Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC066072 Inspection date 21/10/2010 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Key

p.1

Date of last inspection 27/01/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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 Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

p.2

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.

p.3

About this inspection

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 outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

p.3

Brief description of the service

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people of either gender, aged from 11 years old to 17 years old. The property is a detached house, situated in a rural area overlooking local towns.

p.4

Brief description of the service

On the ground floor of the home the accommodation consists of a lounge, kitchen, dining room, utility room and education room. The education room is registered as an independent school. On the first floor are young people's bedrooms and bathroom. Staff bedrooms are also on this floor with one used as the staff office.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Externally to the front of the house is a tarmac area for car parking. Beyond this is a grassed garden. To the side of the house is a garden with a paved patio area. The rural location of this property means access to nearby towns is by car or public transport.

p.4

Brief description of the service

One young person lives in the home and contributed to the inspection process.

p.4

Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

p.4

Summary

At this full, unannounced inspection, all the key national minimum standards were considered. The recommendation made at the previous inspection has been followed up and is noted in the improvement section of this report.

p.4

Summary

The overall outcome is that the home is judged as good with outstanding judgements in enjoying and achieving, and positive contribution. Young people have excellent levels of individual support. Staff are caring and knowledgeable about young people's needs and promote young people's well-being. Staff take all reasonable steps to keep young people safe from harm and know how to respond in the event of any allegation or serious concern about a young person's safety.

p.4

Summary

The accommodation is well maintained, homely and comfortable with the recent addition of a second lounge.

p.4

Summary

The home is well managed and has a consistent and experienced staff team. Staff are good role models and use a range of interventions to raise young people's confidence and social skills. Education is extremely well promoted and staff encourage young people to participate in a range of appropriate activities.

p.4

Summary

Staff significantly encourage and support contact between the young people and their family. This clearly benefits young people's well-being and supports their future plans.

p.4

Summary

An action has been made to ensure any visit to the young people whilst in the home is noted in their case file, as required by regulation. A recommendation about staff qualification is ongoing.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was made for 80% of staff to have a relevant childcare qualification. This has yet to be achieved. However, an ongoing programme of training is in place, to enable staff to obtain the appropriate National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Staff understand the importance for young people to have a good choice of well- balanced meals so that they have a varied and healthy diet. Staff encourage young people to eat healthily and support them to shop and make meals in the home.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

The home has a suitably furnished dining room. This gives young people the opportunity to sit at the dining table and have meals in a social environment with staff.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Young people's health needs are well promoted. Young people are registered with the usual primary health care services so that their routine health needs are met. Health care plans are informative and help to ensure staff provide good support to young people, for example, to attend medical appointments. The looked after children's nurse visits the home which allows young people the opportunity to discuss different health matters, for example, sexual health and well-being.

p.5

Helping children to be healthy

Staff have a good awareness about the safe storage and administration of medicines. They hold a relevant first aid qualification to give first aid as needed. The home has guidance in place for the safe storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Staff comment about how useful they find their most recent training about the administration of medicines.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have an individual bedroom which provides them with their own personal space. They have a mobile phone and access to a telephone in the home. This allows them to make calls in private without reference to staff. Confidentiality is well-regarded and personal records are securely stored. Young people say they feel safe living in the home. Staff are aware of the need to keep young people safe. They receive training and are familiar with safeguarding guidance. Staff follow this guidance in order to help to protect the young people from harm.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The complaints procedure is known to the young people and they have the opportunity to raise any issues they are unhappy with. Any complaint is taken seriously and dealt with appropriately. Staff offer young people individual time for open discussion. Additionally, there are people independent of the home that young people can talk to. This includes health and educational professionals.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to develop appropriate and acceptable behaviours. Staff promote a positive culture within the house which includes an emphasis on celebrating achievements. Success in areas such as education is fully recognised.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive support and training to assist them to deal properly with challenging behaviour. Staff talk positively about their work with the young people. Few physical interventions and sanctions indicate they are skilful to resolve issues before behaviour escalates. Good monitoring of the home's records shows the manager is keen to maintain effective disciplinary measures for young people.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good procedures are in place should young people go missing from the home. Staff record unauthorised absences fully, with details of the action taken to try to ensure the young person's safe return. Bullying is said not to be an issue in the home. Young people are made aware that bullying is not tolerated.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home environment is well maintained with systems in place for regular health and safety checks to be carried out. Young people and staff are aware of the fire evacuation procedures and know what to do in the event of a fire in the home.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Recruitment and employment checks are carried out by the provider to verify staff are suitable to work with young people.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have excellent levels of individual support in the home. Support from health and education professionals is readily available to young people. The provider employs therapists who are accessible to the young people so that their more specific needs are considered and met. Staff are good role models to young people. They use a range of interventions to raise young people's confidence, self-esteem and social skills. This includes support to use local community facilities in a way that helps them to integrate with their peer group.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff are extremely knowledgeable about the young people's individual needs and provide them with opportunities for discussion about a broad range of issues, such as leaving care and health. Through negotiation with the staff, young people have support to participate in a range of activities outside of the home. Young people's education is significantly promoted. The routine and ethos of the home is for young people to receive formal education and wherever possible, to attend educational establishments of their choice. At this time young people have education in the home. Although young people do not necessarily see the advantage of education, the staff are enthusiastic and teachers fully support young people's learning.

p.6

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people benefit from staff who are aware of their current educational needs and assist them to attain to their potential.

p.7

Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home has facilities to support the young people's learning, such as books, board games and quiet areas in the house. Young people have access in the home to a computer with internet access and can use this for homework or in leisure time.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Placement plans clearly identify young people's individual care needs. Plans are very informative and monitored so that extremely good outcomes are achieved for the young people. Staff are knowledgeable and familiar with the plans which significantly support them in their work with the young people.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has robust and well-established systems to review young people's care and placement plans. Staff actively encourage young people to attend their review meeting to give their views about their placement and future care. Young people say they do not always want to attend the meetings but are made aware of the outcomes. The manager ensures staff are up to date with the review outcomes and that changes to care plans are clear and understood.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff encourage young people to make choices about contact with family and friends in line with their placement plans. Staff provide excellent support for young people to maintain contact with their family so that they have positive links with those that are important to them. Practical support is given for contact to take place, such as the provision of transport and the arrangement for accommodation. Use is made of appropriate internet access to social networking sites. This allows young people to maintain friendships in a way that is an accepted part of their lifestyle and within their peer group.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are able to move into and leave the home in a planned way. Extremely good arrangements help to inform the young people of care and routines of the home prior to their admission.

p.7

Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people's views are valued and there are many opportunities for them to have their say. Young people are asked their opinions about aspects of the running of the home, for example, the decoration of the house, menus and activities. This level of consultation significantly helps to improve young people's quality of life.

p.7

Achieving economic wellbeing

Staff encourage young people to learn skills to help them, as they move towards independence. Advice is given about education, as well as support on practical matters relating to leaving care. Although young people are not of an age to have a formal leaving care plan, opportunities in the home allow young people to undertake household tasks and to gain an understanding about looking after themselves. Young people say that as part of their school day staff involve them in cooking and baking.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people benefit from comfortable and well-maintained accommodation. The decoration and furnishings in the home are of a good standard and the environment is homely and welcoming. The recent addition of a second lounge gives additional space and provides a modern and quiet room in the house.

p.8

Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people have their own bedroom and the option to personalise it, which reflects their individuality. Communal and private areas in the home allow young people the opportunity to spend time with others or by themselves.

p.8

Organisation

The home's Statement of Purpose reflects the care provided and has been updated to show recent staff appointments and relevant training. Young people have a useful information guide with details about the routines of the home and how they are to be looked after.

p.8

Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The staff group provides positive role models to young people in relation to values and attitudes in life. Young people are treated as individuals and their assessed needs are well considered. Staff take the opportunity to improve the life chances of young people, particularly through the promotion of education and individual support.

p.8

Organisation

Staff meetings occur on a regular basis and discuss in detail the work of the home and care of the young people. This helps to ensure all staff are up to date with young people's placement plans which assist them to provide a good level of care. The home has a relaxed atmosphere and the relationship between the young people and staff is friendly with firm but fair boundaries.

p.8

Organisation

Staff have good support from management in order to carry out their duties effectively. A regular team of staff work in the home. Any shortfall to cover duty shifts is undertaken as additional hours by staff who already work at the home or staff employed by the provider. On few occasions agency staff work at the home but this is alongside permanent and experienced staff. This helps to ensure consistency of care to the young people. Staff receive training to enable them to carry out their roles effectively. To increase staff competency and skills, further training to meet the more specific needs of the young people is given. This includes training to understand self-harm and the promotion of equality and diversity.

p.8

Organisation

Some of the staff have a relevant childcare qualification to help equip them with knowledge and understanding about looking after the young people who use this service. An ongoing programme of training is in place for the recommended 80% of staff to achieve National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) in child care.

p.9

Organisation

The Registered Manager of this home is also manager of another children's home owned by the same company. Their time is spent between the two homes and with additional office-based work. Experienced staff and a deputy manager support the manager in her work so that the home runs effectively. Monthly reports from an independent visitor to the home contribute to the effective running of the home.

p.9

Organisation

Young people's progress is appropriately and permanently documented. Records are securely stored and contain evidence of their history and development. However, young people's files do not clearly evidence, as is required by regulation, statutory visits from their placing authority.

p.9

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales.

p.9

Std. Action Due date

35 ensure the date of and reason for any visit to the child whilst in the home are contained in their case record (Regulation 28 (1) Schedule 3) 03/11/2010

p.9

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.9

Recommendations

 ensure a minimum of 80% of care staff have the appropriate National Vocational Qualification at level 3 care award or equivalent qualification. (NMS 29.5)

p.9