Children's Home run by Horizon Care Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC062406 Inspection date 07/03/2011 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 22/11/2010 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 children's home is operated by a private company. It is a large detached property located in a rural area on the outskirts of a town. The home specialises in offering a service for young people who are placing themselves or others at risk of harm. Both emergency and planned placements are permitted.

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Brief description of the service

The home has an open-plan lounge and dining room, a kitchen and education room equipped with a computer and computer games. Bedrooms are sited on the first floor along with a bathroom. There are also toilet facilities on the ground floor. There are spacious gardens and the home has its own car to transport young people.

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Summary

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

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Summary

The purpose of this unannounced interim inspection was to check on the progress of the requirement and recommendation made at the last inspection and to ensure young people are safe.

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Summary

There is a competent and caring staff team who continue to provide a good standard of care to the young people.

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Summary

There were no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The requirement raised at the last inspection is no longer valid as the young person has moved on. Staff are aware of their responsibility to inform relevant agencies of notifiable events.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The home has introduced a 24 hour management plan clearly identifying the needs of the young people and setting out how they are to be cared for.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's information is kept securely to ensure confidentiality.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There have been no complaints since the last inspection although young people are aware of how to make a complaint and information is readily available to support them to do this.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are no safeguarding concerns with any of the young people at the moment. Behaviours presented by some young people prior to admission are no longer evident. All staff have received safeguarding training and have good awareness of safeguarding issues. Young people have internet access although some inappropriate sites are blocked; however, staff are able to monitor computer access.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff discuss bullying with young people and the many ways that bullying can occur. There are incentives for young people not to bully or intimidate each other and, in the main, the young people get on well together.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home is set in a very rural area and is quite isolated; staff monitor the young people's whereabouts when they leave the unit. There are no real issues of young people going missing although there is individual guidance to staff on what action to take in the event of any of the young people failing to return to the home when expected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Each young person has a behaviour management plan identifying potential behaviours with strategies in place to manage these behaviours. There is an incentive scheme in place with individual targets for each young person to achieve a monetary reward. The home has introduced a 24 hour management plan which identifies triggers to unwanted behaviours and how difficult times are best managed. There have been no restraints recorded for a considerable period and very few sanctions. These are appropriate and young people are encouraged to make comment on the record.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place for each young person, activities and the premises, identifying potential risks with strategies in place to manage the risk. Fire records are in good order, fire drills are undertaken regularly and whenever a new young person is admitted ensuring every body knows what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The identity of all visitors to the home is checked and new staff do not commence work until all checks have been completed.

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