Children's Home run by Keys Stepping Stones Limited in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008490 Inspection date 13/01/2012 Inspector Caroline Jones Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 01/08/2011 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

This is a private children's home that is part of a large national organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and/or behaviour difficulties.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the previous full inspection the home was judged as outstanding. The service young people receive remains excellent and a good start has been made on addressing each recommendation from the last inspection. Improved monitoring analyses trends to continually improve the practice for young people. Incidences of missing from home and use of physical intervention are dramatically reduced and efforts are on-going to ensure that the home is well maintained and decorated. Young people like living at the home and comment, 'I really like it here, I do lots of activities, I feel safe.'

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Progress

Anti-discriminatory practice is prevalent within the home and is underpinned by fairness and child-centred practice. Young people continue to make progress across all aspects of their development, in particular, their emotional health. Staff continue to promote young people's education and they are moving forward and achieving their individual potential. Excellent one-to-one work through key working sessions provides individual time for young people to discuss personal issues and goals. This serves to stimulate young people’s motivation and confidence.

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Progress

Clear boundaries and routines are well established within the home, which help young people to understand their situation and what to expect from staff. As a result young people's placements have remained stable. Respectful relationships between young people and staff were observed throughout the inspection and young people were happy and relaxed in their home. Staff continue to champion young people's views and rights through children's meetings and young people's councils, consequently young people have changed practices in areas that are important to them.

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Progress

Staff are committed to young people and the team remains stable, which provides consistency and predictability for young people. The acting manager and deputy manager work well together to rigorously monitor young people's welfare, which further ensures the quality of care and the safety of young people. Excellent quality assurance systems are used that comply with the requirements of Regulations 33 and 34. Developmental plans are in place to continually improve the service to young people. Further recommendations are made to ensure that staff record missing-from- home incidents in detail and maintain the décor of the home to ensure it is comfortable.

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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 written records kept by the home when a child goes missing detail action taken by staff, the circumstances of the child's return, any reason given for running away and action taken in light of those reasons (NMS 5.10)  ensure that the home is well maintained and decorated. (NMS 10.3)

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