Children's Home run by Essandore Limited in St Helens

Unique reference number SC066218 Inspection date 23/01/2012 Inspector Sonya Robinson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 04/10/2011 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 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 home offers accommodation for up to five young people from 10 to 17-years- old, in the registration category of children with learning disabilities and physical disabilities.

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Progress

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

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Progress

Since the last inspection the owner of the home has undertaken a questionnaire with staff and parents of the young people placed within the home. This has been positive and has meant some changes in the way young people's clothes are laundered. The home plans to lengthen staff meetings so that staff can discuss and reflect on young people's behaviours and share good practice strategies with regards to caring for the young people and their individual complex needs. The Registered Manager has also completed a review of the service and has a plan to further improve outcomes for the young people in its care.

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Progress

Young people are relaxed and calm, with staff providing a patient and caring response when helping young people prepare for their day ahead at school.

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Progress

At the last full inspection in October 2011 the home was rated as good. On that inspection Ofsted asked the provider to make improvements in the following areas..

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Progress

The procedure for medication was not as robust as required. Records regarding the restraint of young people did not contain enough information regarding the prevention of this and the detail of the restraint used. Issues around the recording, handling, and safe administration of medication was highlighted and dealt with during the course of that inspection. The home took advice from their local pharmacist and, in consultation with parents, now has a safe system in place that meets the needs of the young people, their parents and the home. On review, during this inspection, this is working well and there are good safeguards in place for the safe administration of medication.

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Progress

Records regarding restraints have been revisited by the home since the last inspection. However, they still do not give clear or sufficient detail, for example, where the restraint took place and clear detail of the technique used. This means that there is insufficient detail to fully reflect and adjust daily routines of the young people if necessary. Therefore this requirement has not been met. Recommendations made at the last inspection identified some décor around the home as showing signs of wear and tear; that the home should have a designated senior manager responsible for safeguarding; that a protocol is to be agreed with the police if a young person went missing from care and that incidents of challenging behaviour should be reviewed; this was with particular reference to sanctions.

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Progress

The home has been redecorated since the last inspection and now has a more homely feel. Young people's bedrooms are personalised in accordance with their individual choices and tolerances. The home has a designated person responsible for safeguarding issues and staff are clear regarding this process. However, the home has yet to establish a young person's missing from home protocol with the police. Sanctions are repetitive and the home has not undertaken a regular review of incidents of challenging behaviour, in particular regarding the trends or issues emerging from this to enable staff to reflect and inform future practice. These issues, along with the records regarding the restraint of young people, means that the home has made inadequate progress on the issues that they were asked to improve on at the previous inspection.

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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

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept for that purpose of which shall include, such as the information under this requirement. (Regulation 17B (3) (4)) 29/02/2012

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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 that when a child's whereabouts are unknown that the home's procedures are compatible with and have regards for the local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols maintained and managed by the police or by the local authority for the area where the home is located (NMS 5.6)  ensure that there is a regular review of incidents of challenging behaviour, trends or issues emerging form this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice. (NMS 3.21)

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