Children's Home run by Choices 4 Children Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC400880 Inspection date 01/02/2011 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 09/07/2010 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 home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people of either gender, who are aged from four to 17 years. The home provides care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

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Brief description of the service

The property is a converted farmhouse, set in 13 acres of grounds. It is located in a semi-rural area, but is within easy reach of shops, schools, public transport and various leisure and community facilities.

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Brief description of the service

There are four bedrooms on the first floor for young people in addition to their own bathroom. There are separate facilities and sleeping arrangements for staff members. On the ground floor there is an open-plan lounge and dining room, conservatory, kitchen and a staff office. An enclosed garden with play equipment is situated to the rear of the home.

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Brief description of the service

One young person and two young adults currently live in this home. None were present at the time of the inspection. The home remains a children's home providing care wholly or mainly for children.

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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 is to follow up on an actions and 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 continues to provide a good level of care to young people. The action and recommendations made at the last inspection are commented on in the improvement section of this report.

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Summary

Young people are well looked after in the home by staff who have a good understanding of their individual needs. There are good safeguarding practices in place to protect young people from harm. Positive behaviour management strategies help to promote young people's well-being.

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Summary

The home environment is spacious, warm and welcoming. The house is well maintained with systems in place to ensure health and safety checks are carried out for the benefit of the young people and those working in and visiting the home.

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Summary

One action and one recommendation have been made to further promote the welfare of young people. These relate to risk assessments and for a copy of individual disciplinary measures to be kept in young people's case files.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The provider ensures the report from the required monthly unannounced visits to the home now cover the areas as set out in regulation. Staff have received additional child protection training relevant to their work with children with disabilities. This further supports staff in their work to keep young people safe from harm.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Young people's views are sought about the content of their placement plan. This is done in a way that takes account of young people's abilities and enables them to have a say about their care at the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The house bathroom has been refurbished with a modern bathroom suite and separate shower cubicle. The bathroom window has also been replaced. The refurbishment is to a very good standard and greatly improves the bathroom area for the young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is well regarded. Confidentiality is managed effectively and personal records are securely stored. Young people have an individual bedroom which allows them to have their own personal space.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are aware of the need to keep young people safe. They receive training and are familiar with safeguarding guidance which helps to protect the young people from harm.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The complaints process is very effective and known to the young people. All complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Young people are kept informed and made aware of the progress of any complaint. The Registered Manager is mindful to ensure young people understand and are satisfied with the outcome of their complaint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Some of the young people who live in this home have limited communication ability; however, most are able to voice any issues of concern to staff. House meetings take place and give young people a forum to have their say. Staff clearly understand the needs of young people. They ensure young people are listened to and take account of their views. Bullying is not an issue and no young people have been missing from the home. Staffing levels provide young people with supervision appropriate to their individual needs, which minimises the risk of young people going missing from the home, as well as protecting them from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff work well together to support young people to develop socially acceptable behaviours. Rewards and incentives are an accepted part of the routines in the home. Contact with families, health and education professionals helps to ensure a consistent approach is taken to manage behaviours. Staff receive training to deal with challenging behaviours. There is little use of physical intervention with one incident noted since the last inspection. This shows staff manage behaviours positively.

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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. However, these details are not in the young person's file as is required by regulations. The manager monitors records and staff practice, to help to ensure staff manage young people's behaviour positively and fairly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

At this time the home provides care and accommodation to young people who are over 18 years old. Transition planning to enable the young people to have a planned moved to adult services is underway. Overall the home continues to provide care wholly or mainly for children. However, there are no risk assessments to show how staff manage the risks associated with the care and accommodation of those aged 18 living in a children's home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Health and safety checks are carried out on equipment and installations in the home to confirm they are safe to use. Young people and staff participate in the fire evacuation process so that they 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

Robust recruitment and employment checks are carried out by the provider to verify staff 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 28 (1) Schedule 3) 15/02/2011

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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 systems are in place to promote the safety and welfare of children, in particular that risk assessments show how staff manage the risks associated with the care and accommodation of those aged 18 living with children. (NMS 17.1)

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