Children's Home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Unique reference number SC034969 Inspection date 24/01/2012 Inspector Tracy Murty Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 24/11/2011 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, which is provided by a local authority, is registered to care for three boys or girls aged between 12 and 18 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is a short term assessment provision whereby needs are assessed and a suitable long term placement is identified within a 12-week assessment period. It aims to provide settled care as an alternative for young people who cannot remain within their family, and a safe and caring environment for vulnerable young people who may display challenging behaviours.

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Progress

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

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Progress

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

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Progress

The last full inspection of this home took place in November 2011. The overall effectiveness was judged to be satisfactory at that time. There were two requirements and two recommendations made following that inspection.

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Progress

The home was asked to implement a system to ensure that young people accommodated in the home are consulted by the registered person. The Registered Manager has devised and implemented a new recording system as part of her monthly monitoring of the home. This will ensure that young people are formally consulted with each month and their wishes, feelings and views are considered. The Registered Manager and registered person have also ensured that Ofsted receives copies of their monitoring reports at regular intervals. This requirement has been met.

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Progress

Systems in relation to ensuring that fire drills and practices take place at suitable intervals now exist. The Registered Manager has reviewed and updated the fire risk assessment for the home to ensure that it is compliant with the requirement. The Registered Manager has also revised their systems to ensure that on admission to the home, a fire drill will take place within 24 hours for all new young people. The admissions checklist now includes this as a standard requirement for all new admissions. Staff were formally made aware of these changes at a team meeting. Fire drills take place at regular intervals and young people report that they are aware of them and feel safe. This requirement has been met.

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Progress

The home was asked to ensure that all young people were able to communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support. Young people's meetings take place on a frequent basis in the home. Young people are encouraged to attend these meetings and to bring agenda items for discussion. Staff take detailed and clear typed records from those meetings and consider young people’s views in the staff meetings. The Registered Manager considers those records and responds directly to young people in writing about issues they raise. However care plans and placement plans for young people are not routinely signed by them, which may reduce their ability to inform the care and support they receive.

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Progress

The home has devised questionnaires for young people to complete upon leaving the home. These include questions relating to staff and managers and young people's experience whilst living in the home. No questionnaires have been completed to date by previously placed young people or their parents or carers. Completion of these forms would provide further information for the Registered Manager to consider, and enable young people to comment on the care and support they received in the home. This recommendation has been partially met and further actions have been set to address this.

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Progress

The home was asked to implement systems to support those young people who will be moving into their own accommodation. The home is working with young people who will be moving into supported lodgings in the near future. Support is provided to enable young people to develop skills in relation to meal preparation, cooking and washing clothes. One young person stated that they felt supported by the staff, who helped them to learn how to wash their clothes and make some meals. Young people do not however have clear and distinct independence plans in place. Case files do not provide a clear sense of their starting points or achievements to date. Young people are not provided with a consistent and clear plan for work around key independence skills on a daily or weekly basis. Pathway plans are not in place for relevant young people, which contributes to the lack of robust planning for their move to independence. This recommendation has not been met and will be restated

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Progress

The home has not notified Ofsted of all notifiable events as required, particularly in relation to serious incidents, which necessitate the police being called to the home. This has been set as an action following this inspection.

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Progress

The home is generally in a good state of repair and decoration internally and externally. Damage caused to the home recently has been reported to the maintenance department, but repair has not been completed. This could pose a hazard to young people. An action has been set to address this specific issue.

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Progress

The home has a comprehensive Statement of Purpose and children's guide in place. This provides detailed information and is reviewed and updated regularly. The home also works closely with other key agencies and professionals to ensure the needs of each young person are met. The home has a detailed and comprehensive business plan in place, which covers such areas as young people’s plans and improvements to the home. Work is being completed to create a meeting room upstairs, this will provide a private room for key meetings to take place, including looked after reviews.

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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 that the registered person shall without delay notify Ofsted of any serious incident necessitating calling the police to the home. (Regulation 30 (1)) 10/02/2012

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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 children are supported to develop practical skills, including shopping, buying, cooking and keeping food, washing clothes, personal self-care, understanding and taking responsibility for personal health care and developing financial capability, knowledge and skills (NMS 12.1(e)(f)  contribute to the development of each child's pathway plan for 'eligible' care leavers and work collaboratively with the young person's social worker or personal advisor in implementing the plan (NMS 12.2)  ensure that the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting, with particular reference to the damaged bedroom window in one of the young person's rooms. (NMS 10.3)

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