Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in Sefton

Unique reference number SC040785 Inspection date 28/03/2011 Inspector Michelle Moss Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 26/08/2010 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 an end terraced property that is situated approximately half a mile from the local shopping centre. The organisation also manages nine other small children's homes within an adjacent local authority. There are junior and high school placements and a range of leisure facilities available locally. Public transport, train and bus connection links are also close by. The staffing arrangements ensure that a one-to-one staffing ratio is maintained for all parts of the waking day, with one member of the staff team sleeping within the home each night on a rota basis.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This was a short notice announced inspection. At present the home is not providing any accommodation to young people. Our inspection methodology relies on evidence found at the time of inspection and this essentially includes users’ views about the service. As this evidence is not available we have completed a proportionate inspection; the purpose of which is to decide that should an admission be made, the service would be able to work to a satisfactory standard. As a consequence, only parts of being healthy, staying safe and organisation have been re-assessed. The overall judgement has reflected the limitation of the inspection in gaining full re- assessment of outcomes for young people. There has been good progress made in addressing previous shortfalls and these improvements are strengthening the home's preparation for taking new admissions. When the home last had young people accommodated and received a full inspection their overall judgement on their

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Improvements since the last inspection

There is ample evidence of good progress being made by the home to address previous shortfalls. This includes any new admission having better opportunities to make their feelings known about any imposed sanction, including having the opportunity to record their views and counter sign records made by staff. Also, the manager has a section to evaluate the effectiveness of any imposed sanction. The home has established a new format for assessing risk that is ready for implementation once the home undertakes a new admission. This ensures the welfare of young people is assessed early in their placement.

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Improvements since the last inspection

New admissions have better opportunities to make a positive contribution to their care plans through greater emphasis being placed on providing person centred care. This includes having care plans ready in a structured template that ensures all essential information about young people can be captured from the start of their placement. Furthermore, young people also have better opportunities to maintain contact with families and friends through having facilities that enable them to send and receive electronic mail.

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Helping children to be healthy

The staff are knowledgeable about health care triggers that can be indicators of changes in young people's emotional well-being and understand how they should respond. The home has a medication policy, procedure and practice guidance which helps to inform staff practice. There are strong links established with various health care professionals to enable any new admission to access a range of local services to help enhance physical and emotional well-being. The staff are trained in first aid and have access to first aid boxes in case of a medical emergency.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has policies and procedures regarding child protection, which are in line with the latest guidance from the Local Safeguarding Children Board. The staff team are trained in these procedures so that if required, they can implement them to safeguard young people in their care. Similarly, the staff are trained in responding to different forms of verbal and physical aggression. This training provides them with the skills to support young people's emotional welfare. The home has a clear complaints procedure which is already prepared and inclusive in a welcome pack that young people receive on arrival. This ensures young people get to know from the start of their placement about how any concerns will be addressed. There remains a rigorous recruitment procedure to ensure only suitable staff are employed to work directly with young people. There are clear arrangements in place for reporting young people who are go missing from care including participating in multi-

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

professional meetings to evaluate and formulate actions around the risks.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are systems in place to monitor, record and prevent risks relating to health and safety. This includes fire and gas safety. Fire tests and drills take place at set intervals to ensure the staff team retain familiarity with practices that help to keep young people safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Countering bullying is covered in training undertaken by staff. In addition, the staff team have good access to guidance on tackling bullying to ensure when young people are re-admitted following bullying, they feel secure and safe.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The layout of the home enables young people to have their privacy respected. Also, the home has suitable storage for holding personal information about young people that protects their rights to confidentiality.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager ensures through training, supervision, review and quality monitoring, that the staff remain sufficiently skilled to re-admit new young people at short notice. The staffing levels continue to be maintained in preparation of receiving a new admission. These levels enable staff to provide a flexible approach to fit around the lifestyles and needs of young people that can be referred to the home. The staff are aware of the specific nature and uniqueness of the home. This extends to meeting the aims and objectives in supporting young people who meet the home's admission criteria, set out in their Statement of Purpose.

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Organisation

The Registered Manager has the required qualifications and experience to manage the home. There is a strong ethos of being open and transparent in all areas of running the home, which is focused on supporting young people in a person centred way. The home has prepared information for young people to help them with the transition to their new setting. This includes information about the staff who will be supporting them and about their rights.

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