Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

Unique reference number SC405448 Inspection date 12/10/2010 Inspector Julia Toller Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 20/04/2010 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 large detached premises in a residential area, close to all local amenities, and range of educational facilities. It is close to public transport routes and motorway networks. Downstairs there are two large reception rooms, a spacious kitchen area with breakfast bar, separate dining room/utility area staff office, and two conservatories. Upstairs there are five spacious single bedrooms, 1 bathroom with bath and shower facilities and 1 separate shower room. There are extensive gardens to the front and rear of the property.

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Summary

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

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Summary

At this unannounced key inspection, all key standards were inspected. This is a good service overall.

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Summary

Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff, they are afforded a range of facilities and opportunities to encourage and support a healthy lifestyle, to develop their life skills and to reach good outcomes from education. There are some shortfalls in the monitoring of the home and health care plans. However, the extensive gardens provide excellent opportunities for young people to participate in a wide range of leisure activities with staff.

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Summary

Staff benefit from a good level of training and support, they work well with other professionals to meet the complex and holistic needs of young people in areas such as emotional and physical well-being.

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Improvements since the last inspection

This was the first inspection of the home since they were registered in May 2010, and as such there are no actions or recommendations to monitor.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There are no outstanding issues from the registration visit.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff monitor young people to make sure they are healthy by encouraging them to attend routine health checks and by ensuring they get medical treatment when they are unwell. However, health care plans for young people do not always contain all up to date information regarding young people. This does not ensure that staff are aware of the individual health care needs of young people and how these are being met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff deal with health issues sensitively and make sure young people get appropriate support and advice to promote healthy lifestyles. The home has good links with specialist health and advisory services to make sure that young people get suitable support with specific health issues.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are safe and suitable facilities for the storage of medication at the home. The induction programme for staff ensures that staff are trained so that they are competent to give medicines safely. The home has an effective system for the safe administration of medicines. This helps to make sure that the health needs of young people are met.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are encouraged to eat healthy and nutritious meals, staff encourage young people to develop healthy eating habits. They are encouraged to plan and choose what they have to eat. Staff are appropriately trained in food hygiene and have the skills and knowledge to ensure that the dietary needs of young people are met.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are appropriate policies and procedures regarding safeguarding and anti- bullying, which help staff to keep young people safe. Staff receive formal safeguarding training during which they learn about the signs and symptoms of abuse; this knowledge helps staff to keep young people safe. Although, there have been some incidents of bullying at the home, appropriate action has been taken to address these. Risk assessments have been carried out in respect to bullying and other pertinent risks to young people and staff. This helps to safeguard young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff respect young people's privacy and confidentiality which is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect young people. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities to promote and safeguard young people’s welfare. Ofsted are notified of serious incidents at the home in line with Schedule 5 of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff provide a good level of supervision for young people, based on their age, to make sure they are safe in the home and in the community. They also give young people good advice about personal safety. Comprehensive risk assessments help to ensure that all staff are aware of the risks apparent to young people and how to minimise these.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have clear and consistent boundaries. They know what is expected of them and what is unacceptable, staff praise young people when they do well and reward them. They also reassure young people when they are upset and help them deal with their anxieties and frustrations in a positive way. Staff act as positive role models and use good communication skills to encourage young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home makes sure that young people have access to information about their rights and how to deal with their concerns through the complaints procedure. Young people know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy. While the home keeps a written record of complaints, records of the action taken in response to the complaint and its outcome are not always made. Efforts are made to discuss any issues young people may have on an informal basis, but they know who they could go to outside of the home if necessary.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

With the exception of some fire bell tests, regular checks of the fire safety equipment are carried out. Young people live in a safe and secure environment. Additional health and safety checks of the home, including a fire safety risk assessment, help to keep the home a safe place for young people to live in.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The vetting of people wishing to work at the home is sound. The home carries out checks with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). This makes sure that young people are kept safe.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people are able to talk to staff about problems and receive individual support when they need it. Staff try to spend a lot of time individually with young people. There are examples of young people getting advice and support with a broad range of needs, including sexuality, healthy lifestyles and relationships.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff support young people's education. Their educational needs are identified in written plans and there are clear arrangements for meeting these. Staff support young people in achieving success in education and employment and promote the benefits of achieving a successful future.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The home works well with professionals to secure suitable schools and work placements for young people. Their preferences are taken into account and they have opportunities to study and get work experience in areas that interest them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people have clear written placement plans, identifying their needs and outlining the arrangements for meeting them. Staff put the plans into practice and keep some records about young people’s progress and experiences. The plans are reviewed regularly to make sure that they are up to date and continue to meet the individual needs of young people.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff liaise with families to make sure that regular contact takes place and provide finances to help make this a positive experience. Contact records are maintained to ensure staff are aware of the arrangements for young people to meet with their family.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are listened to and their views about their lives are taken into account. Staff work with young people to encourage them to make decisions about their future.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Staff consult with young people to gain their views about the way the home is run. They are involved in decisions such as what food they eat, what they do in their spare time and how the home is decorated.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Staff prepare young people for adult life; they are encouraged to take more responsibility for themselves in line with their age and understanding. They routinely learn skills through taking part in the running of the home, such as shopping, planning meals, cooking, using money and household tasks. They are also encouraged to develop their personal care, organisational and social skills. This helps them to develop the necessary skills for independent life.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Young people enjoy homely and comfortable accommodation. The home is decorated, furnished and maintained to a good standard. Young people personalise their bedrooms and have enough personal space to meet their needs. There has been some damage to the home, but appropriate action is being taken to address these issues.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The cultural and individual care needs of young people are identified and met. Young people are listened to and their views are taken into account regarding their care, for example, their daily routines and leisure activities.

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Organisation

Young people and referring professionals are provided with the Statement of Purpose and the children's guide; this is updated annually in line with regulations to ensure it is an accurate reflection of the services offered at the home.

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Organisation

Staff receive training that is reflective of the young people's needs. Staff say that they feel supported in their roles and receive formal planned staff supervision monthly. This provides staff with the necessary guidance and assessment to evaluate their care practice and promote the welfare of young people.

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Organisation

The manager does not always monitor standards at the home in line with regulations. However, a representative of the organisation carries out monthly visits to the home in line with Regulation 33. This helps to monitor standards at the home.

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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

33 ensure that the home is monitored regularly in line with Regulation 34. (Regulation 34) 29/10/2010

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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 health care plans contain all issues in line with NMS (NMS 12)  ensure that fire safety checks, specifically weekly fire bell tests, are carried out weekly (NMS 26)  ensure that records of complaints contain the details of complaints alongside the action taken in response to the complaint and an outcome. (NMS 16)

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