Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Knowsley

Unique reference number SC356929 Inspection date 16/05/2011 Inspector Sonya Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 25/10/2010 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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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This service provides residential accommodation for up to three looked after young people, aged between 10 and 17 years old, who have complex emotional and behavioural needs.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The home takes positive steps to meet the diverse and complex needs of the young people placed. The main strengths come from the strong links the home has with schools and the placing authority social workers. This promotes development in all aspects of personal, social and health education and citizenship. Staff ensure that young people receive an individual service designed to meet their personal needs. Staff have good knowledge of the young people they are working with, ensuring their needs are consistently met. The home values the rights of individuals to respect and dignity.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people said that they are able to make their views known and have a say in what happens in the home. They are involved in decisions about what food they eat, what they do in their spare time, how the house is decorated and the plans for their future. Young people said, "staff are good at listening" and that they feel safe living at the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Social workers who have placed young people within the home are very complimentary about the care that their young person has received. They state that "young people have come a long way since being placed"; and that staff are "quick to pick up on things". Social workers consistently report that the "service is really good at communication, they (the social workers) know what happens when it happens".

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Overall effectiveness

The home has a friendly atmosphere where everyone usually gets along and young people enjoy positive relationships with staff. Staff value the young people as individuals. They are helpful and they clearly enjoy spending time with the young people. Professional and personal boundaries with young people are clear and are consistent with good childcare.

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Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection, one requirement and five recommendations are made. These relate to staff training, documentation of restraints, further detail in the young person's guide, general maintenance and guidance for staff to provide further safeguards.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that where a measure of restraint is used on a child, the record must include details of any methods used to avoid the need to use that measure. (Regulation 17B (4) (b)) 30/06/2011

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure that the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated; for example, provision of appropriately maintained storage space for clothes (NMS 10.3)  ensure that the children’s guide includes how children can find out about their rights, how a child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer, the Children’s Rights Director and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure that the children’s home has a designated person, who is a senior manager, responsible for managing allegations (NMS 20.5)  ensure that there is a good quality learning and development programme which staff are supported to undertake and that training keeps them up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments and reflects the policies, legal obligations and business needs of the home (NMS 18.1)  ensure that all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification.

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Recommendations

This was previously the National Vocational Qualification in Caring for Children and Young People, and from September 2010 is the Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma. (NMS 18.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good . Young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that they help to plan at their weekly meetings, taking into account their likes and dislikes. Young people are encouraged to assist with preparing meals and shopping in preparation for adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have a health care plan and these allow for the health needs of young people to be assessed, monitored and appropriate action taken. Staff actively encourage young people to enjoy and participate in healthy activities and experiences. Young people have accurate records that reflect their health care needs both inside the home and when out and about. This demonstrates a commitment to providing young people with positive healthy and stimulating experiences, while adopting an organised and safe approach.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy learning and are making good progress. Young people's preferences are taken into account and they have opportunities to study and get work experience in areas that interest them. Young people receive good educational support to help them succeed and achieve. This includes knowing someone from the home will attend all school events. The staff ensure that resources are accessed to aid learning, such as access to computers, so that young people can learn and sustain contact with friends and family. Young people are supported to develop a sense of self-worth and self-direction in relation to the choices and challenges they make in everyday life.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people take part in a wide range of leisure activities. They have opportunities to develop confidence in their skills, enjoy their leisure time and try new things. Young people describe the activities and support from staff as good. They speak excitedly about a recent in house dining competition and theme park activities over the recent Easter break. This further develops confidence and encourages independence skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people maintain contact with families and friends where appropriate. This helps young people to see their families regularly to help them maintain relationships. Staff make sure that the arrangements for contact promote and safeguard young people’s welfare. Staff achieve this by working closely with the families to ensure that contact is a positive experience for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to develop independence skills to prepare them for adulthood. Their plans reflect the varying degree of assistance they require to prepare them practically and emotionally for leaving care. Young people are encouraged to develop skills in a range of areas. Currently these include, meal preparation, budget skills and household chores. The tasks are linked to incentives and praise, and are revised as young people demonstrate their competency.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Individual needs are assessed and addressed, in a way that promotes dignity and privacy, and differences are acknowledged and respected. Support is provided to ensure that young people have their needs acknowledged and that they feel included and valued.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is good . The provider and staff seek young people’s views about how well they feel they are looked after. Young people are supported and encouraged to express their views and communicate effectively. Staff are helpful to the young people and show that they enjoy spending time with them. Staff act as positive role models and use effective communication skills to encourage young people to develop socially acceptable behaviour. They place great emphasis on building positive relationships with young people and understanding young people’s behaviour.

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Quality of care

The home can meet a wide range of young people's potential needs, including healthy lifestyles, culture, dealing with problems, education, gender, relationships and personal care. Young people have every opportunity to talk to staff about their problems and needs. Staff are comfortable discussing sensitive issues, such as identity, sexual health and family relationships with young people. However, the young person’s guide does not detail other external agencies such as the young person's Independent Reviewing Officer or the Children's Rights Director at Ofsted. This would provide additional support should young people choose to access it.

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Quality of care

The service has a well developed complaints procedure and all complaints are responded to promptly. Young people know the complaints procedure and they are confident that any complaint will be taken seriously.

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Quality of care

Young people have written placement plans identifying their individual and personal needs, and outlining the arrangements for meeting them. Staff implement the plans and keep records about young people’s progress and experiences. Young people’s placement plans are reviewed regularly to make sure that they are up to date and continue to meet their needs. Staff seek young people's views and ensure that they are listened to and their views about their lives taken into account.

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Quality of care

Young people see their families frequently and are in regular contact by telephone. They have clear arrangements for contact with their families to help them maintain and build positive relationships. Staff actively ensure young people have suitable regular contact and that the arrangements promote and safeguard young people’s welfare.

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Quality of care

Young people's health needs are identified in the pre-placement planning meeting and a health plan shows how these needs will be addressed. The home has good working relationships with local health services, and young people's health is promoted because they are registered with a local General Practitioner, dentist and other appropriate health care services. The home follows up all health checks that are outstanding when a new young person is admitted, for example, staff ensure that all young people are up to date with vaccinations. The home ensures that referrals are made for specialist health assessments where necessary. Good systems are in place to routinely monitor young people's health, and action is taken to address any concerns.

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Quality of care

Staff follow detailed guidance relating to the medication. This means that young people receive the medication they need at the appropriate times. All medicines are stored safely in a suitable, locked cabinet. This means that young people's health needs overall are met to a good standard.

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Quality of care

The staff support young people's learning through promoting education, and all young people are achieving in their educational placements. Young people are also assisted in their preparation towards adulthood and developing life skills, such as cooking, form filling and budgeting. The staff team provide young people with constant praise for all their achievements, which is done with sincerity.

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Quality of care

Young people have access to a range of activities and they are encouraged to share leisure time with families when appropriate. Young people also engage with staff in attending leisure facilities in order to try new experiences. Young people are gaining confidence in their abilities through guidance given by staff.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a homely and comfortable environment that meets their needs. Young people like the accommodation and have personalised the home to reflect their interests and individual tastes. The house is maintained, decorated and furnished to a good standard, although the wardrobes in one bedroom have become damaged through wear and tear. The rear garden area is maintained and used by the young people for relaxation and they have been involved in the planting of flowers and soft fruit.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Staff demonstrate a good commitment to preserving the confidentiality, dignity and privacy of young people and they have a good understanding of safeguarding issues. The home does not have a specific named person designated to deal with allegations, although, young people say that they feel safe living in this home and that they would speak to staff if they were worried or upset. This ensures that young people are protected from abuse.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home actively takes steps to make sure that young people missing from home are protected. If young people go missing staff will try to find them and keep in touch by mobile telephone to encourage them to return and ensure they are safe. Staff are aware and do not exceed the measures they can take to prevent a child leaving without permission under current legislation and government guidance. The home has developed good links with the local police and follows agreed local protocols regarding young people missing from care. Incidents are recorded appropriately. Risk assessments are in place detailing individual needs and agreed strategies to support and protect young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are good monitoring systems in place whereby the management team look at behaviour management to ensure that appropriate action has been taken, that is that it is fair and reasonable. Young people have clear and consistent boundaries and know what is expected of them and what is unacceptable. Staff praise young people when they do well and reward them. They also reassure young people when they are upset and help them deal with their anxieties and frustrations in a positive way. Staff assist young people to learn to manage their behaviour and solve problems. Young people are aware of what is expected of them. Physical intervention is used as a last resort and is not common place, although recording systems for restraints do not detail what methods are used prior to the restraint to avoid its use. Recording systems for sanctions show that staff are reasonable in their approach when applying consequences.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff carry out regular health and safety checks of the premises, including certification for gas, electric and fire safety checks. The vetting of staff and visitors is also thorough to make sure young people are protected. The home carries out recruitment checks, including the verification of written references, before staff start work at the home. This helps to safeguard young people. The home has sound policies and procedures for ensuring that young people are safe and operates good systems to reflect how young people's welfare is promoted.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . The home is managed by an experienced, qualified and competent registered manager. The organisation has a business plan in place which includes an improvement agenda and staff training for the near future. This means that they want to continue to improve their service and the outcomes of young people in their care.

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Leadership and management

The home is monitored by a representative of the organisation. This provides young people and staff with an opportunity to discuss any issues they may have about living at the home. In addition, the manager monitors systems at the home to ensure that the needs of young people are met.

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Leadership and management

At the last inspection in October 2010, one legal requirement and three good practice recommendations were made. The legal requirement regarded information being made available for inspection. Arrangements are now in place whereby duplicate keys can be accessed at the organisation's head office if the registered manager is not present to ensure that all information is accessible. The recommendations, related to documentation regarding young people's health care plans and room searches, both of which are now more thoroughly documented. The final recommendation related to the registered manager completing professional qualifications relevant to working with children and management. This has been successfully undertaken and completed.

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Leadership and management

The home has a clear Statement of Purpose and this sets out the aims of the home and how it will operate. Staff are supported by the registered manager and have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. They know who they contact for support should the registered manager not be available. They confirm that when they need support and guidance the registered manager is always available and helpful. Staff are well supported on a daily basis they are also consistently receiving formal one to one supervision. This monitors their performance, accountability and identifies their individual development needs. Team meetings take place regularly every month to allow the whole staff team to discuss and review individual young people, the running of the home, and look at ways to improve the service they offer.

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Leadership and management

Young people are looked after by a competent staff team who have a range of skills and experience. The skills within the team match the needs of young people living in the home. The staff team reflects cultural backgrounds of the young people and provides both positive male and female role models. The numbers of staff on duty meets the needs of young people, and this includes the support they need for activities, visits and appointments. Not all existing care staff have attained a minimum National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3. This was previously the NVQ in Caring for Children and Young People, but from September 2010 is the, Children and Young People’s Workforce Diploma. The organisation's staff training programme has also lapsed since the last inspection. The programme helped to keep staff up-to-date with professional, legal and practice developments and reflects the policies, legal obligations and business needs of the home. The registered manager is

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Leadership and management

The home’s written records provide a clear picture of individual young people’s needs, development and progress. Young people’s records are well organised and contain up-to-date information about them, including the relevant documents from placing authorities. There are systems in place to notify Ofsted of any significant issues that may occur within the home or with regards to the young people placed. This ensures that there are good systems in place to promote the welfare of the young people.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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