Children's Home run by Keys Stepping Stones Limited in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008490 Inspection date 31/01/2011 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 23/08/2010 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

Care and accommodation is provided at the home for up to four young people aged from five years to 17 years old. The home is a detached bungalow with an enclosed rear garden. The home comprises of a kitchen, dining room, lounge, another room used for doing school work or relaxing. There are four bedrooms and two family sized bathrooms. There are a further two rooms, which are used by members of staff as office space and sleeping accommodation. Each young person has their own single bedroom.

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Brief description of the service

The home is close to local shops. Bus routes are nearby if young people wish to visit nearby towns with their larger shops, cinemas and leisure facilities.

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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 of the home. The outcome area for young people in the area of staying safe was inspected and found to be good. The recommendations made at the previous inspection were also looked at and were found to have been met. Young people receive good levels of help and support from a trained and committed staff team. Care planning arrangements are good and young people are consulted about the care they receive. The home's records are maintained to a good standard and all information relating to young people is kept safe and secure.

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Summary

Three recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. Not all member's of staff have undertaken formal training in child protection or safeguarding. In addition, the home's procedures for dealing with a young person who has been absent without authority do not full comply with national minimum standards. The manager has not undertaken a countering bullying risk assessment.

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Summary

One young person was present at the time of the inspection and contributed directly to the inspection process.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the home's manager has reviewed both the procedures for the management and administration of medication as well as the behaviour management procedures. Members of staff now know what action to take when dealing with controlled medication as well as what sanctions are acceptable in helping young people to modify their behaviour. In addition, all members of staff have received training in countering bullying and complaints. Members of staff have either completed their National Vocational Qualifications at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or are undertaking this course of study.

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Helping children to be healthy

Policies and procedures relating to the safe handling and administration of medication have been reviewed and updated. Members of staff have undertaken formal training in the safe handling and administration of medication. Consent forms for the administration of medication or first aid are available at the home and all members of staff have undertaken training in first aid. The welfare of young people is safeguarded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person living at the home has their own bedroom, which they are encouraged to decorate in a style of their own choosing. Members of staff knock on the young people's bedroom doors and wait for a reply before entering. The home has policies and procedures in place which explain what action members of staff should take when it is necessary to search a young person's bedroom. No room searches have been carried out since the last inspection. The privacy of young people is respected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are up-to-date policies and procedures in place for dealing with complaints in an effective and timely manner. There have been a small number of complaints made since the last inspection by young people living at the home. Written records examined show that the complaints were taken seriously, fully investigated and the young person asked if they were satisfied with the outcome of the investigation. Young people are confident and know what to do if they have a complaint. Members of staff have all received training in the complaints process.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedures is available in the home. The home also retains copies of the safeguarding procedures for every local authority that has placed children in the home. The home also has its own child protection guidance. Not all, recently appointed members of staff working at the home, have undertaken training in child protection. Young people living at the home may not be fully protected from exploitation and abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place to help prevent bullying and there have been no recorded incidents of bullying since the last inspection. The young people's guide to the home includes information for young people about what action they should take if they feel they are being targeted by bullies. Members of staff have received training in countering bullying. However, the home's manager has not undertaken a countering bullying risk assessment of the times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest. Young people may not be fully protected from bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures in place with regard to what action members of staff should take if a young person is absent without authority. Procedures do not clearly state what action members of staff should take if a young person says they went missing because of alleged abuse at the home. There have been a number of occasions since the last inspection when a young person has been absent without authority. Members of staff actively encourage young people not to run away from the home or to be absent without authority and to keep themselves safe. However, young people may not be fully protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are policies and procedures in place relating to the safe holding or restraint of young people and members of staff have received appropriate training. Restraint records are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. The manager and members of staff make every effort to promote socially acceptable behaviour by offering support and encouragement to young people. The home also has policies and procedures relating to the sanctions that can be used to help young people improve their behaviour. Records of sanctions used to help young people moderate their behaviour are retained within a separate bound and numbered book used specifically for that purpose. Young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from fire and other hazards within the home. There are good systems in place to ensure that young people, members of staff and visitors to the home are kept safe and free from hazards. Fire drills are carried out at regular intervals and these include some undertaken at night. The home's insurance certificate clearly states that the home has current public and employee liability insurance up to a minimum value.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home ensures the careful selection and vetting of all staff. Safety checks are carried out to ensure the suitability of each applicant and each member of staff has provided references from previous employers or those that know them. Young people are protected from exposure to potential abusers. Visitors to the home are asked to clearly identify themselves on their arrival and to sign the visitors' book

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Organisation

Members of staff are sufficient in number, experience and qualification to meet the needs of the young people living at the home. All members of staff are trained to a minimum National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or are registered onto this particular course of study. The home's rotas ensure that, where possible, there is a mix of both male and female staff on duty. Consistency of care is provided to young people and there are clear arrangements in place for members of staff to deputise in the absence of the manager.

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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 that all members of staff working at the home receive training in child protection and safeguarding (NMS 17.8)  write a countering bullying risk assessment of the times, places and circumstances in which the risk of bullying is greatest (NMS 18.5)  review the home's procedures for a young person being absent without authority to ensure they fully comply with national minimum standards. (NMS 19.5)

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