Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008487 Inspection date 25/01/2012 Inspector Anthony Kyem Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/03/2011 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 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

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 6 young people of either sex, aged between 11 and 17 years, who may be experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home is one of a number of children's homes owned by a private company.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people benefit from excellent support and well-planned care. Their needs are addressed comprehensively. Placement plans are detailed and staff use these to promote young people's needs effectively. Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff who provide them with excellent support, individualised care and continuity.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are able to contribute to the way the home is run. They attend regular house meetings and on- to-one sessions with staff and as a result they can share their views, opinions and suggestions. Young people's views are taken into consideration and this enables them to have an impact in the day-to-day running of the home. The home provides young people with a safe, secure and homely living environment where they are kept safe and feel safe.

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Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection, there are a small number of recommendations made for the registered person to address. These relate to: the development of pathway plans for those young people who need them, updating the home's risk assessment and reviewing the routine practice of restricting young people's access to communal living areas, during school hours. A further recommendation is also made to secure alternative provision for those young people who are not currently involved in education. A requirement is also made in respect of health and safety.

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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 all parts of the home to which young people have access are free from hazards to their safety. (Regulation 23(a)) 01/02/2012

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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 an up-to-date building risk assessment is maintained and reviewed regularly (NMS 10.8)  ensure physical restrictions on normal movement within the home are not used unless this is necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare. This relates specifically to the locking of communal lounge areas during school hours (NMS 10.4)  ensure young people have pathway plans, where required, to promote their transition towards adulthood (NMS 12.2)  continue to support young people to attend school, college or alternative provision (NMS 8.3)  ensure written consent is available for staff to administer first aid and homely remedies. (NMS 6.5)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

From their starting points outcomes for young people are generally positive. Young people are actively encouraged to attend school and there are clear expectations placed upon young people to do so. Most young people attend some form of education to promote their learning and development. However, despite consistent encouragement and support from staff not all young people are engaged in education or alternative provision. As a result, their educational outcomes are less favourable than their peers. Rewards and incentives are used to motivate young people to attend school and staff continue to support young people with their attendance.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There are structured plans in place to occupy young people's free time. Staff work hard to engage young people in positive activities to help young people develop their own leisure interests. As a result, young people benefit from a range of purposeful and enjoyable activities. The home has made excellent progress to support young people to keep in contact with their families. This enables young people to build on their relationships and for some it is leading towards a planned and supported return back home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from good support to build their self-confidence. They learn to develop their life skills to promote their independence. As a result, young people become self-sufficient, more confident and resilient. Despite young people receiving excellent support with their independence there are still some young people, who require pathway plans to support their transition towards adulthood.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from excellent support which promotes their positive progress. Staff have high aspirations for young people and they consistently challenge any barriers which may impede young people's progress. Staff place the needs of young people at the centre of their practice and they strive to achieve their best outcomes. Young people benefit from highly individualised care, which addresses their needs effectively.

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Quality of care

Young people's placement plans are comprehensively written and these are used by staff to review young people's progress. Young people receive extensive support to develop a positive self-image and they receive advice and support with any problems to enable them to overcome their difficulties. Young people benefit from excellent relationships with staff who support them with all aspects of their daily lives. As a result, any difficulties experienced by young people are creatively overcome to help young people to move forward.

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Quality of care

Young people are able to influence the quality of their care. Their views and opinions are taken into account and their involvement in the running of the home is promoted to enable their inclusion and participation. Young people know how to make a complaint and their complaints are addressed appropriately.

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Quality of care

Young people receive excellent support to promote their physical, emotional and psychological health. They are actively encouraged to attend their routine health appointments and they receive advice and support from staff with any health issues. Young people who require specialist support benefit from the services sourced to secure their positive health. Young people receive support to lead a healthy lifestyle so they learn to take responsibility for their own health and well-being.

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Quality of care

Medication is stored and administered safely by trained and competent staff. However, consent for the administration of homely remedies and first aid was not available at the time of this visit.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from living in a home where all young people are treated fairly and equally. Young people's needs in relation to identity, religion and culture are promoted well both within care planning and daily living. This ensures young people’s needs are promoted comprehensively.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a home which is close to local amenities. They can easily access public transport, shops and a wide range of community and sports facilities as a result of the home's centralised location.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are trained in child protection. This enables them to understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and equips them with the skills they need to recognise and respond to suspected abuse, deal with allegations, or disclosures. As a result, young people are protected from abuse and exploitation. Risks identified with young people are identified clearly. This enables staff to promote young people's welfare and safety effectively.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from positive relationships with staff. They described staff as being the 'best thing' about the home. Young people did not like the home's rules in relation to the locking of doors during school hours. One young person says, 'Both rooms are always locked…it doesn’t make me feel good as I would like somewhere to sit. When I was in foster care it wasn’t like that, nothing was locked...Best thing about the home is that the staff are really good to you.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people learn to manage their own feelings and emotions to help them to exercise greater self-control. Their positive behaviour is promoted and young people receive acknowledgement and praise for their achievements to raise their self- confidence and build their self-esteem. Poor behaviour is challenged appropriately and young people learn to modify their behaviour through targeted incentives, consequences and rewards. Staff are trained in conflict resolution which enables them to keep young people safe from accident, injury or harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff follow agreed protocols to promote young people's safety if they are missing. Young confirm there are no issues with bullying within the home. Young people live in a safe environment where their safety is prioritised. Appropriate assessment of risk in relation to the property is clearly identified. However, the current building risk assessment requires updating as this is now outdated and hasn’t been reviewed for sometime.

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Safeguarding children and young people

During a tour of the premises a cracked floor tile was identified in a shower basin which may pose a potential risk if left unattended. The sealant around the shower tray is also in need of repair. A toilet door is also fitted with a door latch which would restrict staff gaining access in the event of an emergency.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The home employs a sufficient number of well trained, skilled and experienced staff to meet young people's needs. All staff are qualified to work with children and they receive high quality training which enables them to develop their individual skills and keep up to date with professional practice. Young people benefit from a stable staff team who are appropriately skilled, trained and qualified. Staff provide young people with continuity of care; they know how to work with young people and provide them with individualised support. The manager of the home actively supports staff in their roles and this promotes effective team work. Quality assurance systems are used effectively to eliminate potential shortfalls and a development plan has been established which demonstrates the home's capacity for improvement.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a home that is managed efficiently. The manager of the home oversees the day-to-day operations of the home. This ensures the home's performance in meeting its aims and objectives is monitored effectively.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose and the children's guide contain important information for those who use the service. The guide has been updated for young people to include information about Ofsted and details of the Children's Rights Director. The children's guide is an informative document containing a wide range of information for young people to refer to about the home.

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Leadership and management

There were no recommendations made at the previous inspection. A requirement made has been addressed to ensure that Ofsted is informed of all serious incidents in line with the home's statutory responsibilities to report such matters. Young people's individual case records are well maintained and information indicates that young people receive excellent levels of individual support, to promote their needs.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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