Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire East

Unique reference number SC060590 Inspection date 07/03/2011 Inspector Elizabeth Taylor Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 14/10/2010 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 accommodate three young people, of either sex between the ages of eight and 17 years. The category of registration is for young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The house is a four bedroom, two storey detached house with a garden to the front and parking space for two cars at the rear. A garage and two sheds are also located at the back of the parking area. The house is approximately a 10 minute walk from the nearest town centre which offers a range of shops and other public amenities.

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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 focussed on standards relating to keeping young people safe and progress with previous actions and recommendations. Two young people were present during the inspection and both contributed to the process.

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Summary

The home provides good quality care for young people. This is promoted by the manager who ensures a child-centred approach is taken to their care and management. There is excellent working in partnership with a range of professionals, particularly those concerned with keeping young people safe. Young people receive effective individual support from staff. The staff team are well trained and supported to carry out their role. Young people say the best thing about the home is 'the staff' who they describe as 'the best, they really do care'.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Two actions and two recommendations were made during the last inspection. All have been addressed. The home was asked to ensure a system was implemented in respect of verifying reasons for staff leaving any previous position where they worked with children or vulnerable adults. A recording format is implemented which demonstrates a robust approach is taken to verifying information for successful applicants.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has dual registration as a school. Care staff are involved at times in supporting young people in education. The home was asked to ensure care staff were assisted to be clear about their role in promoting young people's educational attainment. A member of care staff has been designated as a link person between school and care and training for care staff in supporting education is planned in the near future. This will contribute to ensuring young people are helped to achieve their potential. The manager was asked to ensure the potential for bullying, both within and outside the home, was risk assessed. Individual assessments on young people address any concerns about bullying. There is evidence this is effective in practice as young people say bullying is not a problem in the home. A central recording system has been implemented to help quickly identity any patterns or issues related to bullying

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Improvements since the last inspection

The manager was asked to ensure that any use of restraint is appropriate and that its effectiveness as a control measure is evaluated. Also, that young people are given an opportunity to record their views following a restraint. Records show entries in the dedicated book for recording restraints are monitored and evaluated by the manager in a timely manner. Young people are supported to write their views following a restraint though these are recorded on a separate incident log; a copy of which is attached to the record of restraint. These measures ensure staff act in compliance with the home's policy and procedure and help to protect young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy and confidentiality is promoted. A balance is maintained between adequate supervision of young people and their need for privacy. Each young person has their own bedroom and receive a key to their room on admission. Arrangements are in place for keys to be replaced when lost. However, young people respect each other's space and personal belongings. Bathing and toilet facilities are also fitted with appropriate locks which can be opened from the outside in the event of an emergency. Information about young people is stored safely and securely.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an established complaints procedure which is documented in the home's Statement of Purpose and the young people's guide. No complaints have been recorded since the last inspection. Young people know about the procedure and are able to easily access a complaints form. They say they feel confident to make a formal complaint. However, their preferred option is to speak to staff first. They say they trust staff but 'if they can't sort it, then I would fill in a complaints form'. An independent advocate visits the home to meet with the young people. This provides another opportunity for the young people to raise concerns with someone independent of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

High priority is given to keeping young people safe. Staff are well trained in a range of areas relevant to safeguarding including self-harming behaviour and sexual exploitation. There is excellent working in partnership with a range of professionals such as young people's social workers, local police liaison officers and youth offending teams. This promotes young peoples' safety. Child protection concerns or suspicions are reported promptly to the appropriate agency and other interested persons. There are clear plans for the care and management of the young people and these are informed by robust risk assessments. Regular keyworking sessions help to inform young people about the dangers they place themselves in and ways of keeping themselves safe in the community. Young people say they feel safe in the home and know how staff act to keep them safe outside it.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not an issue in the home. Individual risk assessments are completed to identify any concerns about young people and bullying. Staff appropriately challenge any suspected or reported incidents of bullying behaviour within the home and are conscious of the need to be vigilant about indicators which suggest young people may be being bullied in the community. Bullying is openly discussed to encourage young people to report any concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The protection of young people who go missing from home without authority is excellent. Individual protocols are implemented which include input from police and social workers. This ensures a coordinated approach is taken to ensure young people are found and returned safely to the home. Records show staff act in accordance with good parenting principles to find young people when they are absent from the home. This includes contacting young people on their mobile phones, monitoring their movements and looking for them at known addresses or places. These measures contribute to keeping young people safe and promoting their welfare.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people have positive and trusting relationships with staff and generally respond well to clear, firm boundaries and behaviour management strategies. Young people's behaviour is managed for the most part by the use of positive measures such as incentives, praise and encouragement. The incentive scheme is incremental which enables young people to earn a small daily reward even if they do not fully meet their targets. This encourages them to continue to try to behave in an acceptable manner.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff talk to young people about their negative behaviours and promote self respect and consideration for others. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. Staff are suitably trained in de-escalation techniques and the use of physical restraint. The latter is used occasionally to keep young people or others safe from harm. These incidents are appropriately recorded. Each incident is quickly reviewed by the manager to ensure the action taken was necessary and proportionate. Few sanctions are imposed and young people are encouraged to record whether they feel they were fairly administered. Young people's written comments are also monitored by the manager. Young people say staff are 'nice'. No concerns were raised by them in relation to the use of sanctions or restraint.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people are cared for in an environment that effectively protects their health and safety. Risk assessments identify young people's known behaviours and activities. These are regularly reviewed and practical measures are identified to help reduce unacceptably high levels of risk. Fire safety matters receive good attention. Tests on fire safety systems are recorded weekly. Young people receive fire safety instruction and are involved in fire drills at appropriate intervals. This ensures they know what to do in the event of an emergency. An up to date fire risk assessment is maintained. Service checks on appliances and installations are routinely carried out by professionally qualified persons. Visitors to the home are vetted and their presence is recorded. These measures contribute to keeping young people safe.

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