Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC390577 Inspection date 15/10/2010 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 27/10/2009 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 one young person of either gender, aged from 10 to 17 years old. The home is a three bedroom detached property situated in a residential area of a large town. The accommodation is over two floors. The ground floor has an open plan hallway with the following rooms leading from this; lounge, schoolroom, cloakroom with toilet, kitchen with dining area and utility room.

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Brief description of the service

On the first floor is the young person's bedroom with fitted furniture and a hand washbasin. Also on the first floor are the house bathroom and two staff bedrooms with one incorporating the office. Externally the home has a garage and driveway to provide off road car parking. The front garden is grassed with a pathway which leads to the rear garden. The rear garden has a patio area with a split level lawn, mature trees and shrubs. The home is close to local amenities with good access links to public transport.

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Brief description of the service

One young person lives in the home and contributed to 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

At this unannounced interim inspection the key standards under the outcome area of 'staying safe' are assessed. The recommendation made at the previous inspection has been followed up with details noted in the improvement section of this report.

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Summary

The home continues to provide a good level of care to young people. Young people are well looked after and say they feel safe and cared for by staff. There are good safeguarding practices in place to protect young people from harm. Staff have a very good understanding about young people's care needs and are fully aware of how these are to be met. The home environment is well maintained with systems in place for health and safety checks to be carried out. Young people and staff are aware of the fire evacuation procedures and know what to do in the event of a fire in the home.

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Summary

Further improvements are required to promote the welfare of the young people, which include the recording of disciplinary measures, obtaining agreement from placing authority regarding telephone contact and the role of advocates in supporting young people.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was made for 80% of staff to have a relevant childcare qualification. Although, there is an ongoing programme of training in place, this has yet to be achieved and therefore the recommendation remains.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Confidentiality is managed effectively and personal records are securely stored. Young people have an individual bedroom which provides them with their own personal space. Young people confirm they have access to a telephone. However, young people's current restrictions on the use of the telephone are not clearly stated in an agreement with the placing authority.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a very good understanding about keeping young people safe from harm and they know how to respond in the event of any allegation or serious concern about a young person's safety. Staff receive training and are familiar with safeguarding guidance, which assists them to care for and to promote the welfare of young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The complaints procedure is known to the young people and the ethos of the home allows them the opportunity to raise any issues they are unhappy with. Details of children's rights officers and persons independent of the home are available to the young people. However, contact with an advocate to fully support the best interests of the young people is not in place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a strong emphasis for young people to develop appropriate and acceptable behaviours. Staff know and follow young people's care plans and individual risk assessments, as a result, respond and manage young people's behaviour positively. Staff receive training in techniques to manage challenging behaviour, including the use of physical intervention.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A record of disciplinary measures in respect of young people's behaviour is kept in the home, for example, details of reparation for damage caused. This is noted in a bound and numbered book but this information is not detailed in the young person's file as required by regulations.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good understanding about countering bullying and young people confirm there is no bullying in the home. Good procedures are in place should young people go missing from the home. Staff record unauthorised absences fully, with details of the action taken to try to ensure the young person's safe return.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The environment is well maintained with systems in place to ensure regular health and safety checks are carried out. This includes gas and electrical checks to ensure equipment is safe to use. Young people and staff are aware of the fire evacuation procedures and know what to do in the event of a fire in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Thorough recruitment checks are carried out by the provider to verify staff employed at the home are suitable to work with young people.

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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

22 ensure details of any measure of control, restraint or discipline used on the child are included in their case records. (Regulation 01/11/2010 28 (1) Schedule 3)

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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 staff are fully aware of how to promote access to an advocate in order to support the young people and their specific situation (NMS 16.2)  ensure a minimum of 80% of care staff have the appropriate NVQ at level 3 care award or equivalent qualification (NMS 29.5)  ensure that any restriction on communication is agreed by the child's placing authority and recorded in their placement plan. (NMS 9.5)

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