Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC066072 Inspection date 13/03/2012 Inspector Stephen Trainor Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/12/2011 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

This privately owned home provides care for two young people from 11 years up to 17 years with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home is also registered as a school. In-house arrangements support local education authority provision.

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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 December 2011, the home was judged as satisfactory. The children's home has demonstrated improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people. Practice has developed considerably between inspections and the young people now provide their full cooperation. All the young people benefit from consistent practice that allows their lives to improve. Placements are stable and young people take responsibility for their behaviour. There have been no changes to the group of young people living at the home between inspections.

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Progress

A new Registered Manager was appointed between inspections. There is effective leadership and management of the home. Staff work very well together having established a good deal of continuity with their practice. Young people clearly benefit from better boundaries and show greater commitment to their programmes. There have been no behaviour management concerns, notifications or safeguarding matters between inspections. Cooperation provided by the young people is being sustained. Some minor matters, including in-house grumbles, were responded to appropriately and recorded clearly.

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Progress

Records provide a good overview of the work that is taking place at the home. Programmes run by key workers positively change young people’s behaviours. Incentives are being linked to restorative approaches and this strategy is clearly working better than a simple sanctioning approach. Progress and achievements continue to be made in all aspects of the young people’s lives. There is a growing body of evidence that shows partners supporting placements are satisfied with the home's operation, management, young people's welfare, education arrangements and the response taken to health and safety. An independent reviewing officer commented, 'The package of care meets the young person’s needs.' A teacher acknowledged, 'Care is personalised and sufficiently updated.' A therapist commented, 'Proactive staff team where issues are recognised and solutions found quickly.'

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Progress

Young people work closely with staff, and hard work has created an interesting home where young people like to be. The young people's views are consistently gathered and these influence the home's operation and future direction. The ethos at the home helps young people to achieve and develop. Relationships are excellent with individual differences being accepted and valued by all living and working at the home. Individuals prosper and they confirm that they are happy, safe and relaxed living in their home. An independent reviewing officer provided a written compliment on the relationships staff had built with young people and their interaction. Young people develop their emotional resilience through the positive experiences being provided.

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Progress

There is good use of a range of monitoring activities, and evaluation of data continually improves the quality of care. Planning is founded on evidence that tackles key areas of weakness and builds on areas of strength. The home's aims and objectives are being fulfilled. Managers stimulate the enthusiasm of staff and channel their efforts effectively. Young people receive a good standard of care from an experienced and competent staff team, although not all staff have yet attained a level 3 qualification. However, it is a strong, child-focused service that is conducive to young people developing their potential.

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Progress

Good information, including policy and procedural guidance, is available to support staff's practice. Ongoing training is provided to ensure staff at all levels fully comprehend the new inspection framework. The responsible organisation has a new online personnel management system. An ongoing process of uploading information and records onto the system is evident, although not all relevant information had been uploaded at the time of this inspection. Some learning and development records were not presented. The Registered Manager continues to familiarise herself with this system.

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Progress

The promotion of young people's health and well-being is good. Young people's educational attainments are tremendous. All the young people actively engage with their education programmes and attendance is excellent. There is close liaison with schools and tutors. Young people’s achievements improve self-confidence and future prospects. Young people regularly reflect on their progress with staff and this keeps them highly motivated.

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Progress

Pathway and transition planning is in place for residents and this provides opportunities and experiences that enable young people to gain new skills for the world of work and for the time that they leave the home. Timelines are firmly in place for those young people due to leave. The high quality of their programmes will ensure a smooth transition. Young people are fully aware of their plans, express confidence, and show that they are driven to seize each opportunity presented to them to enable their lives to improve.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure all existing staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification (NMS 18.5)  ensure staff with management responsibilities are fully aware of, and trained in, the responsible organisation’s new on line system used for the management and storage of important personnel information and can access all relevant information when requested to do so. (NMS 22.1)

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