Children's Home run by Cumbria County Council in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC061810 Inspection date 15/03/2012 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 06/12/2011 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

The home is run by the local authority and provides care and accommodation for up to six boys or girls aged between 12 and 17-years-old. The home is registered to care for young people with emotional or 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 inspection in December 2011, the overall effectiveness of the home was judged to be good.

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Progress

The home has made inadequate progress since the last inspection where three requirements and four recommendations were made. One requirement and one recommendation have not been fully met. However, young people remain well cared for and safe. Young people and staff were observed to be relaxed in the company of each other.

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Progress

One requirement made at the last inspection was to increase the staffing within the home. This requirement has been met. Recent interviews have been held and two new members of staff have been appointed. This means that, the home always has enough staff on duty and that young people have more opportunities to take part in activities.

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Progress

Another requirement was to ensure that, following the use of any restraint of a young person a written record would be made, which outlines the reasons why the restraint was necessary and how effective this action has been. The home's manager has reviewed the restraint records. Although no restraints have taken place since the last inspection, the written records now ensure that sufficient, accurate detail is recorded. This means, the manager will be able to identify any patterns of behaviour or the circumstances why a restraint was felt necessary.

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Progress

The third requirement was to ensure that the independent visitor to the home interviewed in private, the family members or relatives of the young people living there. This has not taken place. These visits help to ensure the home is run properly but the opinions of family members about the care young people receive are not borne in mind.

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Progress

One recommendation made at the last inspection was, to review the home's procedures for the use of physical restraint of young people. The written records have been amended to include evidence that, a young person who has been held or restrained is given the opportunity to be medically checked afterwards. The home's manager has, through team meetings and individual supervision ensured that staff are aware of this amendment and that young people are offered medical checks. This helps to ensure the safety of young people.

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Progress

The young people's guide to the home has been reviewed and updated. The young people's guide is clearly written, makes full use of photographs taken by young people themselves and includes the contact details of all agencies young people can speak to if they are unhappy about anything. This helps to ensure young people feel safe.

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Progress

The written records of all medication administered to young people within the home have been reviewed. Changes, by the responsible medical practitioner, to the prescribed medication of any young people are fully documented. This helps to ensure that, young people receive the correct dose of medication.

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Progress

A recommendation was made in relation to those young people who are eligible for a pathway plan. Pathway plans help to prepare young people for adulthood and to ensure they have all the services they need. Not all young people who are eligible for a pathway plan had one in place. Those that were in place lacked sufficient detail to show what services the young person might need and how they would be fully supported when they leave the home. Young people will not be fully supported to move successfully into adulthood.

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Progress

In addition to the above, the home has made other improvements. Young people have been fully involved in the recruitment and selection process for new staff. They agreed what questions they would ask and how the responses of the applicant would be judged. As a direct result of this experience, the young people have been asked by a local charity to become involved in their staff recruitment. The school attendance of young people has also improved with one young person regularly achieving 100% attendance. The attendance of other young people in the home is in excess of 80%. Staff maintain a proactive approach to ensuring young people attend school regularly. Four young people have also enjoyed an improvement in their contact with family members. Staff and social workers have worked together to ensure young people enjoy a positive experience from contact with their relatives.

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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) interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as appears necessary in order to 30/04/2012 form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)

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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

 contribute to the development of each young person's pathway plan and work collaboratively with the young person's social worker or personal advisor in implementing the plan. (NMS 12.2)

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