Children's Home run by Future In Mind Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC063653 Inspection date 02/11/2010 Inspector Dawn Taylor Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 23/11/2009 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 Crispins, 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.

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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.

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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

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for two children aged between 6 years and under 16 with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is a small, three bedroom terraced house, situated close to local amenities. The service provides a specialist therapeutic programme and staff practice therapeutic techniques under supervision of a qualified therapist who is also a director of the organisation.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This inspection is an unannounced full key inspection visit, looking at all the key national minimum standards. The outcome groups relating to being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic well-being and organisation are all assessed and are all judged as good.

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Summary

Young people were present and involved in the inspection process.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is good. The service provides a nurturing and structured environment for young people. Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff which impact on the good progress they are making at the home. Young people are protected by clear procedures and looked after by well trained staff.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were made at the last inspection and both have been met. A written record is now kept, which includes details of the action taken, and the outcome of any action or investigation following a notifiable event. This enables managers to monitor and address any patterns and trends and ensure good practice. When disciplinary measures or restraint are used, young people are now being encouraged to write or have their views recorded and sign their names against them in the records kept by the home

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people’s health and medical needs are well managed by the staff and the quality of health care provided at the home is good. Young people's health needs are recorded in their care plans and monitored through monthly summaries produced by key workers and through the statutory reviewing process. Staff make consistent efforts to encourage young people to have a greater awareness of their own health. Positive outcomes for the young people’s health include eating more healthily, becoming more educated with regard to healthy lifestyles and taking up more exercise.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has access to an in house therapist to meet the emotional needs of young people in placement. Each young person has a personalised therapeutic programme and one-to-one therapy sessions form part of this programme.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff are keen to promote healthy eating and encourage young people to understand the benefits of a healthy diet and this is delivered through the 'Healthy Heroes' packs. These packs enable staff to engage the young people in understanding about healthy diets, exercise and making the right choices. Menus are varied, multicultural and include choice. Young people are able to be involved in shopping and cooking meals and are encouraged to develop an understanding of healthy eating and independence life skills. Young people benefit from eating freshly prepared meals and are fully involved in the planning of menus, as they are consulted about their likes and dislikes. Staff and young people usually eat together and meal times are promoted as a social occasion. All staff have received training in basic food hygiene.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safety and welfare of young people is placed in high priority and young people are safeguarded by clear and well managed procedures and practices. Young people are looked after by staff who are trained in safeguarding children procedures and understand the risk assessment and management strategies documented for each young person. Staff are fully aware of the procedures in place to support young people to make complaints, address bullying issues, promote appropriate behaviour and manage any incidents of unauthorised absence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Sanctions and restraints are not frequently used and such measures are fair and consistently applied. Risk assessments are in place for each young person, which summarise the behaviours that are exhibited by young people, identify risk triggers and strategies for risk minimisation. Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour, through encouragement of acceptable behaviour and constructive staff response to inappropriate behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The physical environment is well maintained and monitored in terms of health and safety, with comprehensive and detailed documentation. Fire safety procedures are checked and monitored.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures for the safe recruitment of staff. The staff vetting records were not inspected on this occasion.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people’s needs are assessed on an individual basis and appropriate support is afforded to each young person. Staff have a good awareness about diversity and the needs of young people through training and effective information sharing. The young people feel able to talk to the staff about their problems and the staff ratio allows for formal and informal support and guidance to take place.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Key working sessions are used with those young people willing to engage. Otherwise staff are creative in engaging young people in important discussions and record them as they happen. All discussions are based on the planning and reviewing process. This ensures individual's needs are properly assessed and the required support is planned and delivered as the young person's needs require it. Young people confirm they have the opportunity to explore their potential and develop their personal interests because staff work in a very encouraging and supportive manner.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people have access to full time facilities that reflect their educational needs and abilities. Their educational progress is actively promoted, supported and encouraged by the staff. Educational reviews are completed on a regular basis. This ensures all young people receive an education in line with their age, educational needs, interests and potential.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are supported to develop their education with a variety of plans and use of resources. For example, whilst a young person was waiting for their educational placement to be finalised, they were undertaking weekly education programmes provided by the home. Staff are very good at seeking out resources and liaising with the local education authority for services for children looked after at the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff promote educational success for the young people and key workers liaise regularly and effectively with education professionals both on a day to day basis and by attending multi-agency meetings where education targets are identified.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are supported when they move into the home, receiving a young person’s guide, which is discussed with staff support. Young people settle well, are enabled and supported to understand the reason for their placements and to feel part of the running of the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people benefit from effective assessment of their needs and placement plans that identify how their needs will be met. Key workers have sound knowledge regarding the needs of the young people they are looking after. Files contain monthly summaries which address progress on plans, linked to recommendations from the most recent statutory review meeting. Recommendations from reviews are clearly recorded on file and reflect the views and wishes of the young person and clearly identify persons responsible for action. Contact arrangements are recorded and staff work well with family members to facilitate contact and to ensure young people develop and maintain significant relationships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The staff ensure that the views of the young people are considered both with regard to the running of the home and in their own lives. Young people's meetings are about to be reintroduced now there are two young people placed in the home and where appropriate key working sessions take place. Staff demonstrate that they place great value on the views and opinions of the young people and spend a lot of quality time with them to ensure that their views can be established. There are examples of changes in practice as a response to views expressed by young people. The good relationships between the staff and the young people ensure that the lines of communication are open between them and the young people feel able to approach staff and express their wishes.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people are actively supported to develop the essential skills they will need in the transition to adulthood. Currently no young person is about to leave the home but the staff ensure that they promote independent living competencies. Young people are expected to undertake household chores and their contribution is clearly documented.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home's location is close to public transport and recreational facilities. The home is bright, clean and welcoming. Young people confirm that they are involved in the decoration of the home including personalising their bedrooms and decorating for Halloween. The lounge, large kitchen/diner and bedrooms are well furnished, well decorated and present a homely environment for young people.

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Organisation

The Statement of Purpose is very clear in setting out what care the home will provide and how this will be provided. There is a young person's guide which is presented in a form that is easily understood by young people and their families. Young people are guided through and know what services they can expect from the home and how they will be cared for.

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Organisation

There is a competent staff team working at the home, which is currently being enhanced by further recruitment. There is a balance of males and females and core consistency of staff used is good. There are effective systems in place so that there are opportunities for discussion about individual young people and the running of the home generally. This also helps to provide a consistent approach to the young people. Staff are sufficient in number to provide good care and quality time can be spent with individuals. Handover meetings are held daily, team meetings are regular, each shift has a designated shift leader and there is an on-call manager system.

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Organisation

New staff are inducted and all staff receive supervision and training including core training and national vocational qualifications in child care. There are regular annual refresher courses for staff. The rota makes sure that new workers are supported by more experienced staff.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The staff team present an openness and firm commitment to assessing and understanding the individual needs of all young people and exploring ways in which these needs can be addressed.

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Organisation

Regulation 33 visits take place as required on a monthly basis. Reports are produced and available at the home and demonstrate that all health and safety checks are completed as required. Regulation 34 monitoring is carried out regularly and the manager demonstrated awareness of pertinent issues arising from this. The care of young people accommodated in the home is monitored and continually adapted in the light of information about how it is operating.

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Organisation

Each young person has a permanent and private record of their progress maintained in files that are well organised and detailed. The files contain daily logs and information about goals and also any progress made.

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