Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC390577 Inspection date 08/12/2011 Inspector Sarah Oldham Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 18/01/2011 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 home provides care and accommodation for two young people of either gender, aged from 10 to 17 years old.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from detailed, individualised care planning and care practices, this ensures that their needs are clearly identified and met. From the point at which they enter the home, young people make exceptional progress across all areas of their development. Young people have excellent relationships with staff and feel able to contribute their views effectively to the running of the home. They say that they feel that their views are listened to and impact on the running of the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say that they feel safe and cared for and staff explain about the importance of keeping safe. They are supported with their education and have made significant improvement in their educational achievements and this has impacted on their aspirations for further education and gaining new skills.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff have a clear understanding of policies and procedures and this enables them to effectively put them into practice. Not all staff hold a level 3 National Vocational Qualification or equivalent in caring for children and young people. However, there is a strong commitment to training and developing the skills of the staff and this matter is being addressed.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers show strong leadership. Monitoring systems have been improved to ensure that there is robust and rigorous monitoring of how the home operates. This results in improved outcomes for young people and ensures that high standards of care and support are consistently maintained.

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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 all existing staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification. All new staff engaged from the commencement of the NMS (in April 2011) are to hold the level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma which must include mandatory social care units; or be working towards the Diploma within six months of confirmation of employment (NMS 18.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are making excellent progress as a result of the quality of care and support they receive. They are supported to understand and address the impact of their life experiences and the effect these have had on their behaviours. The detailed positive behaviour plans and nurturing environment offered support young people to develop resilience and emotional well-being. One young person said 'this is a really nice place to live and I am doing things that I never thought that I would be able to achieve.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are well supported with their education and attend school regularly. Attainment levels for young people have increased and this enables young people to develop self worth and plan for further education. One young person said 'I am really looking forward to going to college and this will enable me to get a job doing something that I enjoy.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health and well-being is exceptionally well promoted by the staff team. They support young people to attend health care appointments and have a comprehensive understanding of the individual health care needs of the young people. This enables young people to have their health needs met effectively.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff have an excellent understanding of the importance of contact arrangements for young people. They support and facilitate contact as agreed in individual placement plans. This is highly valued by the young people and enables them to benefit from positive contact with family and friends.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people receive an excellent level of care and support. The care provided is tailored to their individual needs and this ensures that they are supported to achieve realistic and appropriate outcomes. The staff are knowledgeable, experienced and have undertaken an extensive range of training. This enables them to promote the young people's welfare exceptionally well. Staff involve and enable young people to contribute to their care plans. This enables young people to have a clear and comprehensive understanding of their care plan and ensures that their wishes, feelings and views are highly valued. They are supported with decision making and are able to develop skills and abilities that provide them with a strong foundation for moving onto adulthood and independence.

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Quality of care

Staff work closely with placing local authority social workers to ensure that reviews and meetings are held at the required intervals. This ensures that the young people's needs are accurately reflected within all documentation and any changes to care plans are known and responded to in line with current needs. One young person said 'I feel that the staff really listen to me and I have been involved in discussions about my care plan.' Education is strongly supported and promoted. All young people are in educational placements and their achievements are clearly recognised. This has been exceptionally positive for the young people currently living at the home. They flourish in their educational placements and this has given them the confidence to plan for their further education. Achievements are recognised and this provides young people with positive reinforcement of their abilities.

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Quality of care

Comprehensive health care plans in place ensure that young people's health care needs are clearly identified. This enables staff to effectively support and promote good health care outcomes for young people.

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Quality of care

Young people say that they are encouraged and supported to develop positive behaviours. They say that if sanctions are used, they are fair and they are encouraged to record their views of the sanctions. Physical intervention is rarely used. If it is, it is clearly recorded and the views of young people sought. Reward and incentives are used to promote individual young people's behaviour. One young person said, 'my behaviour is far better now and staff are always telling me how well I am doing.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that they feel very safe at the home. Staff are aware of the importance of promoting the safety and well-being of young people. Comprehensive policies and procedures underpin the staff practice and this ensures that staff are confident in promoting a safe and caring home. Detailed risk assessments are in place which enables young people to be effectively safeguarded whilst enabling them opportunities to develop independence and to take part in a range of activities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people develop respect for themselves and others through positive behaviour management strategies and positive role modelling from staff. Excellent communication between staff and young people ensures that there is a comprehensive knowledge of expectations and clear boundaries. This has resulted in the reduction of sanctions and physical interventions and young people say that staff really listen to them.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Recruitment procedures in place ensure that the staff employed are appropriately vetted and selected. All visitors to the home are required to sign the visitors' book and the reason for their visit to the home confirmed. This ensures that appropriate measures are in place to protect and promote the safety of young people.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . Young people are supported by a staff team that provides continuity of care and support. The staff team have a diverse range of skills and experiences. Young people benefit from appropriate staffing ratios, which meet their individual needs and the home’s Statement of Purpose. They live in a home which is efficiently managed and effectively resourced and where communication is vital to young people’s safety. Young people say that the staff are 'nice, friendly and really helpful.'

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Leadership and management

The staff team are dedicated and committed to ensuring positive outcomes for young people and this is reflected in their practice. Young people have all their needs met to an extremely high standard. The manager is proactive in supporting staff within their role. This ensures that staff are enthusiastic and creative in providing care and support to young people. Staff benefit from a range of training programmes and regular supervision. However, not all staff have achieved the National Vocational Qualification level 3 or the level 3 Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma. This training is ongoing and the manager states that the organisation remains committed to supporting staff to achieve this.

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Leadership and management

Robust monitoring systems are in place. Managers strive for continued improvement recognising the strengths and weaknesses of the service to achieve outcomes that are positive for young people.

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Leadership and management

Young people’s records are well maintained and organised and are stored securely to respect young people’s privacy. They contain relevant information to give a clear picture of young people’s experiences during their time at the home.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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