Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008607 Inspection date 31/08/2011 Inspector Anthony Kyem Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 12/01/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

Brief description of the service

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people on a medium to long-term basis in preparation for future placements with foster carers, rehabilitation home with family or independent living.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people's needs are comprehensively assessed to enable staff to support young people and promote positive outcomes. Young people are respected and treated as individuals to promote their individuality, self-confidence and self-worth. Young people receive extensive support, which enables them to make considerable progress in all aspects of their lives.

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff who support, be-friend and advise them. Young people say they feel safe living at the home and they enjoy living there. One young person said 'Staff are safe, it's a chilled out environment. I've improved a lot and I've started going school…I have my ups and downs with staff, but mostly ups…The good thing about this place is we're the only two kids that live here so you get everything you need. I have been in care since I was born and this really is a nice place to live.'

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Young people's learning is actively promoted to help them achieve their educational potential. Young people needs are accurately reflected within their individual placement plans which are used by staff to meet their identified needs on a day to day basis. A social worker stated 'An excellent package of support was put straight in place. X was made to feel very welcome and more importantly X stated that they felt safe and secure…X is more than happy with the placement.'

p.4

Overall effectiveness

Three recommendations are raised in order to improve outcomes for children.

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure parental consent is obtained for the administration of homely remedies (NMS 6.5)  ensure each young person has a Personal Education Plan (NMS 8.4)  ensure young people understand the purpose and content of their placement plan (NMS 25.1).

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live in a supportive environment and make considerable progress. Each young person has a key worker to act as their principal supporter, to oversee the quality of their care. Staff provide young people with extensive support to promote their self confidence and emotional resilience.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's educational achievement is actively promoted. Young people attend school and staff are extremely supportive of their education. Staff encourage young people to learn and to see education as a life changing opportunity. Young people are actively encouraged to pursue their individual aspirations and goals through education. Personal education plans have yet to be developed so young people have no record of their targets, development and progress.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are promoted very effectively. They are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and they receive support to attend their medical appointments to promote their healthy outcomes. Young people's health needs are comprehensively identified and specialist services are made available for those young people who require them. This promotes young people's emotional and psychological health.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Healthy lifestyles are actively promoted and young people receive the support they need, to enable them to be healthy and stay healthy. Young people have their medication administered safely but parental consent for the administration of homely remedies is not available to enable staff to administer non-prescribed medication.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are well supported through the use of individually tailored programmes to promote their independence. Young people are actively encouraged to complete independent living tasks to enable them to become self-sufficient and skilled. This helps them prepare for life within the adult world.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive extensive support to maintain their close relationships with their families and friends. This allows young people to strengthen their relationships and build on their supportive networks for the future. Staff support young people to overcome any difficulties or issues in relation to contact.

p.5

Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . In relation to their individual starting points young people make excellent progress. Young people establish very positive relationships with staff and with each other. Young people report that they enjoy living at the home and they feel safe living there.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people's views and opinions are regularly sought and young people are listened to. This enables young people to have a positive say in the day to day running of the home and encourages them to have a positive influence with all aspects of their care. Young people's rights to choice, inclusion and participation are central to how the home operates and this promotes effective communication within the home.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint. They receive information and advice to enable to complain and the home's complaints procedure is summarised for them. Records show that young people's complaints are taken seriously and these are acted upon. Young people receive personalised care in accordance with their needs, feelings and wishes. Their placement plans are comprehensively completed providing staff with detailed information to enable them to meet young people's needs, successfully. Plans are regularly reviewed to take account of young people's changing needs and individual circumstances.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people's views about their care are regularly ascertained but their understanding and contribution to their plans is not recorded. Young people may not therefore fully understand the contents of the plans made in respect of them. Young people are fully involved in their review meetings and this enables them to make a positive contribution towards their future plans.

p.6

Quality of care

The home is a comfortable, homely and safe place for young people to live. It has recently been re-decorated and refurbishment has taken place to provide young people with an additional lounge area for young people to socialise. Young people are provided with activities of their choice, to enable them to pursue their individual interests or hobbies.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a safe environment where their health, welfare and safety is promoted very effectively. Staff are trained in safeguarding to help them manage allegations and recognise and respond to suspected abuse. Young people are actively protected from abuse, bullying and exploitation and staff keep young people safe from the potential of harm.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Risks associated with young people's behaviours are assessed thoroughly to promote their welfare. Staff allow young people to take controlled risks as part their growth and development and this promotes their independence. Young people are supported to understand the dangers and risks of going missing from home and their risk taking behaviours are clearly identified to help staff promote their welfare and safety.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say there is no bullying within the home. Young people and staff enjoy positive relationships which makes the home a harmonious environment where positive relationships are fostered and developed. Young people receive good support to maintain their positive relationships.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people learn to develop socially acceptable behaviour through the use of praise, positive reinforcement, instant recognition and reward. The use of positive measures far out way the use of sanctions. This demonstrates the home's philosophy towards managing young people's behaviours in a supportive way. Staff are trained in behaviour management and restraint has not used. This is testament to the staff's ability to manage difficult behaviours both safely and effectively.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that is physically safe and secure and where staff are subject to appropriate safeguarding checks.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

Young people benefit from living at a home that is managed efficiently. Young people receive continuity of care from a stable staff team which enables them to develop positive relationships with staff.

p.7

Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a skilled, qualified and capable staff team and their needs are met extremely well. Robust monitoring systems ensure that young people continue to enjoy excellent standards and quality of care.

p.7

Leadership and management

The views of young people, their social workers and families are regularly ascertained to enable the home to evaluate the views and opinions of relevant stakeholders. This ensures the home is able to monitor the extent to which the home is able to meet its aims and objectives, as outlined within its Statement of Purpose. Feedback received about the home is outstanding and this demonstrates a high level of satisfaction from social workers, young people and their families.

p.7

Leadership and management

Young people’s files provide them with a confidential account of their development and progress. Significant events are reported to all relevant authorities in accordance with the home's statutory responsibilities to do so. This ensures those agencies with a safeguarding role are made aware of significant events within the home.

p.7

Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

p.7