Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Unique reference number SC022442 Inspection date 10/12/2010 Inspector Paul Gillespie Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 27/11/2009 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 one of 11 children's homes that are owned and operated by this private company. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person, aged 8 to 17 and their baby. The home is a terraced property situated within walking distance from the town centre. The location of the home enables young people to access facilities in the community easily. It is close to a range of shopping and leisure facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The home is staffed on a one to one basis, with one member of the staff team sleeping within the home each night on a rota basis. The home's staff team are managed and supported by the Registered Manager who is also registered as a manager for two other children's homes operated by the provider in the area.

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Brief description of the service

One young person lives in the home but did not take part in the inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

At this unannounced full inspection all the key standards were inspected. The main focus of the inspection was to find out how well the home meets the needs of young people living there.

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Summary

This is a good service with a number of outstanding features. The home provides a friendly, safe and stable environment that enables young people to make good progress in all aspects of their lives, especially relating to their social and emotional development. The level of support provided for young people regarding their health is outstanding.

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Summary

Young people are very well looked after and get the help they need from staff who themselves are exceptionally well supported by a very competent manager. Young people are looked after by a skilled and consistent core staff team. All staff working at the service know the importance of taking the views of young people seriously and of listening to and responding to issues raised. This has enabled young people to build positive relationships with adults based on trust and respect, and to have consistent adult role models. The thorough understanding staff have of young people as individuals and the quality of support and guidance assists young people to deal with the significant issues, such as relationships, positively and to feel confident about their future.

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Summary

Two minor shortfalls were identified regarding securing personal education plans for young people and ensuring risk assessments cover all known or suspected risks. To further assist the overall quality of care the effectiveness of sanctions that are imposed should be reviewed as should the arrangements for reporting young people absent without authority. Additionally, procedures covering how young people are supported to prepare for leaving care are not yet formalised.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has taken appropriate action to resolve the one recommendations identified at the last inspection. The degree of analysis and evaluation in the Regulation 33 reports has improved and this has aided the overall review of the quality of care provided.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people have very well recorded individualised health plans that identify and address their specific needs. They receive exceptional support in learning how to look after their health and well-being. For example, the staff have provided exceptional support to one young mother and her child who recently moved on to more independent accommodation after a very settled and particularly well managed period developing her skills as a young parent. This resulted in an excellent outcome which was recognised by other professionals involved such as social workers and health professionals.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people benefit from genuinely caring relationships with staff who are clearly committed to their work and very supportive. The staff team are skilled at identifying young people's emotional needs and responding accordingly. This approach assists in building confidence and self-esteem. There are very effective systems in place to ensure medication is safely stored and administered. These extend to staff being appropriately trained.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are provided with plenty of suitably prepared food and have regular opportunities to plan, shop for and prepare their own meals. Staff are very good at working alongside young people to help them increase their knowledge of basic nutrition and to begin to understand the importance of a balanced diet. This approach helps to maximise the opportunity for young people to develop important self-help skills in preparation for adulthood.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The application of the home's policies and the practices of staff promote young people's privacy and confidentiality very well. Young people have single bedrooms and are assured of privacy when washing and with their personal hygiene. The accommodation provides space where young people can relax easily and spend time alone when they wish. Staff respect young people's privacy and this is consistent with good parenting and the need to protect young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The staff team fully understand their responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of young people. There is a strong emphasis on promoting positive behaviour with young people receiving incentives for attendance at school and doing chores around the home. However, on the occasions when sanctions are used there is insufficient consideration of the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed in moderating or changing behaviours.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff also work very hard to explain and build young people’s awareness around the risks associated with issues such as domestic violence within relationships and staying away from home. They have worked constructively to ensure young people's safety is prioritised. For example, agreements have been established for informing staff where young people are and for returning home: also helpful practical measures are in place such as code words young people can use to alert staff to concerns that will trigger an immediate response. However, it is not sufficiently clear as part of the agreement as to what the difference is between young people returning late as opposed to being deemed absent without authority. Nevertheless, the overall approach taken by staff means young people feel secure and safe and this has enabled young people to develop their self-esteem and confidence.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have individual risk assessments and plans outlining the measures to minimise known risks. However, some are not sufficiently detailed for example with regard to risk associated with domestic violence. Young people live in a very safe environment. They are well protected from potential hazards within the home by sound health and safety practices and procedures such as regular fire safety checks and the maintenance of gas and electrical installations. This helps ensure the premises provide a safe and secure place to live.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The recruitment and selection of people working at the home is generally very thorough. All staff currently working at the home have had appropriate checks including a Criminal Records Bureau check which helps ensure they are suitable to work with young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The outcomes for young people are exceptionally good. This is based on tremendous rapport between staff and young people. Although the personal education plan was not available it is clear education is valued and strongly promoted by staff. There are good relationships with other agencies to secure opportunities for work experience and college placements. This has meant young people continue to access learning that will enhance their future chances of employment.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Young people receive excellent individual support and guidance when they need it. Clear and concisely written records demonstrate the very effective direct work undertaken with young people. Work includes raising young people's awareness about the risks associated with potentially volatile relationships and engaging in risky activities, such as misusing substances. Records also demonstrate a very good focus on how young people have reflected on and viewed their experience at the home.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Staff also encourage young people to develop their social skills and confidence by actively supporting them to take part in leisure activities at home and in the wider community. This is very well done with staff going to considerable lengths to support this. This fully recognises the importance of young people accessing leisure and recreational activities. These opportunities offer young people the chance to develop their personal and social skills, and to develop and maintain friendships.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Overall the home’s records provide a very good insight into the individual needs of young people with clear written placement plans in place to meet them. The placement plans are reviewed regularly by key workers to make sure that they are up to date. This means there is a detailed record about young people’s progress, experiences and achievements to date.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people are very well supported to maintain contact with people who are important to them. These arrangements are clearly covered in their placement plan to ensure any required safeguards are known and followed to protect young people's welfare.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people play a full role in decisions about their lives. Their opinions and views are integral to how the home is run from meal planning through to how to make use of leisure time. Additionally young people have good opportunities to develop skills that will be useful as they move into adulthood, although currently there are no formalised processes for establishing the way in which this support is provided.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The home has a friendly and very supportive atmosphere. Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff based on honesty and respect and see the home as a place of safety. Staff are very focussed on ensuring young people have every opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences. They enjoy spending time with young people while maintaining clear professional and personal boundaries consistent with good child care practice.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home provides very homely, comfortable and exceptionally well-presented accommodation. Young people have personalised their bedrooms to reflect their interests and individual tastes and this creates a sense of belonging.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

There is a strong emphasis on community participation and presence to help young people to develop skills that will help them in the future to keep themselves and others safe. Young people are empowered to understand and learn about their responsibilities and to make key decisions in their life. This has included providing excellent support to young people through pregnancy so they have been able to become a confident and successful parent. Additionally young people are routinely involved in the daily tasks of running the home, shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning and understanding budgeting. This helps to develop a useful range of life skills to support them in the future. Young people have appropriate pathway planning documentation in place which is shortly due for review. Such a plan is important in order to assist young people to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they require in their transition into adulthood.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. There is terrific engagement between young people and staff that is built on trust and equal respect. Staff have an excellent knowledge of the young people they are working with ensuring their needs are consistently met. The home values the rights of individuals and there is a strong commitment to encourage young people to be socially skilled so they can play an active part in the wider community and have the same opportunities and experiences as young people of a similar age.

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Organisation

Young people are looked after by a very competent staff group who have a good range of skills and experience. The roles and responsibilities of staff are clearly understood and they provide positive role models for young people. There is very good support offered to staff by a highly effective manager who ensures high standards of care are maintained. This extends to all staff receiving regular supervision as well as ongoing training opportunities. This means the home is very well run and effectively managed.

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Organisation

There is effective monitoring of the home by both the manager and the external person who conducts regular monthly visits to the home. The reports of these visits are now more evaluative and offer improved quality assurance that assists in assessing the impact of the quality of care provided to young people.

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Organisation

Relationships between young people, the manager and the staff team are particularly strong. This helps young people to feel more secure and has seen a marked improvement in young people's self-confidence and personal development.

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Organisation

Young people's individual case files are confidentially stored. Their needs are clearly recorded and updated daily to ensure their welfare is always closely monitored. The Statement of Purpose accurately describes what young people can expect from living at the home.

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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

14 ensure young people have an personal education plan which explicitly addresses their educational needs (Regulation 18) 29/01/2011

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Std. Action Due date

26 ensure risk assessments cover all known and likely activities, specifically the potential from harm due to exposure to domestic violence and drug misuse. (Regulation 23) 29/01/2011

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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

 review the arrangements for reporting when a young person is absent without authority (NMS 19.2)  review the measures of control to consider the effectiveness of sanctions imposed (NMS 22.10)  establish formalised procedures covering how young people are supported to prepare for leaving care. (NMS 5.4)

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