Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Unique reference number SC022438 Inspection date 23/03/2011 Inspector Paul Gillespie Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 22/12/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

This home is one of 11 children's homes that are owned and operated by this private company. The home provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties, aged eight to 17 years.

p.4

Brief description of the service

The home provides accommodation for one young person in a two bedroom mid- terraced property with a downstairs bathroom, lounge and kitchen. The staff office is located upstairs and is also used as a staff bedroom. There is a good-sized back garden. The home is situated within reasonable distance from shops and leisure facilities. The home is staffed on a one to one basis, with one member of the staff team sleeping at the home each night. The home's staff team is managed and supported by a Registered Manager who is also registered as a manager for two other children's homes operated by the provider in the area.

p.4

Brief description of the service

One young person lives in the home and they took part in the inspection.

p.4

Summary

The overall quality rating is satisfactory.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

Summary

This visit was an interim inspection and was unannounced. The main focus of the inspection was to assess how well the home promotes and safeguards young people's welfare. The key standards in the outcome area for staying safe were assessed at this inspection. Also, the inspection looked at the progress made in addressing the two actions and seven recommendations made at the last inspection.

p.4

Summary

This is a satisfactory service. Overall the home has made sound progress since the last inspection. The acting manager and staff are effective at promoting the safety of young people. There is a good focus on building positive relationships so staff can respond appropriately to young people, especially at times when they may be upset. Young people are enabled to have privacy when they need it and they comment that they 'feel safe' and are 'happy at the home'. The premises are maintained in a safe condition and appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure that staff recruited to work with young people are suitable.

p.4

Summary

As a result of this inspection two recommendations are restated as they are not fully completed. Notably, ensure team meetings are held in line with the frequency stated in the national minimum standards: and provide training for staff that fully equips them to support the needs and experiences of young people accommodated, such as responding to the impact of domestic violence. Addressing these points will help ensure the focus continues to be on the promotion of welfare of young people and the quality of care in the home.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection a stable core staff team has been put in place that offers a more consistent level of care. Likewise, the acting manager now ensures matters identified in Regulation 33 reports are dealt with in a more timely way resulting in an overall improvement in the level and quality of monitoring.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Five of the seven previous recommendations have also been addressed. The current core staff team are qualified at the relevant level: they now receive more regular supervision in line with the frequency set out in the national minimum standards; the Statement of Purpose has been updated to reflect recent changes in the temporary management and staffing arrangements for the home; sanctions are more clearly recorded and the action is more proportionate to the behaviour; and risk assessments now include the likelihood of the associated risk with improved guidance to staff about how to minimise the risks.

p.5

Improvements since the last inspection

Two recommendations from the last inspection are yet to be fully acted upon so are raised again.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff at the home promote young people's privacy well. They have a clear understanding of the importance of managing information about young people confidentially and are sensitive to young people's emotions, especially for example, after contact with key people in their life and how this may impact upon their behaviour. Young people have access to a telephone, subject to relevant risk assessment, and they confirm they feel confident to approach and speak to staff if they have any concerns. Young people can also raise concerns at in-house meetings and in one-to-one discussions with their key worker. Overall, this means young people feel that they are listened to.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff demonstrate a good awareness of how to respond to allegations, suspicions or evidence of abuse. They are supported in developing their knowledge of safeguarding through annual updated training in child protection. Young people and staff report that bullying is not currently an issue at the home, although there is an appropriate policy and guidance available for staff. Young people also report that staff do speak regularly with them about keeping safe and about relationships with others. There are sound procedures in place that staff are aware of and would implement should a young person become missing from care. However, young people are currently settled and there have been no such occurrences.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

To help manage young people's behaviour, the staff team work closely with young people to help them understand the impact of their actions and behaviours. This includes offering reassurance when young people may feel upset. To this end staff also work in conjunction with other external agencies such as Community Adolescent Mental Health Services to develop plans to support young people. There is a proportionate and reasonable approach to the use of sanctions which young people confirm they understand and describe as 'fair'. Restraint is not used at this setting, although there is a programme of staff training in the method chosen by the organisation.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Generally the premises are maintained in a safe condition with appropriate monitoring of electrical and gas safety as well as aspects of fire prevention such as checking equipment for preventing, detecting and extinguishing fires. The staff also conduct fire drills at regular intervals. This means there are good systems in place to monitor, record and prevent risks to young people's health and safety.

p.6

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure that staff recruited to work with young people are suitable and safe. A record is also kept of all visitors to the children's home and the reason for their visit with staff confirming proof of identity. This helps ensure provides good safeguards for the young people placed.

p.6

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.7

Recommendations

 ensure that team meetings are held at least monthly in line with the frequency stated in the national minimum standards (NMS 28.10)  provide training for staff that fully equips them to support the needs and experiences of young people accommodated, such as responding to the impact of domestic violence. (NMS 31.5)

p.7