Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC039248 Inspection date 17/02/2011 Inspector Elaine Clare Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 29/06/2010 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

The home is registered to provide a service for six young people of either sex aged from 13 to 17 years. The home has single occupancy bedrooms on the first floor and communal rooms and offices on the ground floor. It is owed and run by a local authority.

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Brief description of the service

Several young people spoke with the inspector during this visit.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This unannounced interim inspection was the second visit to the setting for the year April 2010 to March 2011. The service was judged as good at the key inspection, undertaken in June 2010. The aim of this inspection was to inspect those standards that ensure young people are safe and to inspect the progress made in implementing the actions and recommendations previously made.

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Summary

An enthusiastic staff team continues to care for young people well, in order to keep them safe, be healthy and to develop as individuals.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Following the last inspection, one recommendation was made to improve practice. This was to improve on the evidence that key worker sessions were happening and that young people were receiving appropriate support. This has much improved with detailed recordings of all the key working sessions taking place.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are comprehensive policies to guide a mixed staff team in how to respect young people's privacy and handle information about them sensitively. Each young person has a good-sized bedroom with suitable furniture to meet their needs. Lockable storage boxes provide them with a safe place to keep their personal possessions. They can use the home's cordless telephone to make calls in private, within the contact arrangements agreed. Sufficient bathroom and toilet facilities are available to enable privacy.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are taken seriously, investigated and acted upon. Young people confirm that concerns they raise are followed through, although not always to the outcome they anticipate. Staff are also clear of the process to follow when receiving external complaints; these are formally investigated and the complainant kept informed. Complaints are monitored as part of the home's quality assurance and reviewed during the monthly visits to fulfil Regulation 33.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home's procedures promote the welfare of young people and aim to protect them from abuse. Staff are trained in safeguarding and know the action to take in response to any concerns. The local safeguarding procedures are also readily available for staff to reference. Any allegations or safeguarding concerns are discussed with the relevant professionals and suitable records are maintained. Sound recruitment procedures require that all staff have an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure before employment, to protect young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff remain alert to bullying and intervene promptly to de-escalate situations. They recognise those young people who have a tendency to bully, as well as those who are vulnerable; they then develop strategies to reduce the risk of it continuing. Staff arrange activities with consideration for the dynamics of the group and ensure sufficient supervision whereby young people are supported and looked after. Good records are now developing enabling staff to determine the frequency of intimidation and any trends that are emerging.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There has been some recent unauthorised absence from the home. However, clear strategies by the staff ensure they are responsive to absences and that young people are treated positively when they return. The home's policy confirms that the young person's social worker will hold a telephone conversation with them to discuss reasons for absence, if a face-to-face meeting is not immediately possible.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people confirm that they do not always behave well but that overall staff respond to them positively. They see staff as supportive in helping them learn how to manage challenging feelings and believe that staff are fair. Records confirm that physical intervention is only used when necessary to prevent harm or considerable damage and that sanctions are appropriate.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are good measures in place to maintain the safety and security of young people. Risk assessments are undertaken and staff manage maintenance issues well; hazards are now being reported and managed in a timely fashion. Similarly, staff take positive steps to protect against the risk of fire; fire prevention equipment is regularly checked and fire drills are now being held throughout the 24 hour period. Suitable records of attendance are made. The home's good recruitment processes continue and all the required checks are made. These, with the careful vetting of visitors, protect young people.

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