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

Unique reference number SC005066 Inspection date 27/01/2011 Inspector Elaine Cray Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 25/11/2010 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 home is registered to provide care for one young person, of either sex, between the age eight and 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private company and is located in a residential area that has easy access to local facilities and public transport.

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Brief description of the service

The house has a lounge, kitchen and dining area on the ground floor. The young person’s bedroom and bathroom is on the first floor, where there is also a staff office that combines as a staff sleeping-in room. There is a front and rear garden.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The home is currently not providing accommodation to children and young people. Our inspection methodology relies on evidence found at the time of inspection and this essentially includes users’ views about the service. As this evidence is not available when there are no children and young people present we have completed a proportionate inspection; the purpose of which is to decide that, should an admission be made, the service would be able to work to a satisfactory standard.

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Summary

This visit was announced and the outcome groups relating to being healthy, staying safe and organisation were assessed. A brief tour of the building was also conducted. No young people have been looked after at the service since the last inspection in November 2010. Arrangements to promote the health, welfare and safety of young people are in place and maintained to a satisfactory standard. The organisation of the service relies on the Registered Manager transferring staff from other homes owned by the provider. Staffing arrangements including recruitment checks, levels of experience, training and staff supervision are effectively managed. Monitoring processes are in place and regularly implemented.

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Summary

The home is being maintained to a satisfactory standard and, with the exception of some poor standards in decoration, is ready for young people to move in.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No actions or recommendations were set at the last inspection.

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Helping children to be healthy

Arrangements to promote the health and meet the medical needs of young people are satisfactory. There are clear procedures and recording formats for ascertaining, organising and monitoring young people’s health and medical needs. The manager and staff have a good knowledge and awareness of local agencies and health issues relating to the lifestyles of young people. All staff working at the home receive training, including in first aid and safe medication procedures.

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Helping children to be healthy

Arrangements for providing young people with healthy meals are in place. There is a well-equipped kitchen. Routines, such as key working and house meetings encourage young people to discuss healthy eating and organise menus. The placement care planning format and independence preparation programme in the home provides young people with the opportunity to take responsibility for shopping and cooking their own meals.

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Helping children to be healthy

There are policies and procedures in place regarding the safe handling and storage of medication with appropriate storage facilities available. There is an individual recording format for each young person’s medication and a central record for all medication received, disposed of and administered to young people living at the home. Records are well maintained. However, staffing arrangements in the home change according to the needs of each young person placed as an emergency. All staff are transferred from existing homes owned by the provider. Consequently the identity of staff signatures on young people's medication records are difficult to decipher and cross reference.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Arrangements to promote the safety and welfare of young people are in place. There are policies and procedures regarding safeguarding children, complaints, anti- bullying, behaviour management and going missing from care. These procedures are supported with central recording systems.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has clear policies and procedures regarding the recruitment of staff, which are in line with the Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and national minimum standards. Staff complete safeguarding children training to facilitate the home’s and Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures which are available in the home. The home’s written and accredited behaviour management policy is supported with staff training in behaviour management and physical intervention.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are processes to promote, maintain and monitor health and safety in the home. There are generic risk assessment documents in the home. An individual risk assessment of young people is part of the admission process. While there are no young people or staff living or working at the home, weekly safety and security visits are made to the home. There are routine fire safety checks recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Locks are fitted on bedroom doors and the bathroom and keys are available to young people in order to promote their privacy. The young people’s guide provides information about their rights to complain and be safe from bullying.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is comfortable and generally well furnished but standards of décor in the young person's bedroom, hall and stairs are poor.

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Organisation

The home’s Statement of Purpose and young people’s guide provide accurate information about the home.

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Organisation

Staffing for the home is arranged by using experienced senior staff from other children’s homes owned by the company. These staff are qualified at National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 and have completed training that includes safeguarding children, behaviour management, first aid and health and safety. Rotas show staffing levels respond to the needs of young people. There are risk assessments regarding lone working and taking young people on activities in order to promote safe working practices.

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Organisation

Monitoring processes for the running of the home and reviewing the quality of care for young people are in place. The manager or deputy manager completes monthly Regulation 34 checks and the responsible individual delegates Regulation 33 visits to managers and assistant managers from other homes within the company and these are carried out on a monthly basis. There are secure storage facilities for young people’s files.

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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

24 ensure that all parts of the children’s home are reasonably decorated and maintained. (Regulation 31.2 (e)) 04/03/2011

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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 signatures on written medication records by the responsible member of staff are identifiable. This is with particular reference to the changing staffing arrangements in the home. (NMS 13.2)

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