Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

SC040733 Unique reference number 7 October 2009 Inspection date Anthony Kyem 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 5 Inspection Report: SC040733

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Brief description of the service

The home is a five-bedded children’s home owned and run by a local authority. The home provides medium to long term care for children and young people between the ages of 11 to 15 years on admission.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a purpose-built detached property, situated close to local amenities. There are five single bedrooms for young people, a staff sleeping-in room along with bathing and toilet facilities. There are two living rooms, an office, kitchen and utility room on the ground floor. There is a garden to the front and an enclosed garden to the rear.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. The purpose of the visit was used to assess the home's capacity to meet the recommendations and requirements identified from the home's previous inspection. The outcome area for staying safe was also assessed.

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Summary

Since the home's last inspection there have been three new admissions to the home. This has presented staff with new challenges. However, staff are very experienced workers and they support the new resident group of young people very effectively. Staff are genuinely committed and they actively encourage young people to respect themselves and their peers. They are able to establish positive relationships with young people and provide them with a safe, caring and nurturing environment.

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Summary

Staff protect young people from harmful behaviours, such as bullying, exploitation and abuse. They work well as a team to provide young people with stability and consistency of routine. Negative attitudes held by young people are challenged by staff to ensure that young people learn to understand the impact of their behaviours on others. 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

Young people's cultural needs are now consistently recorded to ensure that staff are able to promote and meet young people's comprehensive needs. Health and safety tests are now undertaken within the recommended timescales to promote health and safety within the home. There are no requirements made as a result of this inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Staff respect young people's privacy and ensure their that private records are handled securely and confidentially. All of the young people are provided with their own separate bedrooms to promote their privacy. Room searches are very rarely undertaken, but where they have occurred, they have been conducted and undertaken sensitively. 4 of 5 Inspection Report: SC040733 There are clear procedures in place to ensure that complaints are managed effectively. No complaints have been raised by young people since the home's previous inspection. There are policies and procedures in place for promoting young people's welfare and safety. All staff are trained in child protection so that they know what to do to protect young people from abuse and exploitation. Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques to enable them to manage young people's behaviours safely and effectively.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are actively supported and encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour through the creative use of incentives and rewards. Such systems are tailored around meeting individual young people's needs for support. None of the young people are deprived or disadvantaged by the rewards systems used by staff, which means that every young person receives equal treatment and opportunity. Because of this all young people achieve and have their positive behaviours rewarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are actively protected from bullying and staff actively address potential bullying behaviours. There are effective procedures in place to protect young people if they absent themselves without authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good arrangements are made to promote health and safety within the home. For example, there are suitable arrangements made for carrying out fire safety checks and fire evacuation tests. Gas and portable electrical appliances are each tested annually to ensure that potential hazards are eliminated within 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.

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 5 of 5 Inspection Report: SC040733

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