Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC005045 Inspection date 14/01/2011 Inspector Elaine Cray Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 26/05/2010 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 home is registered to provide care for three young people of either sex between the ages of 10 and 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It provides medium- to long-term residential care and is owned by a private company. The home is located in a residential area that has easy access to local facilities and public transport. The house consists of a lounge, small lounge, large kitchen-diner and bathroom on the ground floor. There are three young people's bedrooms, a bathroom and staff office on the first floor. There is parking to the front and a garden to rear of the house.

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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 unannounced interim inspection. The visit was planned to assess the care provided to young people against key national minimum standards under the staying safe outcome area. Progress made by the provider with relation to the two actions and two recommendations set on the previous inspection visit was also assessed.

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Summary

The judgements set on the full inspection undertaken in May 2010 are unchanged on this limited interim inspection.

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Summary

The evidence gathered on this interim inspection supports the findings of the full inspection confirming that the service continues to safeguard young people to a good standard.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The registered person has taken action in response to two actions and two recommendations set on the previous inspection. The sanctions book is now appropriately documented. All young people’s files have copies of the statement of special education needs and a personal education plan where relevant. Young people now have a secure facility in their bedrooms to store self-administered medication.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected by good safeguarding arrangements. They are safeguarded by robust staff recruitment procedures. All required checks are undertaken prior to staff commencing work in the home. Visitors to the home are scrutinised and required to confirm and record their identity.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are clear policies and procedures on promoting the welfare and safety of young people and these are implemented by well trained staff. Training includes safeguarding young people, behaviour management and maintaining a safe environment for young people and staff. There are clear going missing from care procedures and young people’s safety is monitored by positive working relationships with the police and other agencies. Staff are fully aware of the reporting procedures should there be a serious incident in the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a safe environment. Young people and staff know what to do in the event of a fire. Environmental and fire safety checks are consistently carried out and recorded. Young people are safeguarded from potential hazards as staff have a good understanding of health and safety procedures. Risk assessment and management strategies are developed in relation to young people’s known and potential risk taking behaviours, including the potential for bullying, going missing from care, aggressive behaviour and risk in the community.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are supported in improving their behaviour with clear behaviour management procedures. Staff set clear boundaries and are keen to look for and reward positive and improved behaviour. Individual incentive schemes are developed for each young person. Comments from young people include 'I like staff because they talk to me' and ‘you get extra pocket money if you behave’. Young people also confirm there are consequences when their behaviour is not so good. Records demonstrate young people have to pay for damage to the home and have sanctions such as a delayed activity or loss of use of the computer or watching a DVD. Both central and individual young people’s records show that the Registered Manager closely monitors incidents and the use of physical intervention with young people living at the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is a strong commitment to protect young people from bullying and discrimination. Young people are encouraged and enabled to understand how individuals are different but there are also very clear boundaries and consequences regarding bullying, poor language and discriminatory attitudes. Young people’s privacy is valued and promoted, they have keys to their bedrooms, staff knock on bedroom doors before entering and records are kept securely in the staff office. Young people’s views and concerns are also valued. There is a written complaints procedure, with set time scales for looking into any complaints young people or other individuals may make. A written response to complaints is provided and young people are able to record their own views about the outcome and action taken to resolve their concerns. There are also regular meetings when young people can talk in a group about the running of the home, or they may choose one-to-one time in

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

key working sessions to express any dissatisfaction they are feeling.

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