Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC377825 Inspection date 06/12/2010 Inspector Carole Moore Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 14/07/2010 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 a small home offering care for three young people between the ages of 10 and 17 with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The house is in a residential area, with easy access to leisure and community facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The house has three young people's bedrooms, a bathroom and a small staff sleeping-in room on the first floor, and a small room used as an electronic games/chill-out room. There is a large living room, a large kitchen/dining room, an accessible bathroom, a staff office, and a staff cloakroom with en-suite toilet, on the ground floor. There is a large paved yard and outbuilding.

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Brief description of the service

One young person was present during part of the inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was an interim unannounced inspection that concentrated on all key national minimum standards in the outcome area of staying safe. It also looked at the action and three recommendations made at the last integrated inspection where the school was judged as inadequate and this was reflected in the overall outcome being satisfactory.

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Summary

This home is no longer registered as a school and overall outcomes are good. 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 is still not fully met in that pathway plans are proving difficult to obtain from local authorities. This recommendation is to help further improve the already sound practice taking place.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection, the home was required to promote the educational attainment of children accommodated in the home. The Registered Manager has taken steps to ensure all young people have some form of education or work-based activity to promote their self-esteem, and develop resilience and confidence as they move towards adulthood.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has submitted their child protection policies for consideration and comment by the Local Safeguarding Children Board. All staff are enrolled on the National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in caring for children and young people. The recommendation in relation to pathway planning is still being pursued.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy and confidentiality are promoted by sound guidance and good staff practice. Young people are valued and respected and staff practice conveys that they promote safety, respect and dignity. Communication with young people takes place in a manner that respects their right to privacy and confidentiality. Staff seek permission before entering their bedrooms.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's right to complain is fully supported by the home's staff. They are aware of their responsibilities in relation to promoting an individual's rights and to ensure young people's voices are heard. As a consequence, young people know how to make a complaint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff develop positive, strong relationships with young people. They adhere to the behaviour management policies. As a result, sanctions and restraints are used appropriately. Staff are acutely aware of the need to balance their interventions with positive feedback and rewards for young people's achievements. Rewards are creative and individual to each young person. All staff receive training in managing behaviour and physical restraints, and record all incidents within a range of recording systems. The home's practices help young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour through positive reward for acceptable behaviour and constructive response to inappropriate behaviour.

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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

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 are 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 and 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. The organisation also has yearly health and safety checks undertaken by an outside organisation. 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 and they have a clear recruitment process in place. This helps to protect young people by ensuring that all requirements of this national minimum standard are met, prior to staff being employed.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people receive high levels of individual support when they need it. The placement plan for each young person addresses how support for individual needs will be provided and daily recordings evidence how the young person's needs are addressed in practical terms. Staff are open to addressing a range of possible needs, including, for example, culture, religion, mental health, independence training, planning for the future, relationships and trauma. Formal meetings with a key worker are recorded in an appropriate manner where young people can express how they are feeling and how they think they are doing working towards personal targets. Young people also have access to advocates outside the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The manager and staff actively promote education to motivate young people to achieve successfully. Attendance at either mainstream school, alternative school placements and work placements are identified immediately the young people are placed. The home's education policy clearly sets out the roles and responsibilities of staff in relation to school attendance and learning. Young people's files contain a good range of information regarding education; consequently staff are well informed about individual needs. The home's records demonstrate that staff are actively involved in supporting and promoting young people's educational arrangements. Regular communication takes place between education settings and the home regarding young people's progress and attendance. Where there are any difficulties accessing education the Registered Manager is proactive in calling meetings, following up placing social workers and ensuring some form of education is provided.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

There are opportunities for young people to participate in a range of appropriate leisure activities and to pursue their particular interests if they so wish which take account of their race, culture, language, religion and abilities. The young people are encouraged to make and sustain appropriate friendships outside of the home.

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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 there is a comprehensive plan for young people preparing to leave care, which specifies the support they will need to receive to enable a successful transition into adulthood. This plan is consistent with and also contributes to the pathway plan. (NMS 6.1)

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