Children's Home run by Keys Nhcc Ltd in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC020607 Inspection date 03/02/2011 Inspector Trevor Hall Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 05/07/2010 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 is a children’s home providing care and accommodation for four young people. Three young people are accommodated on the main site with one being accommodated in a satellite home a short distance away. The home is owned by a private childcare provider.

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Brief description of the service

The home is located on the outskirts of a small village, in a semi-rural location. Accommodation is provided in a domestic-scale, well-appointed detached family house allowing the young people individual bedrooms and ample communal space.

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Brief description of the service

The home's close proximity to a small market town facilitates access to local recreational and social activities.

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Brief description of the service

The satellite unit to this home is a family house located in the nearby market town. This home is located to take better advantage of all the town's local facilities. It is relatively near to the main home from where it draws its staffing and support. Both homes have shared policies and procedures but have separate Statements of Purpose and routines.

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Brief description of the service

Three young people currently live at the main house and one young person was living at the satellite home at the time of this inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was a interim unannounced inspection that concentrated on all key national minimum standards in the outcome area of staying safe. It also looked at the home's responses to the one recommendation made, at the home's key inspection, that took place on the 05 July 2010. At the time of this inspection the main home accommodated three young people, two of which were present during the inspection, a fourth young person was also resident in the satellite unit, however, this was not visited on this occasion.

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Summary

This inspection confirmed that the home continues to provides a good standard of care that supports and helps young people in their personal, social and emotional development. No new actions have been made following this inspection. The recommendation made at the last inspection has been repeated as, although some improvement has been made, the standard has not yet been met fully. Staff relationships with young people are caring and very supportive. As such young people benefit from living in a home that is well managed and organised to help promote good outcomes for those individuals accommodated.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Levels of staff holding National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People, have risen since the home was last inspected. All staff that have completed their probationary employment period have either achieved the award or are registered on appropriate training courses. However, the home still has less than 80% of staff holding the award.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Information held on behalf of all young people is stored securely . Staff are aware of their responsibilities to promote privacy and confidentiality and describe practices that are consistent with the home's guidance. The facilities and arrangements for showering and bathing ensure the young people have their privacy respected. Room searches are undertaken only when there are clear grounds, this process is fully recorded and young people are invited to add their comments.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's complaints procedure and policy, with contacts for children's advocate services, are summarised simply in the home's young person's guide, which is supplied to each young person on admission. Staff take seriously all concerns or complaints young people make and respond to them quickly. The registered manager monitors the complaints record to make sure that young people's rights and entitlements are upheld and that the process is responsive.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The welfare of young people is protected as staff receive training in child protection and they are very knowledgeable about what action they should take if they are concerned about any young people. Staff receive child protection training as well as behaviour management and physical intervention training which supports their day- to-day practice.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are protected from bullying by others. Staff are proactive in creating a culture within the home where bullying is challenged. They make sure that young people understand that bullying behaviour is not tolerated and they talk to young people about the impact of bullying.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good procedures and clear protocols in place regarding liaising with the Police, family members and other agencies to manage and to promote the protection to young people if they are absent without consent and ensure their safe return to the home. Young people are encouraged to behave well, to establish, achieve and maintain levels of behaviour that are socially acceptable and that will sustain them in the wider community. The home's records not only detail sanctions used for poor behaviour but also positive consequences and rewards for behaviour that deserves congratulation and praise. Staff are acutely aware of the need to balance their interventions with positive feedback about young people's achievements, rather than just punishing poor behaviour. Evidence of regular monitoring of these records by the home's manager, to ensure consistency and compliance with regulations, is clearly apparent.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people live in a home that provides for their physical safety and security. There are risk assessments for all aspects of the safety of the premises and grounds plus the behaviour of the young people and their activities which are updated as required.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The management of health and safety processes is appropriate, which helps to protect young people from the risk of harm or injury in the home. Equipment and installations are serviced regularly and there are regular fire safety tests. Young people are encouraged to take part in evacuation drills, so that they understand what to do in the event of a fire or other emergency. Risk assessments on the environment and young people’s activities are robust and are reviewed regularly to make sure that information is up to date.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff recruitment procedures are appropriate and ensure that all staff are properly vetted before they start work. All visitors to the home are monitored and asked to sign the visitor’s book. This good practice ensures young people live in a safe environment.

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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 as soon as possible that 80% of the staff deployed to the home have completed an NVQ Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or equivalent qualification in childcare. (NMS 29.5)

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