Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC396463 Inspection date 24/03/2011 Inspector Trevor Hall Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 02/07/2010 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 located within walking distance of various bus links which provide easy access to the city centre with its wide range of amenities and facilities. The city has excellent rail links that can help promote contact. The home also offers ready access to a range of religious meeting places.

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Brief description of the service

The home was registered in June 2009 and is a modern detached property with four bedrooms set on a corner plot. There is immediate access to a large park. The property is comfortably furnished and has toilets and bathing facilities on both floors. There is a communal lounge and separate dining room with a television, music system and internet linked computer. Each young person has their own bedroom. Currently one young person is living at the home, however, they were unable to participate in the inspection process.

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Brief description of the service

The service provides short to long-term care with therapy, if required. It has close links with two other nearby homes operated by the same organisation.

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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 not present during the inspection process.

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Summary

The home continues to provide a very good standard of care and support that helps young people in their education, personal, social and emotional development. The home's 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 good outcomes.

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Improvements since the last inspection

Since the last inspection the home has improved they way it conducts and records night time fire dills. The home's admissions procedure has been improved and the home's records of impact risk assessments, initial baseline assessments and risk management screening have all improved. The home has produced an extensive development plan, in line with the expectations of the national minimum standards and the level of staff currently holding a National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in child care has increased to surpass the 80% ratio required by the national minimum standards.

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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. The home has an extensive range of operational policies and procedures that are used effectively to promote the safety and welfare of young people. 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.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people know that inappropriate behaviour will be challenged. This makes the home a safe and comfortable place to live, because expectations about behaviour and conduct are clearly communicated in a way that is both positive and effective. 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

Young people are well informed about their right to express dissatisfaction about any aspect of their care. The home's welcome booklet, which each young person receives on arrival, explains the process of complaint in very user friendly language. This booklet is supported by very evident posters throughout the home, directing young people both to internal and external routes to express dissatisfaction. The home manages complaints and concerns quickly and tries to resolve complaints in a manner young people both understand and can agree with. No complaints have been logged since the home was last inspected. Records of previously logged complaints, both internal and external, identify clear outcomes.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has all necessary anti-bullying policies and procedures, that are well advertised and implemented by staff. Bullying is not a prominent feature of the home, due to its current single occupancy status. 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 unauthorised absences. 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

Young people are encouraged to behave well, to establish, achieve and maintain levels of behaviour that are socially acceptable and that will sustain them in the wider community. The home's records detail that very few consequences are used. Staff proactively respond to inappropriate behaviour and use positive consequences and rewards for behaviour that deserves congratulation and praise. Very few physical interventions have been needed since the last inspection and this indicates staff have built positive relationships and focus on young people's achievements, rather than on just punishing misdemeanours.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The home has good policies, procedures and staff guidance in respect of recording incidents both in the home and those that happen outside in the community. These policies enable staff to recognise incidents that are significant, particularly if they include aspects of potential risk or harm to young people.

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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, for electrical safety has been carried out 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 home's 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.

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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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