Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stoke-on-Trent

SC356318 Unique reference number 29 March 2010 Inspection date Elaine Cray Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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28 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: SC356318

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care for two young people, of either sex, between the ages of 10 and 17 years with emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties. It provides medium to long-term residential care and is owned by a private company. The home is located in a residential area that has easy access to local facilities and public transport.

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Brief description of the service

The house consists of a lounge, kitchen/diner, and conservatory on the ground floor. Each young person has their own bedroom with an adjacent bathroom on the first floor, where there is also a staff office. There is a front and rear garden.

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Summary

This is an unannounced interim inspection. The purpose of the inspection is to assess the key national minimum standards in the outcome area of staying safe and to check progress made on two actions set at the full key inspection to the home on 28th September 2009.

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Summary

The outcome area staying safe is judged as good and the overall judgement rating remains as good. The home continues to provide a good service to the young people. There are clear procedures to promote and safeguard young people’s safety. Young people are supported to improve behaviour with firm boundaries and there is a clear focus on rewarding positive and improved behaviour. Some young people present persistent, challenging and risk taking behaviours. Staff are consistent in their attempts to engage with and support these young people, including implementing procedures to manage young people going missing from care.

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Summary

One action is set as a result of this visit. 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

The home was asked to include the manager's hours on the staff rota. This has been improved to include the manager's hours. The home was also asked to provide a record of medication administered to young people, in addition to the young people's own individual records. There is now a central record for all medication received, administered and disposed of in the home.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. There are individual young people's and a home's central record for the receipt, disposal and administration of medication.

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Helping children to be healthy

Not all the key standards were assessed at this inspection and therefore the outcome judgement remains the same as at the previous inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people are protected by clear procedures and practices for promoting their welfare. Young people are protected with robust recruitment and selection processes and looked after 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC356318 by staff trained in safeguarding children and behaviour management. Staff are fully aware of the procedures regarding young people absconding and who to notify about serious incidents in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are detailed behaviour management strategies in place at the home. Staff promote clear boundaries and expectations. There is a clear focus on rewarding positive and improved behaviour. Records are well-maintained. Young people’s safety and behaviour management is promoted in clear and detailed risk assessments of their behaviour and activities. There are practical risk management strategies in place. However, the clear lack of some young people’s engagement in the home minimises a positive impact on their behaviour and the risk-taking activities they are involved in outside of the home. Staffing levels tend to involve lone working by staff. Inspection of young people's records, including information on admission and discussion with staff indicate high levels of risk taking behaviour, including aggression in the home towards staff. However, lone working arrangements were initially in place and only adjusted after specific

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

incidents had occurred in the home. While lone working arrangements are risk assessed, this assessment is not directly linked to the individual needs of each young person or how groupings of young people may impact on the running of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The privacy of young people is respected and young people enjoy their own private space. Young people are protected by an anti-bullying policy and by staff presenting a good commitment to challenging behaviour and protecting young people from bullying. Young people are protected by a clear written and accessible complaints procedure. Young people have used the information displayed in the home to register their concerns with Ofsted. These concerns have been addressed by the provider.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical environment is well maintained and monitored in terms of health and safety, with comprehensive and detailed documentation. Fire safety procedures are checked and monitored.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The registered manager 's hours are recorded on the staff rota.

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Organisation

Not all the key standards were assessed at this inspection and therefore the outcome judgement remains the same as at the previous inspection. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC356318

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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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Due date Action Standard

7 May 2010 ensure unnecessary risks to the health or safety of children accommodated in the home are identified and so far as possible eliminated, this is with particular regard to risk assessing lone working in the home. (Regulation 23 (c))

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC356318

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