Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC358638 Inspection date 03/02/2012 Inspector Katarina Djordjevic Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/10/2011 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 children's home is part of an organisation operated by a private company. The home is registered to care for one young person aged eight to 17 years, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last full inspection in October 2011 the overall quality rating for the service was judged as good. Two requirements were made: to ensure that the use of temporary staff does not affect the continuity of care for young people; and to ensure there are sufficient funds to achieve the aims and objectives as detailed in the home’s Statement of Purpose. The requirements have not been addressed and, therefore, have been repeated. Furthermore, this inspection has identified that the quality of care for young people has declined in certain areas which will ultimately affect outcomes for young people.

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Progress

The requirement regarding the use of temporary staff has not been adequately addressed. Although there is a core group of staff attached to the home, there remains a high number of different staff working in the home who are employed by the company. This has the potential to affect the consistency of care provided. Additionally, it affects the staff team’s ability to make continued improvements and to contribute to the future development of the home. The home’s Statement of Purpose does not include all staff who work at the home. The Registered Manager reported that there have been staffing difficulties recently which have led to the use of agency staff albeit for a small number of shifts. One new staff member has been appointed to work in the home and appropriate recruitment checks have been carried out. Action is also taken to ensure agency staff have been subject to the required checks. Recruitment practices help to ensure young people are protected

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Progress

The requirement regarding funding has not been addressed. The action plan received by Ofsted stated that there are sufficient funds and that the company will provide funds for larger items of furniture and equipment. However, this inspection identified that there has been no increase in the home’s weekly budget. The amount of money allocated for food is very low and some refurbishment plans, such as replacing the stair carpet and the carpet in the staff office, have not been achieved. This has the potential to impact on the quality of care provided for young people, including limiting the range, quality and choices of food purchased.

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Progress

At the last inspection two recommendations were made to improve the quality of care. One recommendation was to include in young people’s risk assessments where there are difficulties following the fire evacuation procedures. This has been addressed, thereby reducing the risk of harm or injury to young people.

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Progress

The second recommendation was to ensure that the Registered Manager has time allocated for managerial tasks. Some time is now allocated for managerial tasks. However, during this inspection it became evident that the Registered Manager’s duties extend beyond managing this home. The Registered Manager is also required to provide support for other children’s homes run by the company in the absence of the Registered Managers and Deputy Managers of these homes. This does impact on the Registered Manager’s ability to carry out all her tasks and may account for the lack of progress made since the last inspection. Further evidence supports that the home’s ability to improve the quality of care has been limited. Although the last inspection report is available for staff, the findings were not discussed with the staff team. Given the amount of different staff who work in the home, it makes it difficult for the Registered Manager to monitor that all staff are up to date with current

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Progress

issues, practices and developments in the home. This has the potential to affect the staff team’s ability to improve the quality of care.

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Progress

Staff feel well supported by the Registered Manager and demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of young people. Good relationships exist between young people and staff. Young people are relaxed with staff and are able to raise any concerns. This helps to protect them from the risk of harm. Young people’s contact with families has continued to increase and they are benefitting from improved relationships. This can be attributed to the commitment and support from the staff team.

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Progress

Since the last inspection outcomes for young people have been affected, in particular, regarding education and health needs. Young people’s progress in education has not continued. There is regular contact with young people's education provisions. However, there is a lack of proactive planning and strategies on how to support young people to overcome some of the barriers and difficulties they face in attending education. This effectively reduces young people's opportunities to achieve their potential academically and future life and employment opportunities.

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Progress

Young people’s health needs are not adequately monitored and, therefore, action is not being taken to identify any possible health difficulties. Where young people refuse to attend health appointments, staff are not proactive in liaising with the appropriate professionals. This has the potential to prevent the identification of any health issues and ensure young people are healthy. Furthermore, staff are not providing adequate advice and support to ensure young people live healthy lives, specifically in relation to promoting a healthy diet. Records demonstrate that healthy eating is not being promoted and, as a result, young people’s diet is poor and young people are gaining weight.

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Progress

Quality assurance systems are not identifying shortfalls in practice and the care provided to young people. The Registered Manager carries out monthly checks of matters detailed in Schedule 6. Regulation 33 visits are undertaken and reports produced as required. However, these have failed to identify shortfalls in practices; in particular, issues relating to poor diet and health needs not being followed up.

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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 the home’s Statement of Purpose includes the number, relevant qualifications and experience of all staff who work at the home (Regulation 4 (1)) 06/03/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the employment of staff on a temporary basis does not prevent young people from receiving continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs (Regulation 25 (2)) 31/03/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure there are sufficient funds for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives as set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose (Regulation 36 (1)) 06/03/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote and protect the physical, emotional and mental health of young people; provide guidance, support and advice on health and personal care issues appropriate to young people’s individual needs (Regulation 20 (1) (2) (d)) 06/03/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) improve the home’s quality assurance systems. (Regulation 34 (1)) 31/03/2012

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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

 liaise with the placing local authority to support young people’s education including advocating to help overcome any problems young people may be experiencing in their educational setting (NMS 8.7)  review the roles and responsibilities of the Registered Manager to ensure that the role of supporting other children's homes within the company does not impact on the Registered Manager’s ability to manage the home effectively and improve the quality of care.(NMS 21)

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