Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC372661 Inspection date 10/03/2011 Inspector Trevor Hall Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 09/11/2010 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 is a small independent children's home providing care and accommodation for one young person aged between 10 and 18 years of age. The home shares a manager with a similar care home within the same care organisation. The company has an educational centre nearby, which some of the young people it accommodates attend.

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Brief description of the service

The home is accommodated in a detached house with three bedrooms in a fairly isolated rural position in a small village near a small market town. The purpose of the home is to provide care for a single young person who has complex social and psychological needs and who may require assessment, behaviour modification or skill enhancement. Generally the home is staffed with one person on duty with the young person. However, this is under constant review and if circumstances or risk assessments suggest it is necessary, as at the time of this inspection, staffing levels are increased.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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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 interim unannounced inspection that concentrated on all key national minimum standards in the outcome area of staying safe. At the time of this inspection the home accommodated one young person who was present during the inspection process.

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Summary

The home continues to provides an outstanding standard of care and support that helps young people in their education, personal, social and emotional development. The home's Registered Manager provides effective leadership which results in staff being clearly focused on meeting the needs of the young people. Staff relationships with young people are both caring and very supportive. Young people benefit from living in a home that is well managed and organised to achieve excellent outcomes.

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Improvements since the last inspection

No recommendations were made at the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people clearly benefit from living in a home that has an excellent focus on safeguarding and protection matters. Young people are encouraged by staff to keep themselves and others safe. There are effective arrangements in place to ensure that staff are well informed about how to keep young people safe. Young people are actively protected because staff recognise and understand their role in child protection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy and confidentially is respected by all staff. Staff are sensitive and aware of the need to only disclose or share information that is needed to meet young people's needs. The home has good policies in respect of staff entering young people's bedrooms and for conducting searches of these rooms when it is necessary to do so.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The young people living at this home are aware of the reason they are being looked after and how staff will promote their safety and protection within the home and in public places. Staff are fully aware of the types of behaviour which young people may display and accordingly develop risk assessments that minimise the potential for young people to subject themselves or others to harm. Staff know how to respond to challenging behaviours and in circumstances where young people may abscond. Young people are encouraged to reflect on the consequences of their behaviour after such incidents to learn how to help themselves to be safe and behave responsibly.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home manages complaints and concerns quickly and tries to resolve complaints in a manner young people both understand and can agree with. Records of complaints, both internal and external, identify clear outcomes. As a result, young people are able to raise concerns and issues, confident that staff will listen and act on what they have to say.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are vigilant with regard to all relationships and take action if bullying is suspected. The home's records comprehensively evidence that staff engage with young people frequently about matters that relate to their behaviour and conduct.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home follows the organisation's policy and procedures regarding young people who leave the home without permission; these practices comply with wider police protocol on absconding behaviour. Young people are actively discouraged from having unauthorised absences and records demonstrate that procedures are being consistently followed. Staff focus on developing supportive and consistent relationships that encourage alternative and safer ways of behaving. Promoting young people's safety and protection is central to the operation of the home.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff take positive steps to keep young people and visitors safe from all environmental hazards including fire. For example, risk assessments on the environment are completed and updated on a regular basis and staff within the home are all involved in these routines to ensure that health and safety is promoted by everyone. Portable appliance testing (PAT), for electrical safety has been done on all equipment in the home and all safety equipment has been serviced with approved regularity and is properly maintained. Frequent checks are undertaken on fire equipment and emergency lighting, and fire drills are regularly completed. The Registered Manager ensures that utilities, domestic equipment and vehicles are checked to ensure they are safe to use. Young people live in a home which provides physical safety and security. This home does take the safety and welfare of the residents seriously and young people live in a home which is both physically safe and

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's protection is also very well promoted through safe recruitment, selection and vetting practices for all new staff. The service has a clearly defined system in place that ensures all necessary checks have been completed and are acceptable prior to any new staff member starting work in the home. A written record of this process is maintained for inspection and is followed in respect of all staff currently employed.

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