Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Unique reference number SC040733 Inspection date 18/01/2012 Inspector Caroline Jones Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/10/2010 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 is a local authority children's home. It provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This is an outstanding home where young people thrive in a homely and nurturing environment which supports their excellent progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff continue to assist young people to develop their independence and provide creative opportunities to encourage their potential and life experiences. Young people like living at the home and parents and partner agencies are extremely complimentary about the service. Communication and partnership working between staff and young people's families is exceptional. Feedback is sought regularly from all significant people on the quality of care to drive and focus improvements.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are central to care planning and tailored placement plans ensure that they are cared for consistently according to their personal needs. Staff have high aspirations for young people and are enthusiastic and committed to ensuring they have opportunities and chances to succeed. Staff value the importance of building relationships with young people, consequently young people are very settled. Young people remain in contact with the home once they have moved and continue to progress.

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively led by an energetic Registered Manager who emphasises high standards of care and continuous development. While monitoring scrutinises the quality of care there are some gaps in the Regulation 33 visits as they do not routinely examine incidents of young people missing from home and staff's recordings of these events lack the full detailed required. Additionally, the appraisal process requires enhancement to ensure young people's views are gained and the children's guide needs to include information on how to contact the Children's Rights Director for advice.

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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 appraisals take into account the views of young people (NMS 19.6)  ensure that visits of the home carried out under Regulation 33 include relevant checks of missing person's reports (NMS 21.7)  ensure that the children's guide includes information on how young people can contact the Children's Rights Director. (NMS 13.5)

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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 continue to make excellent progress across all aspects of their development. They receive nurturing care from staff who work together with therapeutic services to ensure young people gain resilience and trust to move forward in their lives. Young people are fully involved in the development and evaluation of their placement plan and have their own child-friendly version which they sign. Regular consultation ensures that young people’s views are listened to and acted upon in all aspects of their daily lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have exceptionally good attendance at school and are making significant advances towards achieving in line with their peers. Individual school reports highlight exceptional progress including behaviour and attainment. Young people are encouraged to learn and routines are arranged to ensure young people make use of the home's resources and educational activities to compliment their learning. Most young people who have moved to independent living remain in contact with the home and have sustained their progress in education and employment. This demonstrates the success achieved by staff and young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live in a healthy environment that promotes their health and well- being. They receive treatment from all necessary services to respond to their needs; consequently young people's health has significantly improved. Young people have individual plans to target their needs and take part in regular activities to promote their physical fitness. Medication is stored safely and records are maintained on its administration. All staff receive suitable training to support young people's well-being and have first aid qualifications to ensure safer caring of young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff have high expectations for young people and are committed to ensuring they have the best opportunities to help them achieve in life. Young people are involved in local events including volunteering, and fundraising in the community and abroad. Young people are embarking on a trip to Gambia as part of their development and wider contribution to helping others. These are fine examples of young people's growing confidence and self-belief.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff work exceptionally well with parents and partner agencies in promoting and developing contact with young people and their families. As a direct result of successful relationship building, young people have returned home to live with their families. Young people benefit from contact which provides them with a good understanding of their background and heritage. Furthermore, staff are very well aware of the emotional impact of contact upon young people and ensure that they are sensitively supported.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people flourish in a stable, nurturing and supportive environment. Young people comment: 'I like it here, I feel safe and cared about, I would give it nine out of ten.' Placement plans are thorough in capturing young people's specific needs and further processes are in place to clearly detail the actions necessary for success. These, combined with excellent preparation and review, contribute to the excellent standards of care received by young people. Equality and diversity is well established within the home's culture and practice is underpinned by fairness irrespective of difference. Partner agencies and parent's say comment: 'I am very happy with the care; I'm impressed, very supportive.'

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Quality of care

Staff are committed to young people which is evident in the warm, positive relationships they have forged with young people. These relationships provide the foundation for encouraging openness and trust for young people to express their thoughts and ideas. There is a culture of promoting young people's rights and their views are sought regularly in day-to-day life through young people's meetings, quizzes, direct work and all young people have an independent visitor. Young people know how to make a complaint and also raise any issues within the young people's meetings to settle their dissatisfaction. These practices help to empower young people to have a say and direct their lives.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a healthy environment in which their physical, emotional and social well-being is promoted. They engage in activities including swimming, drama club, horse riding, youth club, day trips and regular holidays at home and abroad to enjoy and achieve success. Young people have friends and have sleepovers which are encouraged by staff. Young people have appropriate access to medical practitioners and therapeutic specialist to meet their needs. Staff educate young people in healthy living and involve them in menu planning and researching meals from other cultures to encourage their appreciation of different traditions.

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Quality of care

Staff promote young people's achievement in educational and have made excellent relationships with schools and social workers. Young people's attendance and progress is excellent which enables them to experience a sense of accomplishment and pride. Staff value education and provide learning experiences and resources within the home to compliment their education. These include group discussion and art work to promote young people's tolerance and understanding of difference.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a relaxed and homely environment with ample space for private time alone. The home is appropriately furnished and maintenance work continues. Young people have their own bedrooms that are personalised to their taste. Additionally, young people's photographs are displayed around the home and they are directly involved in decorating which provides them with a sense of ownership and responsibility.

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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 are effectively safeguarded and feel safe from harm. Staff receive safeguarding training and have a good understanding of their duties in promoting young people's welfare. Staff have easy access to up-to-date policies and procedures to ensure a robust response to any allegation or disclosure of abuse. Staff are knowledgeable of young people's individual strengths and vulnerabilities and work with them individually to address any risks. Behaviour management plans and risk assessments provide a sound mechanism for responding to young people's changing needs for safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Respectful and warm relationships between staff and young people provide the basis for managing behaviour. Methods such as daily incentives and building towards a goal encourage young people's participation and have proved successful. Furthermore, regular work with trained therapist assists young people in understanding their emotions and behaviours. As a result, young people behave very well and sanctions and physical interventions are very rarely used. Incidents of young people missing from home are minimal, however, on these occasions the recordings of these are not detailed enough to provide a thorough account of the event.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a physically safe environment in which health and safety matters are fully considered. Staff carry out routine health and safety checks around the home and safety and insurance certificates are up to date. Records and monitoring show that regular fire drills take place to ensure young people and staff are aware of an emergency evacuation route in the event of a fire. Staff are vigilant and take appropriate steps to verify visitors identity to ensure the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from a stable, experienced and suitably qualified staff team. A robust recruitment process is governed centrally and ensures that employment history is examined and Criminal Records Bureau and reference checks are all undertaken before any appointment of staff is made. Staff are subject to an induction, probationary period of work and appraisal to further ensure their competence in providing safe care to young people.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding . Young people live in a home that is effectively managed by an energetic and forward thinking Registered Manager. The home meets the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose and young people, their families and social workers are clear about the services the home provides. The Registered Manager and staff clearly demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering exceptional childcare practice which is evident in the excellent progress young people have made to date. The fabric of the home values diversity and respects young people as unique individuals.

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Leadership and management

There are internal and external monitoring systems in place to assure the quality of care, which include monthly visits by a designated person in accordance with regulation. Although, monitoring is very good, the Regulation 33 visits do not routinely examine the incidents of missing from home. This has not impacted negatively upon young people's outcomes. The Registered Manager is well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has robust plans to develop and improve the service to young people. Effective action planning and excellent relationships with parents and young people provide the platform for continued improvement. The children's guide is accessible to young people, although requires updating to ensure that they have information on how to contact independent advice from the Children's Rights Director.

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Leadership and management

Staff 'love' their work and fully understand the roles and responsibilities delegated to them, including their lead responsibilities as education or activities co-ordinators. The organisation demonstrates a commitment to professional development and further training courses are planned to ensure staff's knowledge is refreshed. All staff are suitably qualified and confirm that they receive leadership from their manager including regular supervision, team meetings and appraisals. This ensures that staff are confident and competent in providing high quality care for young people. Although staff have their performance appraised, this process does not take into account the views of young people, therefore, valuable feedback is not always captured.

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Leadership and management

The diversity of the staff team ensures a range of skills and qualities in meeting the individual needs of young people. Staff fully understand young people's diverse needs and have high aspirations for young people in achieving their individual potential. Recordings are excellent and provide a picture of young people's daily lives. Young people's information is securely stored and shared confidentially to protect young people's safety and privacy.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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