Children's Home run by 3 Dimensions Care Limited in Devon

Unique reference number SC407753 Inspection date 07/12/2011 Inspector Paula Lahey Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 18/05/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Brief description of the service

The service is run by an established private provider. The home is registered to provide medium to long term care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is managed as two separate units within one house.

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Brief description of the service

The registered provider bases its practices on the integration of home, education and therapeutic services working together to meet the needs of the child. Young people living in the home can attend a school also run by the provider and have access to in-house therapeutic support.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

At the full inspection in May 2011, the overall quality rating for the service was judged as good with two requirements and four recommendations set within the inspection report.

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Progress

The Registered Manager and staff team have demonstrated a continued improvement in quality of care and positive outcomes for young people. This has included young people making excellent progress and continuing to flourish, develop and achieve individual goals across all outcome areas; managers evaluating, embedding and enhancing the current level of service; successfully addressing the requirements and recommendations and progressing the internal service development plan.

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Progress

The home continues to work very well to ensure young people develop positive and constructive relationships with their family, significant others and new friends. Young people are now provided with house mobile telephones with pre-programmed numbers in which they can, without reference to those working in the home, contact agreed family members, placing authorities, independent reviewing officers and regulatory bodies. In addition, guidance and training is being sought from external child protection services to develop in house systems of training for staff and young people in safe internet and social media use. This is already proving invaluable.

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Progress

Sanction books have been amended and now consistently include a record of young people’s views following a given sanction and the success or consequence of the measure. In addition, the record of specific one-to-one sessions to discuss the behaviour, sanction and the outcome is also included in the log book. This enables all parties to evaluate and identify the effectiveness of the sanction in helping to make positive behavioural changes. The Registered Manager has established an effective link with the Local Safeguarding Children Board and has ensured each staff member is fully informed of their external reporting duties should they become concerned about the welfare or protection of a young person. This information is now delivered at the start of induction for new staff and they can access additional contact and referral guidance from the front page of each young person’s file.

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Progress

The Statement of Purpose has been suitably amended to ensure that guidance about the use of restraint when young people may go missing is clear and consistent with current legislation.

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Progress

Young people benefit from individual placement plans which are highly tailored to each young person. The plan has been improved to seek young people’s views, aspirations and aims for the placement. Young people are involved in the new plans and their comments are an integral part of them.

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Progress

Young people speak highly about their care and support in the home. It is evident that they enjoy positive relationships with staff and each other. These constructive relationships have significantly influenced the young people's engagement levels with the home across all areas. There are extremely high levels of one-to-one work with all of the young people to seek their views and feedback, as well as frequent children's meetings. The young people are positive about the ability of staff to act on their views and wishes. Young people feel safe, secure and cared for in this home and can reflect on how the staff team have supported them to develop life skills, behave more appropriately and build self-confidence.

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Progress

The rapport between staff, managers and young people is warm, caring and respectful. Managers have the welfare of young people and staff at heart and encourage them each to high achievement. Staff are genuinely enthusiastic about their care of young people and there is a commitment to providing a high quality service. This is embedded throughout the home creating a very safe and reassuring environment whereby young people develop and achieve positive outcomes.

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