Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC006011 Inspection date 15/02/2012 Inspector Michelle Bacon Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/10/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children aged from eight to 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates the home.

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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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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 October 2011, the home was judged to be satisfactory. There is good progress on the previous requirements and recommendations, which demonstrates the home’s capacity to improve. Since the last inspection, the Registered Manager has improved the homes safeguarding systems including the missing from home procedures and complaints to ensure robust safeguarding practice. The home has good arrangements in place to welcome young people when they first arrive; the welcome guide now includes details of Independent Reviewing Officers and the Children's Rights Director should young people wish to raise a concern about their care.

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Progress

Comprehensive placement plans identify young people's specific needs and how these are to met. Young people are now aware of the content of their plan and their views and comments are sought. Regular key worker sessions now provide young people with the opportunity to explore their thoughts and feelings. Furthermore, young people are provided with the opportunity to discuss day-to-day matters through the weekly house meetings. This ensures young people now have an influence on the running of the home. Young people's health is well supported. Improvements in the health care plans ensure specific details of all health appointments and the outcome of these are well documented. Young people now contribute to these plans. Medication records are now maintained in a central file along with the health care plan and other health information relating to individual young people.

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Progress

The Registered Manager has reviewed the complaints procedure to ensure any complaint is taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Young people know how to make a complaint, however, there have been no complaints since the last inspection. A recommendation for young people to record their views and comments in the sanctions and restraint book has been met. A further two recommendations in relation to young people who go missing from care have also been met. The home now has a copy of the Runaway and Missing from Home and Care procedures. Additionally, the manager has reviewed the missing from care records so they clearly demonstrate the actions taken by staff to ensure young people return to the home safe and well. This ensures the safety of young people who go missing is safeguarded and promoted. One recommendation has not been implemented; staff have still not had training to recognise and deal with incidents of bullying.

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Progress

The manager and staff are committed to improving outcomes for young people. The staff provide good consistent care and are now supported in this with regular supervision and team meetings. The Statement of Purpose meets the aims and objectives of the home and includes details of all the staff working in the home. The manager has now implemented a development plan to identify the homes strengths and weaknesses. Regulation 33 and 34 audits are completed monthly; however, copies of the Regulation 34 reports have not been forwarded as good practice to Ofsted.

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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 staff in the home are trained to recognise and deal with any indications or incidents of bullying (NMS 3.12)  complete Regulation 34 reports at six monthly intervals as good practice and a copy of every report should be sent to HMCI within 28 days. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14)

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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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