Children's Home run by Essandore Limited in St Helens

Unique reference number SC066218 Inspection date 10/01/2011 Inspector Sonya Robinson Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 10/05/2010 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 offers accommodation for up to five young people, of either sex from 10 to 17-years-old, in the registration category of children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. The home has good access to local facilities, such as shops, schools and transport links.

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Brief description of the service

Accommodation is provided over two floors. Bedrooms are sited on each level and young people are provided with a choice upon admission. All bedrooms are single occupancy and provide en-suite bathroom facilities. The house has a range of facilities to meet the physical and learning needs of young people, including a light and sensory room, soft play room, two lounges and a spacious kitchen. All areas of the home are accessible to young people.

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Brief description of the service

On the day of this visit, young people were attending school. Staff and management of the home were spoken with.

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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

During this interim unannounced inspection the home's response to the actions and recommendations made at the inspection in May 2010 were discussed. In addition, staying safe was also examined and continues to be judged as satisfactory.

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Summary

The children and young people who live at this home achieve positive outcomes from their placement. Staff provide a safe environment. Safeguarding procedures and training in this area, ensure staff are fully aware of their responsibilities to keep children and young people safe. Staff have a good knowledge of children and young people's behaviour and this enables them to respond quickly and appropriately to any behavioural issues that arise. The support for children and young people is based on promoting positive behaviour in a nurturing environment.

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Summary

The home has made satisfactory progress since the last inspection. As a result of this inspection one action and two good practice recommendations are made. These relate to the documentation of behaviour management, notifying Ofsted of significant events that may occur and staff training.

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Improvements since the last inspection

At the last inspection three actions and one good practice recommendation was made. Actions previously made were in relation to staff files, young people's educational arrangements being included in their placement plan and that the registered provider of the home should record the views and opinions of young people, staff and others during their monitoring visits to the home.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Staff files are much improved and contain all of the necessary information required under the legislation. Young people's educational plan's have now been secured by the home where it was previously identified; and since the last inspection the registered provider has obtained, on a frequent basis, the views and observations of young people, staff and other relevant parties, such as parents. As a result of this young people have obtained and have access to satellite television and a laptop. Also parents and young people have been encouraged to give opinions about young people's care. Along with the décor within the young people's own bedrooms.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The good practice recommendation was in relation to ensuring that a minimum of 80% of all care staff have completed National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification. The home is making good progress towards meeting this however, this recommendation is repeated within this inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is respected by staff following procedural guidelines and all personal information is kept securely. Young people have their own single rooms, and bathing arrangements ensure their privacy is maintained. Staff are also sensitive to personal care issues with regards to gender issues.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A clear complaints procedure is available to young people and others if they are unable to resolve the matter informally with the staff. Young people also have regular access to a responsible individual who is the owner of the service, in order to provide extra safeguards for the young people placed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Child protection policies and procedures have been communicated to all staff. Safeguarding training is also provided to staff. This is to ensure that young people are protected from potential harm and abuse by robust and sound child protection systems.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are also clear about their responsibilities for intervening should bullying occur, and for creating an atmosphere where a 'no blame' approach is being used. Policies and procedures are in place for unauthorised absences of young people or those at risk of running off because of their complex learning needs. Children and young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement and in the approach developed by staff. The rapport between young people and staff is positive and formed on a professional friendship. When physical restraint is found necessary, it is only used to prevent the likelihood of injury. The staff carrying out the restraint are well trained in the form of physical intervention that best reflects the physical and emotional needs of the young people. Any incident that involves physical restraint is recorded. This record provides details to validate the action taken by staff. However, there is limited detail made in the log

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

to enable the management to make a full assessment on the appropriateness of the measure used. Also, the record is not detailing fully, action necessary as a result of this assessment. Similar issues are also apparent within the sanctions log.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The service has appropriate systems in place to notify Ofsted of significant events that may occur within the home or regarding the care of the young people placed. This has not been consistently undertaken, although other relevant agencies have been informed as appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good measures in place for ensuring that those using and working in the service are protected from the risk of fire. Regular risk assessments in relation to the young people, the environment and timely safety checks are also carried out. Along with regular checks on the gas and electricity supply, and on all portable electrical appliances used.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has clear policies and procedures in place regarding the need to carry out thorough vetting of all staff prior to them working in the home. The staff personnel files of the newest staff members contained all the required information and showed evidence of a careful vetting and robust selection process being undertaken.

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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

20 ensure a system is in place to notify within 24 hours all authorities listed in Schedule 5 of significant events. (Regulation 30 (1)) 31/01/2011

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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

 maintain an accurate and clear record of all sanctions and physical interventions imposed on young people in separate dedicated books (NMS 22.9, 22.10)  ensure that a minimum of 80% of all care staff have completed National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in the Caring for Children and Young People or an equivalent qualification. (NMS 29.5)

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