Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC411142 Inspection date 18/01/2011 Inspector Julian Parker Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 09/11/2010 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 is a rurally located children's home based in an extended detached period property located about five miles from a major town. The home looks after one young person who has been assessed as being able to benefit from the absence of peer distraction and the staffing levels this setting provides. The home has been totally renovated and refurbished to provide a very good quality, adequately spacious living environment. Although rurally located the home has easy vehicular access to the recreational amenities of nearby towns and the registered provider's schools.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to follow up on recommendations made at the last inspection and to assess key standards under the outcome area of staying safe.

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Summary

The home provides a good level of care to young people. The recommendations made at the last inspection are commented on in the improvement section of this report.

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Summary

Safeguarding systems promote the safety and well-being of the young people at the home by taking into account specific individual risks. Young people's behaviour is encouraged and managed positively by consistent staffing. Practical advice and incentives used by the home assist young people to develop their social skills.

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Summary

Young people make their views known through their behaviour and show that they are listened to. The home's physical environment is effectively maintained. Monitoring systems are in place to ensure appropriate health and safety checks are carried out regularly.

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Summary

On this inspection no actions or recommendations have been made.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection the registered provider was recommended to improve staff training relating to the administration of medication and more effectively secure the homes medicine cabinet. Pathway plans were required to outline the preparation being made to address young people's future needs. On this visit all these matters are found to have been competently addressed by the registered person.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff show respect for the privacy of young people and for maintaining appropriate levels of administrative and practical confidentiality. Young people are aware of the situations where staff are required to share information with other professionals. Young people are provided with opportunities to make comment about the records kept about them. Young people are provided with their own bedroom and bathrooms. Young people are encouraged to practically influence the homeliness and condition of their living environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a complaints procedure and information about this is available to young people in their guide. Staff will take seriously all concerns and complaints made by young people and respond to the any issues raised quickly. Young people know how to make a complaint and although young people have not needed to make a formal complaint, they know that staff would address any concerns in accordance with the registered person's directions and record all concerns. Procedures are also in place to receive concerns from third parties.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff receive guidance and training to help them respond in a prescribed way to any allegations, reported abusive behaviour or serious concerns about any young person's safety. The home has clear procedures for reporting and responding to child protection concerns and can contact the local safeguarding team for advice. Training for staff in child protection is monitored within the registered person's training programme. The Registered Manager effectively monitors all child protection incidents or concerns and keeps appropriate safeguarding records. This ensures that everyone responsible for safeguarding young people are kept informed of what actions may be taken and their outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare and safety of young people is promoted through the application of the registered provider's formal policies and procedures, for example, the anti- bullying policy in the home and for the wider service provision, that staff and young people are fully aware of. Young people have written details included in their guide and confirm that they would know what to do if they were bullied. Staff receive training about dealing with bullying behaviour during their induction period. This informs their workplace practice and how to effectively address challenging behaviour in public arenas.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has a written procedure identifying the action to take when young people go absent without authority. Staff will actively look for young people where this is appropriate. They will arrange to collect young people whose whereabouts are known and welcome home any young person upon return. Young people can, if they choose to, speak with an independent person about the reasons they have for going absent from the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home notifies all those persons and appropriate authorities listed in Schedule 5 of any significant event that has occurred that includes young people. Where required and in accordance with individual care plans, significant people in the lives of young people are also informed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff base their management of young people's behaviour principally on the encouragement and reward of acceptable behaviour. Young people are regularly made aware of the house rules prior to, on admission and whilst living in the home. Young people know what the standards of acceptable behaviour are. These take into account any learning difficulty young people may have and the most appropriate way to help young people abide by the rules.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Sanctions and physical restraints are rarely used and few have been recorded for the young people currently in placement. Staff receive regular statutory training about the continuum of behaviour management. This includes situations where the reasonable application of an accredited form of physical restraint may be considered necessary. All behavioural incidents or applied sanctions are reviewed by the home's manager.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Sanctions and restraints are recorded appropriately and include detail of reparation for deliberate damage caused and in some cases, where appropriate, a small financial contribution toward costs. On occasion privileges have been withdrawn for short periods of time. The use of specific sanctions is monitored by the manager to see if they generate any positive effect on young people’s behaviour. Young people can make comment about sanctions they may be given. There is a reward system in place and young people confirm through their conduct that this approach encourages good behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home uses risk assessments to evaluate all aspects of its practice and safety. Risk assessments are taken into account when planning daily activities in the home and for all types of trip out. All staff and young people know the fire safety instructions and there is a good awareness of fire prevention and safety in the home. Fire drills are carried out regularly and detailed records are kept. The home has appropriate levels of insurance cover.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home employs effective systems for the monitoring of all visitors to the property. No stranger is allowed unsupervised access to the home and all formal visits are announced. The service's recruitment and selection process has been looked at separate to this inspection confirming robust recruitment practice.

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