Children's Home run by Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Tameside

Unique reference number SC357979 Inspection date 31/01/2012 Inspector Monica Farrimond Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 08/08/2011 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 local authority children's home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last full inspection in August 2011 the home was judged as being good. Since this time, good progress has been made to promote positive outcomes for young people. There were three recommendations and one requirement made following the full inspection. These related to: information contained in the home's Statement of Purpose and children's guide; further training in relation to safeguarding; and the detail required in written records when a young person went missing from the home. These issues have all been addressed satisfactorily.

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Progress

Staff are skilled in engaging young people positively and this promotes mutual respect. This supportive environment allows good relationships to be formed between staff, young people, their families and other professionals. Family contact is promoted and good communication between staff and family helps to ensure that the promotion of good behaviour is consistent. Good relationships and communication also help families to understand the way in which the staff at the home work to promote positive behaviour. The impact of this can be seen in less antisocial and challenging behaviour and through improved school attendance. Staff at the home endeavour to promote positive behaviour via systems of reward, and sanctions are considered carefully and reviewed constantly. Challenging behaviour is well managed, and there have been no episodes of physical restraint for over four years.

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Progress

Staff encourage young people to express their views and contribute to the running of the home; this makes the young people think that what they say is important and encourages self-esteem and confidence. Young people's meetings are held regularly and each young person has a key worker who they can talk to about their worries or private problems. If young people are concerned or dissatisfied they talk to staff, or raise issues in key worker sessions or the young people's meetings. Young people are consulted about important events in their lives, promoting self-esteem and building a knowledge base of their rights. Parents and social workers are consulted and kept up to date about how young people are looked after and their views are also sought about the home's operation. Feedback from these consultations is overwhelmingly positive.

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Progress

Placements are stable and young people take responsibility for their behaviour. Behaviour management concerns are addressed and well documented. Communication between staff is good and this promotes consistent practice. The promotion of young people's education, health and well-being is outstanding. All the young people actively engage with their education programmes and attendance is good. Young people’s achievements improve self-confidence and future prospects.

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Progress

The home's aims and objectives are being fulfilled. The manager continues to develop the home's procedures and documentation with an imaginative and professional approach. Documentation relating to placement plans, health plans and key worker sessions has been reviewed, to reflect outcomes for young people, and to evidence work carried out by staff. The staff share with enthusiasm the improvements in good practice. There are good quality assurance systems being used to monitor the operation, management, young people's welfare, and the home's records. Realistic and challenging targets are outlined within the home’s development plan. Good monitoring systems are used that comply with the requirements of Regulation 33 and 34. Planning for the future is founded on robust evidence which identifies areas of weakness and builds on the areas of strength that this service demonstrates.

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