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

SC005050 Unique reference number 16 February 2010 Inspection date Sean White Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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30 September 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: SC005050

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Brief description of the service

This is a children's home that is part of a large organisation. The home provides care for five young people aged between 11 and 16 years old who have emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home admits young people for short to mid-term assessment who can stay for up to one year although the majority of young people stay for less than six months. All beds are available for emergency placements.

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Brief description of the service

The home is a modernised and adapted farmhouse situated in a rural and remote location. On the ground floor there is kitchen, dining room which also is used as a games room, a lounge, three bedrooms, toilet facilities, a shower room and a staff office. On the first floor there are two bedrooms and a bathroom and a staff office which has its own bathing facilities. Education can be offered on site or at either of the two other educational facilities run by the organisation. The home has transport which due to the location of the home is used to take the young people out for social, educational, medical and leisure needs.

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Brief description of the service

Staffing is dependent on the needs of young people and occupancy levels. When there is full occupancy there are three staff on duty during waking hours, one sleeping-in staff and one waking night staff. There are on-call arrangements.

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Brief description of the service

There are four young people currently living at the home.

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection, the purpose of which was to examine the progress made on issues raised following the last inspection and to inspect against all safeguarding standards.

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Summary

The registered manager was on duty throughout the inspection and three of the four resident children were in the home.

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Summary

It is evident that this is a home that is focused on the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. The practices are clearly aimed at developing warm and caring relationships, and children are very appreciative of the quality of these. This encourages them to develop a better understanding of socially acceptable behaviour and the importance of positive interactions with others.

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Summary

Children are kept safe through a combination of the encouragement and reward of good behaviour, consistent relationships with suitable staff and a secure physical environment. 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 registered person and manager have demonstrated their commitment to improvement through addressing successfully all the issues raised following the last inspection. There are now satisfactory safeguards to protect children when using the internet. Checks have been carried out on ancillary staff contracted to work in the home and improved external facilities 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC005050 to secure the premises have been installed. Internal hazards have also been minimised by installing protective covers on wall heaters.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. This is a home that takes seriously the wellbeing and safeguarding of children and young people. The manager and staff endeavour at all times to provide a safe, caring environment within which the children can grow and address the difficulties in their lives. The children are emphatic about the high quality of the relationships they have with all the workers in the home and the respect they are afforded as individuals.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a clear understanding of the need for, and importance of, confidentiality and privacy. Children's bedrooms are their own private places and they enjoy unrestricted access to private telephone facilities. Where there are risks associated with privacy these are clearly recorded and practices are in place to safeguard children in such circumstances.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an open and robust approach to the management of complaints which demonstrates a transparent commitment to improvement in areas where children's safety may be compromised.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children are encouraged and enabled to develop socially acceptable behaviour and positive ways of interacting with people. Warm and caring relationships and recognition of good behaviour is the model used by staff with sanctions only being used for the most serious of matters. This demonstrates to children the strength of good relationships and their positive impact on daily living. Bullying and unauthorised absences have been rare in recent times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical safety of the premises are well managed and have been improved further since the last inspection by minimising internal risks and improving the external security of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are rigorous staff recruitment practices in place, further improved since the last inspection.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The home has improved its security arrangements and has installed a code entry system to prevent access by unauthorised persons.

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Organisation

The organisation is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC005050

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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: SC005050

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