Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

Unique reference number SC394478 Inspection date 16/11/2010 Inspector Sharon Lloyd Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 30/03/2010 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

The home is a semi-detached four bedroom property, providing care and accommodation for three young people, between the ages of 11 and 17 years. The home is situated close to local amenities and bus routes and benefits from having easy access to the city centre.

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Brief description of the service

The home is owned and managed by a private company and is one of two children's homes registered with Ofsted. The home comprises two communal lounge areas, dining area, kitchen, laundry and washing facilities. There is also a staff sleep-in room and office.

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Summary

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

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Summary

Young people feel safe in the home and staff follow good procedures that promote their safety and welfare. Good behaviour management techniques help young people to gain control over their own behaviour and to develop appropriate strategies for dealing with their anger. One action is raised in relation to the condition of the premises and two recommendations are made relating to minor shortfalls in meeting the national minimum standards.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection, the provider was required to maintain the premises to a good standard of structural repair; in particular by repairing the water leak in the cellar. This was caused by flooding in the cellar after heavy rainfall. The local water board have addressed the problem by carrying out repairs to communal pipes. The cellar floor is not yet completely dried out but is well on the way. A damp odour remains and the home is not planning to allow children and young people to use this part of the house until all walls are completely dried out and the smell of damp has gone. This action is repeated because further damage to the premises that occurred in May 2010 has not been repaired.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations were made and both have been addressed. Young people have individual health records that detail any appointments or treatment they have while at the home. Complaints are recorded in the log and the full details are kept in young people's files and move with young people when they leave. This means that the home maintains a record of all complaints so that the responsible person can review and monitor them and take action to address any trends that might occur.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people report that staff respect their privacy and promote their dignity. They have their own bedroom door keys so they can store their private possessions safely. When entering a young person's bedroom, staff follow good procedures that protect both the young person and themselves. Staff encourage young people to respect others and discourage them from displaying sexually explicit material that is disrespectful to women.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know how to use the complaints procedure but report they are well treated at the home and have no complaints. There has been one complaint about the home since the last inspection, which was appropriately dealt with. A further complaint by a young person was appropriately and quickly passed on to the placing authority as it did not relate to the home. One young person was complimented by a neighbour who appreciated his willing helpfulness.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff know what to do should a young person make a disclosure or allegation of abuse. They are familiar with the home's procedure that ensures young people are kept safe during the course of an investigation. Staff address any issues of bullying promptly with both the perpetrator and the victim because bullying is not tolerated in the home. Young people confirm that there is no bullying. Good procedures promote the welfare of young people who are missing from home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a reduction in young people's violence and aggression because the home promotes tolerance of others and good anger management through its effective behaviour management techniques and key worker sessions. Restraint is used sparingly and as a very last resort when young people or staff are in danger of assault. The log of restraints does not always clearly record which restraint techniques are used so it cannot demonstrate that young people are restrained safely in accordance with agreed methods. The home records that there is a debriefing session with young people following the restraint and this usually incorporates the young person's view of the incident. However, young people do not sign to show they are in agreement with the record.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people report they feel safe in the home. They know how to evacuate the premises in the event of a fire and they know that staff carry out health and safety checks so they feel confident that the home is a safe and secure place to live. Staff follow good health and safety procedures and ensure that annual checks are completed on services and appliances. There are some shortfalls in the structural repair of the home. There is some unsightly damage to a young person's bedroom wall and the Yale lock on the office door is not working. The former does not give the young person a positive message about looking after and caring for the environment. The latter compromises the safety of young people's confidential information and staff members' belongings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Visitors to the home are recorded; however, young people are sometimes left unsupervised in the presence of workmen for short periods. This compromises their safety. Staff files were not checked because they have been stolen from a locked metal filing cabinet when in transit from one office to another. The police are investigating this crime but in the meantime the home has secured written confirmation that all staff have had a satisfactory enhanced level Criminal Records Bureau check.

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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.

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Std. Action Due date

24 maintain the premises to a good standard of structural repair (Regulation 31.2). 17/12/2010

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure that any visitors who have not been satisfactorily checked by the Criminal Records Bureau are not allowed unsupervised access to the home (NMS 27.10)  ensure that records of restraints contain details of the actual restraint used and encourage young people to sign their name against the record (NMS 22.9, 22,14).

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