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

Unique reference number SC008607 Inspection date 12/01/2011 Inspector Mark Kersh Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 22/09/2010 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 owned and managed by a private organisation. The home consists of two bedrooms, a staff office and sleeping-in room and a bathroom upstairs, and a lounge and dining kitchen downstairs. The house is situated in a residential area close to shops, public transport and community facilities. It is close to the town centre and is indistinguishable from surrounding properties.

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Brief description of the service

Two young people currently live in this home of which one was present during this inspection.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This interim, unannounced inspection comments on the outcome area of staying safe only. The home continues to provide a very good level of care to young people. No issues, concerns or complaints were raised either by young people or staff. Young people accommodated are experiencing stable placements and they are being looked after and safeguarded. Young people say there is no bullying in the home. Behaviour management is handled well and the home is settled. The environment is checked regularly to ensure young people, staff and visitors are safe from risk from fire.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Not applicable. There were no actions or recommendations made at the previous inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Confidentiality is managed effectively and all personal records are securely stored. Young people have an individual bedroom which provides them with their own personal space. They have access to a telephone in the home and all have a mobile phone. This allows them to make and receive calls in private without reference to staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Arrangements for complaints, safeguarding, bullying, behaviour management and being absent from the home without authority are handled extremely well and ensure young people feel listened to and protected. While not tested for some considerable time, young people confirm they know how to access the complaints procedures. They say they are confident when speaking to staff about issues and feel that staff listen and respond positively to them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff understand their responsibilities around safeguarding matters very well and are secure in the knowledge of how to react and report should a safeguarding situation arise. Staff are very much aware of the need to keep young people safe. They receive training and demonstrate a knowledgeable awareness of the safeguarding guidance and the home's child protection procedure. Young people confirm that staff will not tolerate any form of bullying and are quick to step in should an incident occur. Bullying is not an issue of concern for young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

When young people abscond staff know what to do and follow agreed procedures. There have been a few instances where young people have been absent from the home without authority, however on each occasion staff have remained in touch with young people ensuring they know their whereabouts and are safe. On return to the home young people are seen by an independent person to establish, if possible, any reasons for them being absent. Staff consistently notify all appropriate authorities when any significant event occurs.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are encouraged to develop appropriate and acceptable behaviours. Young people say that staff are fair and the records show few sanctions being imposed; rewards, however, feature far more in these records. There have been no restraints in this home for some considerable time. Young people and staff say relationships between each other are excellent and this creates a very relaxed environment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home environment is well maintained with effective systems in place to ensure regular health and safety checks are carried out. This includes gas, electrical and fire system checks to ensure equipment is safe to use. Young people say they participate in fire evacuation drills and 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

No changes were reported to the arrangements to clear and recruit staff, which have been judged to meet regulatory requirements. All visitors to the home are asked for identification and to sign in and are briefed in relation to the fire evacuation procedure and assembly point.

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