Children's Home run by Horizon Care Limited in Staffordshire

SC062406 Unique reference number 16 March 2010 Inspection date Nicola McEvinney Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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23 November 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: SC062406

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home operated by a private company. It is a large detached property located in a rural area on the outskirts of a town. The home specialises in offering a service for young people who are placing themselves or others at risk of harm. Both emergency and planned placements are permitted.

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Brief description of the service

The home has an open plan lounge and dining room, a kitchen and education room equipped with a computer and computer games. Bedrooms are sited on the first floor along with a bathroom. There are also toilet facilities on the ground floor. There are spacious gardens and the home has its own car to transport young people.

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Summary

The purpose of this interim unannounced inspection was to check on the progress made on the recommendation made at the last inspection and to ensure young people are kept safe.

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Summary

There are some good aspects to this home. It has a good approach to behaviour management which young people readily accept. There are good behaviour management plans in place which ensures staff take a consistent approach in caring for the young people. It is a well maintained home creating a homely environment for the young people placed.

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Summary

There are no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection. 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 has met the recommendation made at the last inspection. Menus demonstrate that young people are encouraged to eat healthily; salad or vegetables are served at each main meal. One of the incentives young people have is to ensure that they eat plenty of fruit.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Menus demonstrate that salad or vegetables are available to the young people at mealtimes. Fruit is readily available and young people are encouraged to eat this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. Young people's placement plans set out how young people are to be kept safe in the home. These plans address, for example, the use of seatbelts whilst in a car, the use of knives, mobile phone use and issues of bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's files are kept securely to ensure confidentiality. However, young people may have access to their files. A phone for the young people is available but phone use is supervised for some individuals in accordance with their care plan. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062406 Young people are encouraged to make representation and supported when doing so. A proforma is completed at house meetings by each young person to give their feedback on how the week has been for them. They are invited to comment on what has been good for them and what has been bad. This ensures that staff are aware if anything is troubling a young person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are vigilant in ensuring young people are kept safe. Internet access is supervised to ensure young people do not access inappropriate sites. All staff have had safeguarding training. Young people are supported to explore their sexuality in a safe environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Although there is no bullying behaviour, this issue is discussed with young people. Both aspects of bullying is addressed, how an individual can be a perpetrator or a victim, this enables young people to look at their own behaviours.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are individual protocols in place to ensure staff take appropriate action when a young person leaves the home without permission or fails to return to the home when expected. Staff are vigilant, due to the vulnerability of the young people placed, in ensuring that they know their whereabouts at all times. There is guidance to the staff on what action to take if a young person runs away from them whilst out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a good approach to behaviour management. Behaviour management plans are in place for each young person, identifying triggers, if known, with strategies in place to manage these behaviours. Each young person is on an incentive scheme, with individual achievable targets that young people strive to attain. No restraints are recorded and very few sanctions have been used.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are individual risk assessments in place identifying the risk with strategies in place to minimise this risk. Fire records are in good order with drills held regularly, including at night and when a new young person or staff member joins the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The identity of visitors to the home is checked to ensure only authorised people have access to the home.

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Organisation

The organisation is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC062406

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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: SC062406

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