Children's Home run by Lifetime Opportunities Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC356817 Inspection date 17/02/2011 Inspector Shaun Common Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 06/10/2010 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 is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with learning disabilities, of either gender, from eight to 17 years of age. It is a detached house on a residential estate. There are four bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and a lounge, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor. Staff office space is also provided on the ground floor. There are enclosed gardens to the front and the rear of the home.

p.4

Brief description of the service

Three young people live at this home and one was present at the time of the inspection.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This unannounced interim inspection looked at the progress the setting has made with the recommendations made at the last inspection in October 2010. These related to young people being encouraged to write comments in or sign the sanction and restraint records and staff qualifications. The provision has taken appropriate action to resolve one of these matters and work is ongoing with the other.

p.4

Summary

Being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution, economic wellbeing and organisation were not assessed during this inspection.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The registered persons were asked to make two improvements at the last inspection. They were asked to ensure young people are encouraged to write their views or sign their name in sanction or restraint books. This matter has been addressed. It enables young people to develop understanding and responsibility.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The registered persons were asked at the last inspection to ensure a minimum of 80% of staff have an appropriate qualification. Work is ongoing in this area; however the required level has not yet been attained. A recommendation will be made in this report.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's information is stored securely in the home, which protects their rights. They are afforded privacy. A policy is in place for the searching of young people's possessions; however it determines that searches maybe undertaken on grounds that are not in the interests of welfare or safety. This is contrary to young people's rights. There is no record of any searches undertaken to show that young people's rights are promoted and protected. A search undertaken at the time of inspection was conducted in the interests of safeguarding young people.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have good information about complaints and have access to this system, which promotes and protects their rights. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. A policy and procedure is in place that is understood by staff, which helps them support young people where needed; however the procedure does not provide for dealing with complaints about the responsible individual.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A copy of the Local Safeguarding Children Board procedure and the home's own child protection procedure are available. Staff understand them and this helps them to keep young people safe. An anti-bullying policy is in place that is also known and understood by staff to help them keep young people safe. Good staffing levels are in place which means young people are well supported and are closely supervised. There have been no bullying incidents at the home.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Absence without authority procedures are in place that are known and understood by staff, which helps them safeguard young people. There have been no absences of any young people and there is a record in place for any such matters.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour management policies are in place that show how staff will support young people to develop socially. Young people have good relationships with staff. Sanction and restraint records are accurately kept and show measures used are appropriate. Young people are able to write their comments in these records, which enables them to develop understanding and responsibility. The Registered Manager monitors these records and indentifies any issues to make improvements in provision to young people.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place of young people's known and likely activities. Action to be taken and control measures are made clear to staff who understand them. They determine how any risk will be reduced or eliminated to keep young people safe. Health and safety matters are managed well. For example maintenance is carried out on portable electrical appliances, fixed electrical wiring and fire equipment. Fire drills are carried our regularly with staff and young people. All these matters help to keep young people safe.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A policy and procedure is in place for the recruitment of any new employees to work at the home. The recruitment process is robust and ensures that any new staff are the right people to work with children.

p.5

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.

p.6

Std. Action Due date

16 revise the written complaints procedure to provide guidance for dealing with complaints about the registered person. (Regulation 24(2)(c)) 31/03/2011

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure all searches of a young person's possessions are documented as set out in this NMS (NMS 9.8)  revise the guidance for staff on when it may be necessary to search a young person's possessions to reflect the content of this NMS (NMS 9.8)  ensure that a minimum of 80% of staff have completed their National Vocational Qualification at Level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People or another qualification which matches the competencies of this NVQ. (NMS 29.5)

p.6