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

Unique reference number SC005050 Inspection date 13/03/2012 Inspector Rachel Ruth Britten Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 13/07/2011 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 is a children's home that is part of a large organisation. The home provides care for five boys who have emotional or behavioural difficulties. Education is available on site as the home is also a registered school.

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Progress

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

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Progress

The home has demonstrated continued improvements in the quality of care and the outcomes for young people. This is because the management of the home strives to continuously improve as well as maintain consistent levels of care which meet each young person's individual needs. All staff are inspired to develop their own skills as well as use the home's systems to best effect for each young person. As a result, young people continue to make considerable headway, particularly with respect to their health, behaviour, education and relationships. No recommendations or requirements were made at the last full inspection in July 2011 when the home was judged to be outstanding. One minor recommendation is raised at this inspection, but the shortfall in meeting one aspect of a minimum standard has no direct impact on young people.

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Progress

Young people continue to benefit from stability in the home, with only one young person joining the group since the last inspection. There is considerable effectiveness in ensuring a positive, homely atmosphere where sanctions are clear, reasonable and well understood. For example, the children's guide now details sanctions so that young people know exactly what the consequences of unwanted behaviour are. There is also zero tolerance of bullying and a strong emphasis on cooperation and mutual responsibility. The stability of the staff team and their continuous professional development ensures that young people's individual needs are being skilfully met. Staff are becoming more knowledgeable about the minimum standards and some are pursuing training in management, social work, psychology and specific learning disabilities and medical conditions. This is improving the quality of their direct work with young people as well as their ability to better support the input of teachers,

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Progress

therapists, health professionals, drugs workers and youth offending workers. Knowledge and expertise from training is shared amongst the whole staff group and all members of staff work shifts with all others. This too ensures that all staff understand and operate the home's ethos and systems with considerable consistency and to a high standard. For example, key working records, review reports, life story books and 'placement plan tracker' documents provide evidence of in depth, relevant work with young people which they have been able to engage well in and make personal progress.

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Progress

The manager of the home is proactive and motivates the staff team very effectively. He demonstrates considerable rapport with both young people and staff and has consistently high expectations of what young people can achieve. He monitors and evaluates the work of the home regularly and identifies relevant ways in which the home can be improved. The development plan for the home focuses on many physical improvements to the exterior of the home. These aim to improve the safety and homeliness of the very remote environment. A cinema room and football/golf agility course have recently been finished. When the paths, drives and decking are fully completed, it is intended that young people will be able to move more safely around the grounds, use them more positively for social activity and be able to get off the premises safely by car in freezing weather. The manager also ensures, as part of monitoring activity, that there is regular and effective consultation with young

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Progress

people, their relatives and placing authorities. Feedback is mostly extremely positive about all the home's work with young people and provides evidence of highly effective team work and relationships, both with families and with the professionals around each young person. The manager and staff team also ensure that the Statement of Purpose and the children's guide are up to date and relevant to those using the contents. Similarly, much relevant and useful information is posted around the home for young people to use. A minor omission from the children's guide is information for each young person about how to contact their Independent Reviewing Officer. This information is to be added immediately and given to each young person and has already been given to them in another format. The impact of the shortfall on young people is therefore negligible.

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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 that the Children's Guide includes how a child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer. (NMS 13.5)

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