Children's Home run by Future In Mind Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC063653 Inspection date 10/03/2011 Inspector Chris Scully Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 02/11/2010 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 home provides care and accommodation for two children and young people aged between 6 years and under 16 with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is a small, three bedroom terraced house, situated close to local amenities. The service provides a specialist therapeutic programme and staff practice therapeutic techniques under supervision of a qualified therapist who is also a director of the organisation.

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Brief description of the service

There are currently two young people living in the home.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was an unannounced interim inspection. All the key national minimum standards of staying safe have been inspected and one standard in economic well-being. The remaining standards were inspected at the key inspection in November 2010 and were deemed as good. No actions or recommendations were raised at this inspection.

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Summary

This is a good service. Two young people accommodated at the home, participated in the inspection. Records and discussions with young people show that children and young people enjoy living here and feel safe. Clear safeguarding procedures means they are protected from harm. Planning for children and young people's care is thorough, which means staff are aware of their behaviours and vulnerabilities and keep them safe.

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Summary

Children and young people live in a generally safe home, although there are items within the garden which impacts upon their safety. Children and young people know how to complain, however there are some issues with the recording of these concerns.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No actions or recommendations were raised at the previous inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children and young people's privacy and safety is carefully balanced by staff in everyday life. For example, the provision of waking night staff enhances children and young people's safety. Staff knock on the door before entering a child or young person's bedroom. Arrangements to keep children and young people safe from harm in the event of any child protection issues are good. Policy, procedure and training mean staff know how to respond in the event of an allegation or disclosure.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children and young people know how to make complaints using established procedures designed for their use. There has been one complaint since the last inspection. This is recorded in the central record although, this document does not name the young person making the complaint. A detailed response to each complaint is made by the Registered Manager. However, on this occasion the document outlining the nature of the complaint, how it was investigated, name of the complainant and resolution could not be located. This means information required in the standards was not available. Children and young people state they are happy at the home and know who to talk to if they are worried. Their safety is enhanced as they have access to various outside agencies, such as Child line and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) whom they can contact should they have any concerns.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is not an issue for the children and young people at the home. Anti- bullying practice is good and means staff are aware of the potential for this and can quickly instigate strategies to minimise this. Staff engage in direct work with children and young people about the impact of their behaviours on others. For example, they talk to young people during meetings and set guidelines for good behaviour, such as not raising their voices. Clear procedures are in place should a child or young person go missing from the home, which ensure all appropriate persons are notified. The potential for this is minimised due to high staffing ratios, which means children and young people are supervised at all times.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff view children and young people in a positive light and encourage acceptable behaviour by praising them, talking to them and building positive relationships with them. Staff are good at encouraging children and young people to develop socially acceptable behaviours and deal with difficult behaviour constructively. Children and young people are aware of the house rules and the consequences that may be implemented for incidents of poor behaviour, for example, the loss of activity money. The use of rewards continues to have a positive impact upon children and young people's behaviour. Staff state the children and young people are generally very well behaved and there are only minor incidents of bickering between them.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children and young people live in a generally safe environment. They are protected by a comprehensive range of detailed risk assessments, health and safety procedures and checks. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks, such as fire drills to ensure the premises are safe; children and young people know what to do in an emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Recruitment records show children and young people are cared for by staff who are suitably qualified, experienced and vetted. For example, staff do not commence working with children and young people until they have a satisfactory Criminal Records Bureau clearance. Staff monitor visitors to the home to keep children and young people safe from harm.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The home is furnished and decorated to a good standard and provides a homely environment for children and young people. However, maintenance issues within the garden have not been addressed. There are a number of rusty object in the garden, which include a bed frame and bicycle parts. There are numerous bricks lying in the garden and gardening tools against the shed, which have not been removed or sorted safely. There are lengths of guttering left in the garden. The home has not yet instigated the safe removal of these items These objects pose a risk the safety and well-being of children and young people.

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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):  ensure the garden areas are well maintained and safe in particular the hazard such as the rusty bed frame, bicycles and rubble are removed (NMS 24.3)  ensure a written record is made and kept of the person making the complaint, date of the complaint, nature of the complaint action taken and the outcome of the complaint. (NMS 16.3)

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