Children's Home run by After Care (NW) Limited in Sefton

Unique reference number SC042652 Inspection date 17/03/2011 Inspector Monica Farrimond 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

This children's home looks after three young people aged from eight to 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

It is a semi-detached house close to the centre of the town. The location of the house enables young people to access facilities in the community. It is close to bus stops, a railway station, local schools, shops, youth groups, leisure centres, the beach and parks.

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Brief description of the service

Three young people live at the home and one contributed to the inspection.

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Summary

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

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Summary

This random inspection looked at safeguarding procedures and any issues in relation to safeguarding that have arisen since the last inspection. The home continues to manage safeguarding issues well and the welfare of the young people is promoted. Being healthy, enjoying and achieving, positive contribution and organisation were not looked at on this inspection.

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Summary

Safeguarding the welfare of the young people is a high priority and staff work positively as a team. Young people enjoy living at the home and they are confident that staff will keep them safe. A notable feature is that serious incidents and physical interventions are not a regular occurrence, and this is a reflection on the positive caring environment evident at the home. One previous recommendation made at the last inspection, relating to bullying risk assessments has been appropriately addressed. There are no actions or recommendations made following this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There was one recommendation made following the last inspection, relating to the development of individualised bullying risk assessments; this issue has now been appropriately addressed.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good policies, procedures and work practices are in place that ensure young people's right to privacy and confidentiality is upheld. All young people have their own individual single bedroom with appropriate locks on the doors. Confidentiality and respect for young people's privacy are issues covered in induction and supervision of staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The complaints policy, procedures and documentation are comprehensive. Staff receive training in the complaints procedures and know how to assist young people to make a complaint. Young people are given good information on the various ways they can make a formal complaint including the contact numbers of outside agencies they may make a complaint to directly if they wish.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are no current child protection issues or concerns. Good child protection policies and procedures, regularly reviewed and updated, are in place. All staff receive regularly updated child protection training. Good records are maintained of any child protection referrals and any subsequent investigations. These actions show the home takes suitable measures to ensure staff have a good working knowledge of policies and procedures that protect young people from abuse.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Suitable policies and procedures are in place on bullying. The home has developed individual bullying risk assessments which identify vulnerable areas both inside and outside of the home. This ensures that wherever possible, risks from bullying are identified and action taken to avoid the risks; potential issues are identified and addressed. The home's recording procedures and young people's meeting minutes do not identify bullying as being a live issue at the home, or of concern for young people.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Good policies are in place that detail action for staff to take should a young person go absent without permission. The home has formed good working links with the local police, and appropriate procedures are followed if a young person goes missing. Incidents of absence without authority are infrequent and most that have occurred relate to specific young people returning home late, rather than going missing. All incidents are formally recorded and documentation used for this is good.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

A good behaviour management system is in place, based on working positively with young people and encouraging, praising and rewarding acceptable behaviour. Unacceptable behaviour is addressed and fully discussed with young people, and they are given advice and guidance on ways to avoid repeating such behaviours. On isolated occasions sanctions are imposed and young people may be asked to pay towards any costs their behaviours have incurred. The home aims to enable young people to see that their behaviour has consequences. Staff are aware of the types of sanctions they can and cannot use and these are clearly detailed in policy documents. Young people have a good awareness of the types of sanctions and rewards used, and are able to write comments following a sanction, which are generally positive. All sanctions imposed are suitably recorded.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

On rare occasions it has proven necessary to use physical interventions with young people. Staff meet with young people involved at a suitable time afterwards to discuss the incident and how such incidents may be avoided in the future. All staff receive regularly updated training in the home's preferred method of physical intervention. All such incidents are fully recorded and reported to placing authorities and, where applicable, parents/carers. The documentation used for recording physical interventions meets requirements.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There are sufficient baths, showers and toilets to fully meet young people's needs and the doors on all such facilities have suitable locks fitted to afford privacy. Staff with the responsibility for overseeing health and safety issues and compiling risk assessments have received appropriate training for this role. All care staff receive risk assessment and health and safety training. Relevant risk assessments are in place and are reviewed at least annually. Individual risk assessments are compiled on each young person and reviewed monthly. All fire drills, fire alarm tests and fire safety equipment checks are up to date. All electrical appliances are checked annually. No health and safety hazards were observed during the inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Suitable staff recruitment procedures, which meet with regulatory requirements, are in place. Staff recruitment files contain relevant information to show all required checks have been carried out before staff commence employment. This shows the home takes all reasonable measures to ensure staff employed are suitable to work with young people.

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