Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Unique reference number SC390293 Inspection date 05/01/2012 Inspector Debbie Foster Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/06/2011 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 setting is operated by a private organisation and registered to provide care for up-to-three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The ages of the young people will be between 10 and 17 years.

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Brief description of the service

The Statement of Purpose specifies placements are long term and the aim of the service is to provide facilities to enable young people to achieve positive changes in their lives.

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Progress

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

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Progress

This home is currently judged as good overall. However, the home is judged to be making inadequate progress at this interim inspection. Outcomes for young people have not continued to improve and the home has failed to adequately address two of the requirements and three recommendations raised at the previous inspection. There has been progress in some of the previous requirements and recommendations which demonstrates some capacity to improve.

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Progress

The home has not made progress in ensuring that all areas of the placement plan and supporting documents are up-to-date and clearly set out, how on a day-to-day basis the young person will be cared for and their welfare safeguarded and promoted in full. This includes the management of behaviour and risk assessments. This has resulted in the staff not effectively and consistently managing inappropriate and negative behaviour of young people. Serious incidents have occurred and the police have been called to the service. Therefore, young people are not always interacting positively with others and behaving appropriately.

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Progress

The Regulation 33 visitor has not routinely consulted with young people and recorded their views and opinions on the standard of care provided in the home. This is not ensuring that the registered provider is effectively monitoring the welfare of young people to improve the quality of care provided. Not all staff have attained level 3 Children and Young People Workforce Diploma qualification. Therefore, not all staff are appropriately qualified. Although, new staff are currently undertaking this training and some progress is being made. Monitoring systems are not sufficiently robust and have not identified all omissions and deficiencies to assist improving the quality of care.

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Progress

All staff have undertaken training in managing behaviour to support them in being able to assist young people appropriately. Records of control and discipline are appropriately completed and include all the specified detail required by regulation. Staff continue to build and promote practical independence and daily living skills with young people to prepare them for adulthood. Complaints are investigated and records are kept of the action taken and the outcome.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, further deficiencies have been noted. The provider has not complied with the requirement to submit an application to register a manager within 3 months of the vacancy occurring. Regulation 33 reports have not been routinely sent to Ofsted as required to confirm that regular monitoring of the quality of the service provided to young people takes place.

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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 proper provision for the care, education, supervision and, where appropriate, treatment, of the young people accommodated. In particular that all areas of the placement plan are up to date and clearly set out how, on a day-to-day basis, the young person will be cared for and their welfare safeguarded and promoted by the home. Including behaviour management (Regulation 11 (b)) 28/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the regulation 33 visitor consults with young people living at the home about their views and opinions on the standard of care provided in the home. (Regulation 33) 28/01/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the manager submits an application to register. (Care Standards Act 2000 Part 11 para. (11) (1)) 17/02/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered provider prepares a written report on the conduct of the home and provides a copy of the report to Her Majesty Chief Inspector (Regulation 33 (4) (c) and (5) (a)) 28/01/2012

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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 young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour. In particular build further on the behaviour management plans to ensure that they specify in detail all the strategies the staff are to use to assist young people in behaving appropriately (NMS 3.6)  ensure all staff attain a level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce Diploma (NMS 18.5)  ensure effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home. In particular monitoring systems identify omissions and deficiencies and thereby assist in improving on the quality of care. (NMS 21.1)

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