Children's Home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Shropshire

SC062288 Unique reference number 8 February 2010 Inspection date Julian Mason 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: SC062288

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Brief description of the service

The home is a detached property located in extensive grounds. It is in the countryside adjacent to a main road and within easy reach of several large towns. The home is registered for up to four young people of either gender, aged between 9 to 17 years. It states in the home's Statement of Purpose that placements are short-term to enable a programme of assessment to be undertaken. The home aims to provide young people with a stable and caring environment that enables their needs to be fully assessed.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. The visit concentrated on the one statutory requirement made at the last key inspection in May 2009. In addition, the Every Child Matters outcome area for staying safe was inspected. At the time of the inspection, four young people were living at the home but did not participate in the inspection process.

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Summary

At the last key inspection the home was assessed as good. Following this inspection the overall judgement remains the same. This judgement will be reviewed again at the home's next full inspection when all key national minimum standards will be re-assessed. 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 last inspection, the home was required to make improvements to the administration of medication to ensure the health and safety of each young person was being properly promoted. This has now been successfully actioned.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people's medication is safely stored, administered and managed through established practice routines that are matched to the home's medicines policy. In addition, the Registered Manager and staff team use effective monitoring systems that help prevent discrepancies and mistakes. This means that young people are receiving their medication in the right way to support their continued good health.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people live in a stable and safe home because the staff team have a good focus on their welfare and protection. The Registered Manager provides good leadership because staff roles and responsibilities are clearly defined in terms of how to manage risks and promote safety. Staff have completed refresher child protection training as well as behaviour management training which includes the use of physical restraint. Young people are encouraged to behave well and are able to improve their behaviour with appropriate supervision and support from staff. The focus of the staff team is to praise good behaviour and the home's records evidence this well through a newly developed reward scheme. Staff responses to young people's poor behaviour is appropriately recorded so senior staff are able to effectively monitor the use of 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062288 formal sanctions or physical interventions. Young people are also encouraged to share their

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

views about how the home helps them manage their behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff promote an environment where bullying behaviour is not tolerated and any form of unwanted behaviour is challenged. Staff are actively engaged in anti-bullying work with young people and as a consequence of this, the home is a safe and comfortable place to live and work. Young people's privacy is respected and staff understand how to keep information confidential and private. Young people are discouraged from leaving the home without permission because staff work in partnership with each young person to prevent these circumstances from occurring in the first place. Staff are successfully engaging with young people to help them reduce the risks that are associated with this kind of behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know how to make a complaint or raise a concern about the operation of the home and staff always listen to what they have to say. Most complaints are dealt with informally but the home has a more formal process that young people can use if necessary. Young people can also speak to a visiting advocate who provides a further safeguard if they wish to raise an issue outside of the home's staffing or management arrangements. The home's records show that all complaints are investigated and where possible resolved to the satisfaction of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's protection is further supported by good health and safety routines and appropriate staff recruitment, selection and vetting practices. The Registered Manager ensures that new staff only start work in the home once all the necessary checks have been satisfactorily completed. Regular checks are made of the home's environment to ensure hazards and risks are minimised. Utilities and equipment are checked and serviced within required timescales and fire prevention routines and tests are carried out frequently.

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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. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062288

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