Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

SC358638 Unique reference number 14 August 2009 Inspection date Martha Nethaway Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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25 November 2008 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 7 Inspection Report: SC358638

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is part of a small organisation operated by a private company. The home is registered to care for one young person from the age of eight up to 18-years-old on admission, who suffers with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home offers opportunities for the young person to develop socially acceptable skills and gain an understanding of independence. The home is a semi-detached house in a residential area and close to local amenities. To the rear of the building is a small mature garden and there is limited parking spaces at the front.

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Summary

This inspection was an unannounced full inspection visit. The outcome groups relating to Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoying and Achieving, Positive Contribution, Economic Wellbeing and Organisation were assessed.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is good with an outstanding feature in the Staying Safe outcome. Staff work hard and have progressive relationships with the important people in the young people's lives so that they can be appropriately involved. Staff provide stable and consistent care for young people and this attributes to positive experiences in growing up.

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Summary

As a result of this visit there are no actions or recommendations being set. 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 continues to demonstrate commitment to ensuring the service meets the National Minimum Standards.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection, there were no actions or recommendations set.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and staff encourage them to be physically active. Young people are involved with planning the daily menus and use this as a positive learning experience to learn about different foods. Generally they enjoy deciding what to make for their meals. They help shop for the ingredients and sometimes are involved in preparing the meal. Staff talk with young people about using nutritious ingredients, such as, fresh fruits and vegetables. They are encouraged to try and use this every day in their diet. Young people experience mealtimes as sociable events because staff and young people eat together.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are clearly identified in the placement plan and good records are kept to show how these are addressed. For example, young people attend universal services, such as, a dentist, optician and doctor. This ensures that all healthcare checks are being monitored and reviewed. Young people are provided with advice and guidance from staff related to health education and this includes, smoking, alcohol and sex education. This helps prepare young people to be more informed about how to lead healthy and safe lives. 4 of 7 Inspection Report: SC358638 Young people's medication is safely managed at the home. Staff ensure that medication is stored, accessed and disposed of safely. Staff are able to manage young people's medications and records follow the information contained in the home's medicines policy and guidance. Young people are further protected because staff receive suitable, appropriate training and

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Helping children to be healthy

information to manage medication properly as part of their duties.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Young people continue to receive excellent care and support that promotes and safeguards their welfare. Staff are confident and able to understand their role and level of responsibility in terms of child protection and safeguarding practice. This is because they attend regular advanced training which is organised by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The Registered Manager has excellent links with the children's team and the local police. Staff are accomplished in providing a service that keeps young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are well informed about how they can make a complaint or raise a concern. The home has a suitable system in place to investigate and resolve complaints promptly and without delay. Staff are excellent at ensuring that young people's wishes are given strong consideration and involve advocacy services as an independent source of support for young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a caring, friendly and safe environment. Staff work actively in the home to ensure that bullying does not happen. Young people are well educated about the detrimental effects bullying behaviours have. They are clear about the home's policy on bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are provided with high levels of staffing who provide direct support, extensive levels of supervision and monitoring. All young people have a clear risk management strategy in place. Young people are well informed about the level of risk that they can place themselves at if they go missing from the home. Staff use clear procedures to respond to unauthorised absences from the home which includes clear record keeping, action taken, including messages received and given. The Registered Manager always takes the view of a young person being absent from the home without permission as a potentially serious matter.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Relationships between staff and young people are positive. Staff are able to set and maintain safe and acceptable boundaries in relation to acceptable behaviours. Young people are helped to feel safe and staff provide stability and build trust. All staff receive training in the use of physical intervention but this is only used as a last resort. Young people receive clear rewards for positive behaviours which are noticed and rewarded by staff by extending bedtime or arranging a specific activity. Staff do occasionally use sanctions with young people whereby they are encouraged to explore the consequences of their unacceptable behaviour. Records show a fair and equitable approach taken by staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take health and safety matters seriously at the home and provide a clean, safe and secure environment. In addition, staff receive health and safety training to ensure that there are safe systems of work that take full account of their legal obligations. Young people have personalised risk assessments that clearly demonstrate how risks are minimised and evaluated. Staff recognise the need to balance risk and ensure that the decisions staff make help to minimise harm. 5 of 7 Inspection Report: SC358638 The recruitment and selection records of staff was checked during this inspection. The home continues to have a robust and consistently applied approach to safe recruitment practices. As a result, the home employs suitable staff to work with vulnerable young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. Young people receive good nurturing care which is structured and supportive and enables them to establish equilibrium in their lives. young people are encouraged to fully participate in their care and education programmes. Staff are good at focusing on the needs of young people in a child centred approach which provide good continuity of care experiences. Young people are given individualised support planned with their needs and wishes and young people identified as having particular needs receive help, guidance and support when needed or requested. Young people are allocated a key worker who works closely with them. Young people understand that this is a good person to talk to if there is anything bothering them.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people's educational attainment is supported. The home actively supports, promotes and encourages education. Young people are able to utilise an education provision that best suits their needs and regularly attend education.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. The home has in place set guidelines and procedures for introducing a new young person. They are given a copy of the young person's guide on arrival which explains the rules and boundaries of the placement, introduces the staff team and explains generally how the home is run. Staff are sensitive and give young people time to help them settle into their new environment. As a result, young people are able to move into, and leave the home, in a planned and sensitive manner.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's placement plans set out the aims and objectives of their care. Young people have access to their files and are able to provide feedback on the care which they receive, through regular house meetings, consultation forms and key worker sessions.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's statutory reviews are taking place and the home contributes to this process. Staff ensure that the needs, wishes and feelings of young people are considered and identified needs are addressed. Young people are involved with preparing the review reports with their key worker. Young people are encouraged to participate in their review meeting to ensure that the placement plan continues to be appropriate and that their needs are being met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's contact arrangements are agreed prior to placement and clearly described in their placement plans. Young people's feelings and wishes are listened to and decisions are always made in the best interest of the young person. Staff are very good at making practical arrangements, such as, providing transport and arranging venues for meetings.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home has in place a clear policy and procedure to help young people prepare and plan for independence. This includes developing and extending young people's practical skills related to budgeting, choosing appropriate provisions, domestic chores and health care. All of these 6 of 7 Inspection Report: SC358638 skills are essential in making the successful transition into adulthood. Staff provide good advice, guidance and support to achieve these skills.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are living in a comfortable and satisfactory standard of accommodation. The home is decorated, furnished and maintained to a good standard, providing adequate facilities for their use.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. This home is well managed and organised. There are good management systems to ensure that the quality of care remains high and positive outcomes are being achieved for young people. The home has in place a suitable 'Statement of Purpose' that adequately explains what services and support that young people can expect. Young people also receive an appropriate version of the home's guide which explains the routines and day-to-today structure of the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. All staff receive specific training through the organisation's 'Cultural and Identity Awareness' programme. The home is planning to engage the young people within training so that they too can gain an awareness and understanding of issues surrounding equality and diversity.

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Organisation

Young people receive good levels of supervision and support and this is because the staffing rotas are well organised and the home is generously staffed. The staffing group is small and young people benefit because the quality of care is even. The home has in place a good programme for staff training and continual professional development. Just under half the staff group are trained to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 and the remaining staff are completing this programme of training.

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Organisation

As previously identified, the monthly monitoring visits are carried out and they are fully integrated into the quality assurance system of the home. Any action points are clearly identified and are followed up by the provider and manager. There is a well developed quality assurance system that focuses on the outcomes for young people and their experiences of living at the home.

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Organisation

Young people’s needs, development and progress are recorded to reflect their individuality.

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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. 7 of 7 Inspection Report: SC358638

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