Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC060554 Inspection date 01/12/2010 Inspector Jackie Callaghan Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 28/07/2010 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

This is one of five children's homes operated by the provider. It is a detached house that accommodates up to two young people between the ages of nine and 17 years of age. The home aims to offer a homely supportive environment where a young person can thrive and grow. It is located close to local amenities and travel networks. The home comprises of a reception room, lounge with dining facilities, overlooking a large back garden and a large kitchen. The first floor has two large bedrooms with study facilities, a bathroom and staff office/bedroom.

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Brief description of the service

At the time of this inspection the home is occupied by one young person. However, the young person was enjoying the snow and did not return to the home for the inspection. The inspector arranged to return the following day to speak with the young person, however, the young person informed the inspector over the telephone that they did not wish to engage with the inspection process.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was a interim unannounced inspection that mainly concentrated on all key national minimum standards in the outcome area of staying safe. It also looked at the two recommendations made at the last inspection, both of which have been met.

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Summary

The inspection focused on areas related to keeping young people safe, on how the home consults with young people and how the monitoring arrangements supports the operation of the service.

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Summary

This home continues to be good overall. The inspection found that the home's Registered Manager provides effective leadership which results in staff being clearly focused and guided in meeting the needs of young people. As a result, young people are benefiting from living in a home that is consistently managed and organised to achieve the best possible outcomes for those individuals accommodated. One minor recommendation has been raised with regard to recording room searches. This recommendation is to help further improve the already sound practice taking place.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the manager was asked to create a development plan and to demonstrate that young people receive active feedback following consultation.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A new development plan mapped out against the standards has been created. This identifies the intended future of the home with regard to both operation and resourcing. Young people's meeting minutes detail discussions and often include the answers to the questions raised by young people. This shows that young people are receiving ongoing active feedback.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy and confidentiality is promoted by sound guidance and good staff practice. Records of room searches are in place and mostly detail all the requirements of the national minimum standards. Currently this record does not include the time that the search took place. Although this is a very minor shortfall it could influence the findings of any monitoring, as the Registered Manager would not have all of the details to ascertain if any patterns or trends are occurring.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people living at this home are aware of the reason they are being looked after and how staff will promote their safety and protection within the home and in public places. Where concerns have been raised and incidents investigated there are full recordings of all action steps that have been completed, and minutes of all meetings.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know that bullying is not tolerated and staff demonstrate a good awareness of the vulnerabilities of the young people who reside at the home. Staff receive ongoing training in child protection and behaviour management that helps underpin safe day-to-day practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff know how to respond when young people leave the premises without permission. Staff are good at encouraging young people to reflect on the consequences of their behaviour after such incidents. This supports young people to learn how to be safe and behave responsibly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged and supported by staff to behave in ways that will help prepare them for rehabilitation, home or eventual independence. Staff help young people identify and maintain safe behavioural boundaries that will help their reintegration and personal development. Young people confirm that staff help them address their problems and behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff working at the home take positive steps to keep young people and visitors safe from all environmental hazards including fire. For example, risk assessments on the environment are completed and updated on a regular basis and staff within the home are all involved in these routines to ensure that health and safety is promoted by everyone. Portable appliance testing, for electrical safety, has been done on all equipment in the home and all safety equipment has been serviced with approved regularity and is properly maintained. Frequent checks are undertaken on fire equipment, emergency lighting and fire drills are regularly completed. The Registered Manager ensures that utilities, domestic equipment and vehicles are checked to ensure they are safe to use. As a result, young people live in a home that provides physical safety and security.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has robust procedures in place for the monitoring of visitors to the home. Staff personnel files are kept centrally. These files had been examined at the last key inspection on the 28 July 2010. The organisation that owns this home has a clearly defined recruitment process. This helps to protect young people by ensuring that all requirements of this national minimum standard are met, prior to staff being employed. A written record of this process is maintained for inspection and is followed in respect of all staff currently employed.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home's records confirm that young people are actively involved with the decision-making processes within the home. Regular informative dialogue between staff and young people takes place when considering any issues that affect the running of the home. The interactions between staff and young people reveal that the home continues to provide a relaxed setting where the involvement of young people is used to positively shape the nature of the care provided.

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Organisation

There is an appropriate development plan in place which shows how the home plans to maintain or improve current resources. Good systems are in place to monitor the service and daily lives of young people currently living in the home. The organisation has established a pattern of management monitoring and reporting procedures, which is implemented effectively by the home's Registered Manager.

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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

 develop the documentation on room searches to include the time that the search took place. (NMS 9.8)

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