Children's Home run by Time-Out Children’s Homes Limited in Calderdale

Unique reference number SC069293 Inspection date 08/06/2011 Inspector Shaun Common Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 01/02/2011 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

The children's home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people of either gender from 11 years to 17 years of age. The home is owned by a private limited company.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Effective planning processes are in place for young people that set out their assessed needs and how these will be met. Young people's cultural and religious needs are clearly identified and met. Young people have access to a range of activities that they can participate in to promote a healthy lifestyle and enjoy. Outcomes for young people are satisfactory, though staff work very hard to encourage young people to achieve their potential, such as by encouraging young people to engage with health care professionals and education provision to ensure that the best possible outcomes are achieved.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff have good relationships with young people. They use encouragement, incentives and positive relationships to help young people develop socially acceptable behaviour. Though levels of young people absent when unauthorised are high, there are clear and effective processes and systems in place that show all that is possible is being done to keep young people safe. Staff are knowledgeable, qualified, experienced, well supported and undertake relevant training that helps them to provide safe, effective care to young people. The manager is qualified in social care work; however she does not have an appropriate management qualification.

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Overall effectiveness

The environment provided is positive and conducive to the care of young people. Health and safety matters are managed well, minimising the risks to young people and promoting their safety. Young people are enabled to have their say on the running of the home, their care and their plans for the future.

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Overall effectiveness

Monitoring of the home is good. It ensures that strengths are highlighted and any shortfalls or areas for improvement are identified and acted upon. However, monitoring records do not demonstrate effectively the consultation with young people, parents and placing authorities.

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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

(2001) ensure the system established for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 provides for consultation with children, their parents and placing authorities. (Regulation 34(3)) 01/07/2011

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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 the registered manager obtains a relevant management qualification at least at level 4. (NMS 14.3)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are satisfactory .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are fully identified in their care plan and they are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians. Staff try very hard to encourage young people to stay healthy and to attend appointments where necessary; however young people do not always attend all appointments. Records do show the appointments that have taken place and, where appropriate, the outcome and any ongoing needs, to ensure that young people’s health is monitored. There are robust medication storage and administration systems in place. Staff are trained in the safe handling of medication. These matters help young people stay healthy.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Broader health care needs are clearly identified in planning, for example young people who need information or education on matters such as sexual health, illicit substance use, alcohol misuse and smoking. Again young people are encouraged by staff to meet with relevant professionals to attain appropriate advice and guidance on these issues, but do not always engage in this process. Staff do provide young people with information on these matters and it is available in the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people, until recently had very good levels of attendance at school. However, they have since chosen to disengage with their educational provision and attendance has seen a dramatic decline. These impact upon the young people being able to achieve. School reports show that young people have good potential to achieve, though poor attendance has impacted on that potential. Staff work very hard to encourage young people to attend school and to do their best. They have in place appropriate routines, incentives and strongly encourage young people to attend school. They liaise closely and very regularly with teaching staff to exchange information so that appropriate support can be provided to young people as needed. For example, staff have agreed with teaching staff that they will collect a young person and transport them to school to encourage attendance.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Contact arrangements are clearly recorded and agreed upon admission. Young people's views on their contact with family, friends and others important to them are listened to and acted upon. Staff encourage young people to maintain contact and actively facilitate it. This enables young people to develop and strengthen relationships with family and others providing them with important networks and links into adulthood. Where contact is not possible, staff ensure young people are provided with full and appropriate information so young people understand why such decisions have been taken.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There is good support and systems in place for young people preparing to leave care and move onto adulthood or independent living. Staff encourage and support young people to undertake basic household tasks such as cleaning, self-care skills and preparing meals. Staff are limited in what they can deliver to young people as young people actively decline help and assistance in this area, which will impact on their ability to learn skills for later life.

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Quality of care

Each young person has a comprehensive care plan in place that sets out their assessed needs and how these needs will be met on a day-to-day basis. Plans are kept up-to-date through regular review. Staff understand these plans and are fully conversant with their contents. They deliver these plans in practice in order to meet young people's needs.

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Quality of care

The home is well decorated and furnished throughout. It provides an environment that is conducive to the positive care of young people. The house is a modern, detached property and has four bedrooms. There are two bedrooms designated for young people and one of these bedrooms has en suite shower and toilet facilities. Two other bedrooms are used by staff that sleep-in. One of these rooms doubles as office space. There is a bathroom on the first floor, with a lounge, separate dining room, toilet and kitchen on the ground floor. The house has an enclosed garden at the rear and a small garden plot at the front. It is in a residential area of a small town. There is easy access to public transport, leisure and other facilities.

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Quality of care

Young people are able to have their say about their care and the running of the home. They can have regular time with their key worker and are invited to the home's staff team meetings to give their views. Young people regularly attend their looked after review meetings. They are consulted before and during these meetings about plans for their care and future.

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Quality of care

There is good information available to young people about complaints. There have been no complaints made since the last inspection. The information available to young people makes the process clear to them. It contains information on how they can contact other people for support, such as independent advocacy services, children's rights or Ofsted.

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Quality of care

There are good relationships between young people and staff. Staff set reasonable and appropriate boundaries and expectations for young people. Staff have a positive approach and encourage young people to develop and progress in their social skills.

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Quality of care

Young people have access to a range of activities and leisure pursuits, which promotes an active and healthy lifestyle. Staff encourage young people to engage in a range of activities to develop new interests, friends and to stay healthy and well. Young people's cultural and religious needs are assessed and planned for. There is an appropriate range of information available to young people in the home about different religions and cultures.

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Quality of care

Food planned and provided for young people is varied, balanced and healthy. Young people do not always choose to eat what is offered; however staff do encourage a healthy balanced diet. Staff are trained in safe food handling and hygiene to ensure that food is prepared in safe way that helps promote young people's health.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people feel safe at the home and they have no concerns. There have been no child protection concerns since the last inspection. The home has an appropriate policy and procedure relating to safeguarding young people. Staff are trained in child protection and know what to do to help keep young people safe at the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been a large number of incidents of absence without authority since the last inspection. However, this is attributed to active choices made by an older younger person. Clear procedures are in place for all absences in line with local authority and police protocol best practices. Records and practices at the home show that staff are working closely with placing authorities and doing all that is possible to address such incidents in order to keep young people safe. Records at the home reflect and evidence the practices of staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff have a positive approach to behaviour management. Their practice is underpinned by clear policies and procedures that they have access to. Young people are encouraged to develop socially acceptable behaviour through incentives, rewards and positive relationships with staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Sanctions are rarely used and are appropriate. Full records are made of each incident. Young people write their comments and sign their name against entries, which helps them to develop understanding and responsibility. There has been no use of physical intervention for some time, though staff are trained in its use so they can safely intervene if appropriate or necessary.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety matters are managed well, which helps to keep young people safe. Maintenance is carried out on matters such as the gas boiler, fire equipment and fixed electrical wiring. Staff are trained in fire safety and fire drills take place regularly and include staff and young people so all know what to do to stay safe. Risk assessments take place of young people's likely and known activities. These are kept up to date and are known by staff to help them protect young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no new staff recruited since the last inspection. The home has a policy on safe recruitment to ensure the right people are employed to work with children.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good . The home has an up-to-date Statement of Purpose that sets out the aims, objectives and services of the home. The children's guide developed by the home is suitable for young people explaining to them what the home provides and what they can expect. Young people's records are accurate, kept up to date and provide information that will help a young person understand their care.

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Leadership and management

There are sufficient staff on duty at all times to care for the young people. Staff are qualified, experienced and knowledgeable and have undertaken relevant training. They are provided with good support from their line manager in regular supervision and appraisal. This helps them to deliver a good level of safe care to young people. The registered manager is experienced and has a social care qualification but does not yet have a management qualification, though is in the process of registering for the appropriate course.

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Leadership and management

External monitoring of the home takes place by a designated person and these reports focus on the home's strengths and highlight any areas for improvement. The registered manager's monitoring also takes place regularly and identifies strengths and any shortfalls so improvement can be made to the delivery of care to young people. However, the monitoring does not include consultation with young people and placing authorities to show their views of the home and care provided and hence how matters can be improved from their perspective. The home has shown that they strive to improve as statutory requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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