Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

SC008487 Unique reference number 16 October 2009 Inspection date Mark Kersh Inspector Key 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 8 Inspection Report: SC008487

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Brief description of the service

This is a children’s home which can accommodate six young people. It is owned and run by a private organisation. The property is a semi-detached house situated on a suburban road, close to local amenities and transport links and is indistinguishable from other houses in the area. The young people have their own single rooms. Food, care and accommodation are provided for all residents.

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Brief description of the service

Education can be provided by tutorial time offered by the organisation at an additional cost to placing authorities. A range of activities are provided and a vehicle is provided for general transport including to and from school. Information about the home is given to young people, their family and placing authorities.

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Brief description of the service

There are currently three young people living at the home, at the time of this inspection. two young people were present and contributed to the inspection.

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Summary

At this unannounced full inspection, all key standards were inspected. This is a good service in most respects with excellent outcomes being achieved for young people's health. Young people's welfare is enhanced by the good relationships that exist between staff and young people and between young people and their peers. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and to prepare for independent living. The care planning documentation is personalised and detailed in content. The home works closely with a wide range of outside agencies in order to meet the full range of young people's needs. Staff receive good support from the manager who has a strong commitment and focus on improvement. However, some minor improvements are needed in relation to fire evacuation, consultation, contact arrangements and staff qualifications. 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

Following the previous inspection the registered manager was asked to ensure the interior and exterior of the home is maintained. That first aid boxes contain the required up to date stock and any sanction imposed be numbered. The home is maintained well and provides a homely environment for young people. New first aid boxes have been purchased and are regularly monitored to ensure adequate stock is available. Any sanction imposed is numbered and can be referenced to other records. These steps ensure action has been taken to make improvements within well considered timescales.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is outstanding. Young people have choices in respect of foods they wish to eat in the home and are actively involved in the planning, shopping and preparation of meals. This equally applies for those young people commencing a programme of independence training. Staff understand the importance of nutritious and well balanced meals and promote healthy eating and exercise with young people. Menus include choices and records are kept of meals young people actually eat, for monitoring purposes. Allergies, food likes and dislikes are recorded within individual young 4 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 people's health plans. Meals meet cultural and dietary needs of individual young people and foods from diverse cultures are prepared or purchased.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are given utmost priority and clear records of assessment enable staff to arrange necessary health appointments for young people. Young people are registered with local primary health care services so that their routine health needs are met. There is excellent health information available to young people in the home and good links are maintained by staff with health professionals and agencies. These arrangements provide young people with good advice and guidance about health matters. This includes information about sexual health, drug awareness and smoking cessation, which significantly increases young people's knowledge and understanding in these areas.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are protected by the procedures trained staff follow for the storage, administration, recording and disposal of all medication. Non prescribed medication is routinely monitored for date expiry and clear records show actual medication kept corresponds with records maintained. Staff are qualified to administer first aid treatment as needed. There is sufficient stock in first aid boxes and the contents are regularly checked and purchased as necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people say their privacy is respected by staff, who always knock on their bedroom door before entering. Appropriate levels of confidentiality are maintained through the management and secure storage of records. Young people have their own mobile phones and access to a landline telephone in the home. The location of this telephone is convenient for making and receiving calls in private.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people confirm that staff take all concerns and complaints seriously. Clear information is given to young people advising them of what they should do if they have a concern or complaint about the care they receive in the home. Young people have access to freepost complaint forms without having to request these from staff. Policies and procedures are in place to ensure a response to any complaint is managed within a set timeframe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected as staff follow a clear procedure for responding to safeguarding concerns. The home has established links with the local safeguarding board. All staff are trained in child protection that commences at induction and is then updated annually. These arrangements ensure staff are sufficiently knowledgeable about keeping young people safe from harm. The home is effective in addressing issues around bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When young people abscond staff know what to do and follow agreed procedures. Detailed records show instances of staff contacting appropriate authorities. Young people being absent from the home without authority is currently not an issue. Records show instances of young people returning home later than the agreed time; in all events contact is maintained with young people and they return safely to the home. There has been one significant event following the last inspection, and records show no safeguarding issues and that the home acted appropriately.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour and staff are constructive and consistent in their response to inappropriate behaviour. The use of restraint has not occurred 5 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 for some considerable time and staff confirm this is seen as a very last resort. Sanctions are minimal and when imposed are agreed by young people. Incentives and rewards are used to manage young people's behaviour. The process for managing young people's behaviour is supported by individual written plans which set out clear guidance for staff. This includes identifying triggers and deploying strategies to reduce the need for imposing sanctions.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people, staff and visitors are protected from risk from fire and other identified hazards. Fire safety checks and evacuation tests are completed and recorded at regular intervals and equipment is serviced as required. However, fire evacuations at night are not routinely carried out. Written risk assessments are in place for individual young people and activities are regularly risk assessed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Ofsted has undertaken an audit of staff personnel files in May 2009; any shortfalls found are being addressed by the provider. There are no recruitment issues within this home, staff looking after young people are safe to do so. All visitors to the home sign in and out and young people are not left unsupervised with people entering the home. All visitors to the home are advised of the fire procedure and assembly point.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive good support that meets their individual needs. Detailed records following keyworker sessions show staff working with young people on specific identified outcomes. Regular meetings take place between young people and staff, records show they are actively involved in discussions and staff address all comments and views raised by young people. Keyworkers are responsible for completing checklist sheets within young people's case files. This ensures files are orderly, contact with young people's family is made and arrangements made for any events in respect of young people. Young people have access to person's independent of the home, for support, and know how to contact the children's rights officer and Ofsted.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are positive in their approach to young people's learning and regular discussions in this area are an integral part of life at the home. Staff share their learning experiences with young people and young people are eager to share their experiences with staff. School and college attendance is good and staff have developed strong links with them to ensure they are kept informed of young people's educational needs. Education information is obtained and incorporated into young people's placement plans and individual case files. There are a range of incentives to promote young people's involvement in education.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have access to a wide range of information within the home which provides them with opportunities to participate in recreational activities within the community as well as in the home. Budgets allocated are sufficient and enable young people to carry on with their individual hobbies and interests. Leisure opportunities take account of young people's interests, culture and religion. Young people and staff celebrate birthdays, name days, cultural and religious festivals. Young people's views inform choices of interest during weekly meetings with staff, although individual and group holidays have not been discussed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. 6 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 Young people have their needs thoroughly assessed and planned for. Placement plans are designed to be person centred and capture young people's identity, ethnicity, race and religion. They include outcomes for young people to achieve and strategies to any barriers identified. Plans are updated each month and provide a good audit trail of young people's progress in the home. Young people's statutory reviews are carried out within timescales and young people are encouraged and supported by staff to attend and express their views. Good methods of consulting with young people exists as part of the reviewing process as well as daily consultations with staff. Consultation arrangements are in place for placing social workers and young people's families. Questionnaires sent out are returned from social workers although none have been received from parents.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are supported in maintaining contact with their family and those people they consider closest to them. Staff advocate well on young people's behalf in requesting contact visits and seeking information as to why contact arrangements for some young people, with specific family members are not arranged as discussed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Policies and procedures are followed for admissions to the home, careful consideration is given in respect of any new admission and the impact this may have on themselves and other young people. Referral information is scrutinised and only when all risks have been considered are agreements made with placing authorities to accommodate young people. These steps ensure young people are not placed inappropriately. When young people leave the home they complete feedback sheets of their time spent in the home, and the occasion is marked in some way.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Young people at an age where they are taking responsibility for their own care receive good levels of support and information from staff. This enables them to prepare to live independently in the wider community. Daily and weekly independent programmes are followed by young people and monitored by staff for progress, all of which are recorded within detailed care plans. Staff have established good links with outside agencies to ensure plans for young people leaving the home have considered every eventuality and their new placement is suited to them. Balancing the care provided to young people who are at an age for independence and young people below this age is at times challenging. Records and risk assessments show strategies for managing this appropriately.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is maintained to a good standard of decorative repair and provides young people with a comfortable, clean and pleasantly furnished home. The décor, fixtures and fittings and furniture are appropriate and meet the needs of young people and staff. Young people have their own key to their bedrooms and can secure their personal belongings. There are sufficient toilet and washing facilities to meet the needs of young people and staff.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The home's statement of purpose provides detailed information to parents and placing authorities about the services the home provides, and is available on request. This document makes clear the home's commitment to equality and diversity. There is good information for young people within a welcome pack they receive on admission to the home. There is a wide range of printed material available for young people 7 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487 and staff which covers equality and diversity. The home celebrates regular events and festivities all of which are linked to young people's individual diary dates. Staff receive equality and diversity training. Young people's case files and care planning documentation reflect individual needs and differences.

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Organisation

Young people benefit from the effective leadership provided by the management team who are committed to promoting good parenting strategies. The management team are suitably qualified and experienced, including supervisory experience and are able to cover the Registered Manager's absence. New staff have completed their induction including mandatory training and are working towards their National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. All staff receive regular supervision, which allows them to identify areas of professional development, self evaluation and to discuss young people's needs. Team meetings are held regularly and sufficient time is allocated for staff handovers.

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Organisation

Good arrangements are made for reviewing the quality of care to ensure the smooth operations of the home. The Registered Manager routinely audits the home's administrative systems to make sure that what staff do, they do well.

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Organisation

Young people's case files and other documentation is detailed. This facilitates good communication with other professionals. Young people have a good record of their history and how they are cared for according to their individual and ever changing needs.

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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 fire evacuation drills take place at night (NMS 26.8) • ensure young people's views inform the choice of any individual and group holidays (NMS 15.6) • obtain and record the opinions and views of the parents of the young people accommodated at the home on a regular basis (NMS 8.6) • ensure arrangements following discussions in relation to contact are in place for all young people (NMS 4.2) • ensure that at least 80% of all staff have a qualification at NVQ level 3 or an equivalent qualification. (NMS 29.5) 8 of 8 Inspection Report: SC008487

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