. The ground floor has an open plan hallway with the following rooms leading from this; lounge, schoolroom, cloakroom with toilet, kitchen with dining area and utility room.

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Brief description of the service

On the first floor is the young person's bedroom with fitted furniture and a hand washbasin, a house bathroom and two staff bedrooms with one incorporating the office. Externally the home has a garage and driveway to provide off road car parking. The front garden is grassed with a pathway which leads to the rear garden. The rear garden has a patio area with a split level lawn, mature trees and shrubs. The home is close to local amenities with good access links to public transport.

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Brief description of the service

One young person lives in this home and participated in the inspection process.

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to follow up on two actions and a recommendation made at the last inspection and to assess key standards under the outcome area of staying safe.

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Summary

The home continues to provide a good level of care to young people. The actions and recommendation made at the last inspection are commented on in the improvement section of this report.

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Summary

There are adequate numbers of staff to meet the assessed needs of young people. In the absence of the Registered Manager an experienced and childcare qualified acting manager is in post. This helps to ensure effective management of the home. Staff have a good understanding about keeping young people safe from harm and know how to respond in the event of an allegation or serious concern about a young person's safety.

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Summary

The home environment is well-maintained and systems are in place to ensure appropriate health and safety checks are carried out.

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Summary

A recommendation in relation to staff qualification has been made. 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

At the last inspection, the provider was required to ensure medication records are kept in good order and that arrangements are known for the management of the home in the absence of the Registered Manager.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Suitable arrangements for the recording of any medicines received into the home are now in place. In the absence of the Registered Manager appropriate arrangements have been made for an acting manager to be in post, which helps to ensure the efficient running of the home. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC390577 A recommendation was also made in respect of staff qualifications. This has yet to be achieved. However, an ongoing programme of training is in place, to enable staff to obtain the appropriate National Vocational Qualification at level 3.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Guidance is in place for the safe storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Good monitoring systems ensure staff maintain records of medicine received and stored in the home. Staff are qualified to administer first aid treatment as needed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's privacy and confidentiality is well regarded in the home. For example, young people have individual bedrooms and access to a telephone that can be used without reference to staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a complaints system in place and young people are made fully aware of this. No complaints have been made by the young people but opportunities exist for them to discuss any matter they are unhappy with. This includes contact with staff and with other professionals. Young people said they have been given details, including telephone numbers, of children's rights organisations they can get in touch with.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take all reasonable steps to keep young people safe from harm and know how to respond in the event of any allegation or serious concern about a young person's safety. Safeguarding training helps staff to protect and promote the welfare of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Procedures in the home support staff to take the appropriate action if a young person is missing from the home. Staff have a good understanding about countering bullying and young people confirm there is no bullying in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff work well with the young people to ensure suitable incentive schemes are in place. This encourages young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Young people said that as an incentive they receive money for attending education, which encourages them to continue to attend and enables them to spend money on items they want to buy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The house is well-maintained and staff understand the need to keep a safe home environment. Health and safety systems are in place and checks of equipment in the home are routinely carried out, to confirm this is safe to use.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the last inspection, one new member of staff has been employed at the home. Robust recruitment and employment procedures help to ensure staff have the required checks and are suitable to work with young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC390577

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Adequate staffing levels are maintained in the home so that young people's assessed care needs are met. Some of the staff have yet to obtain a relevant childcare qualification, to help them in their understanding of caring for the young people. However, there is an ongoing programme of training for staff, to enable them to obtain the appropriate National Vocational Qualification at level 3.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager of the home is currently on planned absence from the home. To ensure effective management of the home during their absence, an experienced and qualified acting manager is in post. Additionally, a deputy manager is also employed and they take on management responsibilities as required. This arrangement helps to ensure the home continues to be organised, managed and staffed in a manner that delivers the best possible childcare.

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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 a minimum of 80% of care staff have the appropriate NVQ level 3 care award or equivalent qualification. (NMS 29.5) 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC390577

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