Children's Home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Tameside

Unique reference number SC357979 Inspection date 08/08/2011 Inspector Caroline Jones Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/03/2011 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

This local authority children's home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

It is a detached house situated in a residential area of a town. The location enables young people to access local amenities, including health care centres, schools, places of worship, buses, shops and recreational activities.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people continue to make good progress within a safe, caring and supportive environment. They achieve better outcomes in their education, safety, health, social and emotional development. Staff work hard to build relationships with young people and consult with them regularly to gain their views and opinions in all aspects of daily living. Consequently, they like living at the home and comment: 'I like it here, I make choices and have freedom.’ These practices empower young people to have control in their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are involved in care planning, and detailed placement plans ensure that they are cared for consistently according to their personal needs. Staff have high expectations for young people and are committed to ensuring they succeed. Staff work constructively with social workers and families to support contact, and young people have over night stays at their friends. Furthermore, staff advocate for young people with professionals to ensure that they gain the help and support they need.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively and efficiently run by an enthusiastic and dedicated Registered Manager and deputy manager who emphasise high standards of care. Robust monitoring scrutinises the quality of care, and plans are in place for improvement in the home's pursuit for excellence. Anti-discriminatory practice runs through all aspects of day-to-day care and young people have a good understanding of their background and identity.

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Overall effectiveness

Areas for improvement include: recording missing from home incidents to provide a full and detailed account of the circumstances and action taken; updating the children's guide to ensure young people have information on how to contact independent advice, including the Children's Rights Director; ensuring all staff are aware of safeguarding procedures; and updating the Statement of Purpose to include details of each member of staff working at the home.

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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 that the Statement of Purpose includes the relevant qualifications and experience of persons working at the children's home. (Regulation 4 (1)) 01/09/2011

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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

 make sure that all staff understand what they must do if they receive an allegation or have a suspicion of abuse (NMS 20.1)  ensure that young people know how to contact the Children's Rights Director (NMS 1.5)  ensure that written records kept by the home when young people go missing detail action taken by staff, the circumstances of the return, any reasons given by young people for running away from the home, and any action taken in light of those reasons. (NMS 5.10)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people continue to make positive steps forward in all aspects of their development, which help them grow in confidence. Staff promote young people's independence and they are encouraged to take appropriate risks and responsibility for their age and understanding. They are involved in the daily running of the home and staff work with them individually to build resilience and self-esteem. These practices help equip young people with the skills and competence for adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from effective and consistent health care. They are registered with medical practitioners and have detailed plans to meet their particular health needs. Young people are educated in a variety of health and well-being matters, including sexual health, and plans are in place for them to attend food hygiene training with staff. Furthermore, individual key-worker sessions complement young people's learning to ensure they have the knowledge to make informed decisions.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff have high expectations for young people and are committed to ensuring they have the best opportunities to help them achieve in life. They promote and value young people's educational achievement and advocate for them to secure the support they need. Young people have an excellent record of school attendance and have taken GCSE examinations and gained college placements. Staff provide effective support to enable young people to take part in community activities including Air Cadets, local events, horse riding, swimming and youth club. This demonstrates young people's growing confidence and achievement in making a positive contribution.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work closely with placing authorities to ensure contact is positive, safe and enjoyable. They facilitate contact and encourage family to maintain relationships with young people. Staff value the importance of contact for young people in understanding their background and heritage. They are very well aware of the emotional impact of contact upon young people and ensure that they are sensitively supported.

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Quality of care

Young people thrive in a stable, nurturing and supportive environment. Young people comment: 'I feel safe and cared about, I like staff here.’ They enjoy positive relationships with staff, who have an excellent understanding of their individual needs. Detailed care planning, preparation and review contribute to the good standards of care received by young people.

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Quality of care

Staff work directly with young people to ensure they have a good understanding of their backgrounds and identity. This inspires pride and value in their heritage. There is a culture of promoting young people's rights, in which their views are sought and responded to regularly in the daily running of the home. Young people know how to raise a complaint and comment: 'I think they are good at listening, always asking you, I've not needed to complain.’ The children's guide is available, although it does not include information on how to access advice and support from independent sources including the Children's Rights Director.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a healthy environment where their physical, emotional and social well-being is promoted. They engage in physical and social activities with friends and have easy access to health care services to meet their individual needs. Young people are encouraged to pursue their individual beliefs, and a range of activities are available to promote young people's understanding of diversity. The home provides a variety of foods, from wholesome traditional British dishes to international cuisine. Young people assist to prepare the home’s menu and food to encourage their understanding of nutrition and cultural traditions.

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Quality of care

Staff champion young people's educational needs through proactive partnerships with teachers and social workers. Young people attend education provision specific to their needs and make progress. Staff emphasise the value of education and provide learning experiences to complement their education. Additionally, staff recognise young people’s achievements in the home and celebrate these through awarding certificates and choices of treat. These practices help young people to experience success and encourages their self-belief.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a relaxed, homely environment which blends seamlessly into the residential area. They have their own bedrooms that are personalised and reflect their interests. Young people are involved in plans for redecoration and furnishing of the home, which promotes ownership and responsibility. They have space and privacy to see their friends and family and to do their homework. This affords respect and dignity to young people.

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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

Staff receive safeguarding training that is refreshed, and understand their duties in promoting young people's welfare. However, not all staff are fully aware of the processes involved in the event of a young person making an allegation of abuse. In the event of an allegation they can refer to the home's written procedure for guidance. Young people feel safe and staff work with them individually to address any vulnerabilities and risks. Placement plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessment reports all provide a sound mechanism for responding to young people's changing needs for safety and protection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Respectful and warm relationships between staff and young people, combined with consistent boundaries, provide the basis for managing behaviour effectively. There are no incidents of restraints, and staff are clear that this is only used as a very last resort to prevent harm to young people. Methods such as rewards and consequences encourage young people's participation. Their engagement in the process ensures that sanctions are clearly understood and assists young people to accept responsibility for their actions. Young people are encouraged to behave appropriately; there are no incidents of bullying, and incidents of young people missing from home have considerably reduced. Although processes are in place to record missing from home incidents, these are not always sufficiently detailed to give an accurate account of the event.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a physically safe environment in which health and safety matters are fully considered. Written records show that staff carry out routine health and safety checks around the home. Safety certificates are up to date, and regular fire drills take place to ensure young people and staff are aware of an emergency evacuation route in the event of a fire. Staff are vigilant and take appropriate steps to verify visitors’ identity to ensure the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from an experienced and suitably qualified staff team. A thorough recruitment process, including Criminal Records Bureau and reference checks, is undertaken before any appointment of staff is made. Staff are subject to an induction, probationary period of work and appraisals to further ensure their competence in caring for young people.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The home is efficiently managed and effective in meeting its Statement of Purpose. The Statement of Purpose does not contain details of all staff members, however. The Registered Manager and deputy manager work closely with young people and staff to rigorously monitor their welfare, which ensures the good standards of care and the safety of young people. They provide vision, leadership and accountability; therefore staff fully understand the roles and responsibilities delegated to them.

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Leadership and management

Quality assurance systems are in place to monitor the care received by young people; these include monthly visits by a designated person in accordance with regulation. Furthermore, data is gathered and fully analysed to identify trends, to continually improve the service to young people. The Registered Manager is clear and transparent about the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has a development plan in place. Effective supervision of staff, monitoring, observation and excellent relationships with young people provide the platform for continued development.

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Leadership and management

Staff are very well supported by a Registered Manager and deputy manager who are open in their expectations and pursuit of excellence. Staff are suitably qualified and have a wealth of experience in working with young people. They have regular supervision, appraisals, team meetings and training opportunities that contribute to their competence in providing care to young people. Anti-discriminatory practice is a focus of the home and is discussed in every supervision and team meeting to ensure young people's identity needs are understood and responded to.

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Leadership and management

Staff fully understand young people's individual needs and have high aspirations for young people in achieving their full potential. Recordings are generally good and provide a picture of young people's daily lives. Young people's information is securely stored and shared confidentially to protect their safety and privacy.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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