Children's Home run by Keys Child Care Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC009651 Inspection date 12/01/2011 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 26/07/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home provides medium to long-term care for up to four young people who are of primary school age on admission. It caters for children and young people who have an attachment disorder or attachment difficulty. All admissions are planned.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home is domestic in appearance. It provides a child-friendly environment with space for young people to follow their individual interests.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Young people are well integrated into schools located within the area and participate in a variety of community based leisure activities and pursuits.

p.4

Brief description of the service

As well as providing residential provision, the organisation can provide individual therapeutic programmes. All such activities take place away from the home environment. It is the responsibility of placing authorities who purchase therapeutic packages for a young person, to ensure they are appropriate to meet individual needs.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This short, unannounced interim inspection was used to follow up the recommendations made at the previous inspection. In addition, the key standards linked to staying safe have also been reviewed. No other areas have been inspected on this occasion, so no change to the overall quality rating attained at the previous full inspection has been made.

p.4

Summary

Since the previous inspection there have been some changes to the staff group and a temporary change to the management of the home. Despite this, the ethos, structure and working practices of the home have remained constant. The home is stable and continues to provide a high standard of care, as well as a safe environment for young people.

p.4

Summary

The three young people living in the home have done so for some considerable time and are well settled into their placements. They give positive feedback about the home and speak well of staff. None raised any issues, concerns or complaints and they all feel the home is a safe place to live.

p.4

Summary

No new areas of concern have been raised as a result of this inspection. Therefore, no new actions or recommendations have been made.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The report from the previous inspection contains no actions. One recommendation was made and this has been addressed positively. This has led to a greater oversight regarding staffing levels, to ensure they are sufficient to meet the needs of young people at all times. Evidence of this can be found in the duty rotas, which show the contingency plans in place should a situation arise where more staff may be needed. For example, should a new admission take place or if there were to be a surge of behaviour management incidents within the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The safety and rights of young people are protected. The organisation, working practices and excellent links with the external agencies charged with safeguarding duties, remain intact. Safeguarding procedures have been tested since the previous inspection and while young people have been kept safe at all times, some procedural matters have been revised and implemented into working practices.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The records detailing complaints, missing from home, serious incidents such as bullying, physical intervention and sanctions, known in the home as consequences, are properly maintained and up to date. They reflect the current stability of the home. For example, since the previous inspection there have been no incidents of a young person being missing from the home. Incidents of physical intervention and the implementation of negative consequences are few, with none having occurred since before Christmas. Currently, there are no ongoing behaviour management issues affecting the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people understand how to access the complaints procedures, which have been successfully tested since the previous inspection. Complaints are taken seriously and the nature of each complaint, along with its outcome and the complainants views, are recorded appropriately.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not an issue of concern to young people who feel that staff deal quickly and fairly with any incident which may arise. All young people say they feel safe living in the home. The relationships between young people and staff are excellent with young people observed as being relaxed and at ease in the company of staff. A warm, pleasant atmosphere prevailed throughout the inspection visit.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Since the previous inspection, two new staff members have been recruited. Appropriate evidence is retained on site to show that staff recruitment and clearance procedures are meeting with regulatory requirements and recognised good practice.

p.5