Children's Home run by Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in Knowsley

Unique reference number SC037657 Inspection date 19/03/2012 Inspector Chris Scully Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/11/2011 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 provides care and accommodation for two young people, of either gender, with emotional behavioural difficulties. The home is managed by the local authority.

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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 was last inspected in November 2011. The overall effectiveness of the home was judged to be good. Following the inspection, one statutory requirement and three recommendations were raised. These related: to monitoring under Regulation 34; maintenance of the home; the home's development plan and young people's medical records.

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Progress

The home is effectively monitored by the Registered Manager. This is because the Regulation 34 reports cover all of the aspects within Schedule 6. This enables the Registered Manager to identify any shortfalls and take the appropriate action to rectify this. The home has not yet sent copies of the Regulation 34 reports to Ofsted. This does not impact upon the care provided to young people. Monitoring by an independent person for the organisation is robust and effectively contributes to the ongoing development and organisation of the home.

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Progress

Maintenance within the home has improved. The home has taken appropriate action to address the maintenance issues within the bathroom. Consequently, the young people's bathroom is much improved as it has been redecorated and all signs of mould have been removed. This has improved upon young people's health and well- being. Plans are underway to redecorate the whole of the property. Young people are actively involved in selecting the new colour schemes. They say they are pleased with the colours they have selected for their bedrooms. Young people are kept safe because, swift action is taken to address any identified risks, such as the cracked window pane. The window has been made safe while the home awaits a replacement to be fitted.

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Progress

Staff are very aware of the planned developments for the home. This includes the refurbishment programme and possible increase in the registered numbers. However, the written development plan for the home could not be located during the inspection. This recommendation has not been fully met. However, this does not directly impact upon the care provided to young people.

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Progress

Young people's health care needs are recognised and addressed. This is because their health care plans contain detailed information about any specific illnesses or allergies. All staff are very aware of each young person's health issues. This means young people receive the right care at the right time for them. Young people are more aware of their own health care needs. For example, they have chosen to attend a gym to improve their physical fitness and have successfully adapted their diets to enable them to lead healthier lifestyles. No medication has been administered to young people since the last inspection. However, the system for recording this has not changed. Consequently, this does not promote consistency and can lead to discrepancies within the records. Staff say they have discussed revising the recording system for the administration of medication and are aware of the importance of accurately recording this. This recommendation has been partially

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Progress

Young people are pleased that they now have internet access to complete their school work. This means they have to spend less time completing school work after hours in school. Young people are doing very well with their education. They are committed to putting in the extra hours at weekends to enhance their opportunities of gaining better grades in their forthcoming exams. Some young people are expected to do very well in their exams and are talking about what A levels they would like to complete and the possibility of attending university. Staff continue to support young people's education and have high aspirations for them.

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Progress

Effective systems are in place to ensure young people are cared for by a consistent staff team. Relief staff demonstrate an excellent knowledge of young people’s needs, interests, backgrounds and have positive relationships with them. Young people are pleased to see them and eagerly update them on what has happened since they last saw them. These positive relationships enable young people to feel safe and secure in their care. There have been no changes to the staffing or management of the home.

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Progress

Young people enjoy the opportunities to spend time with staff and are busily preparing the vegetable plot for this season’s produce. They have already begun to plant vegetables and are liaising with staff as to when the next batch can be planted. Staff say young people are already talking about what they can make with their produce. Young people show increasing maturity in dealing with the situations around them. They talk with staff about the impact their friends behaviour can have upon them and how they are talking to them about it. They take responsibility for the actions of their friends. Although, they admit it is not fair that they have to clean up the mess that they made. This reflects their increasing maturity and ability to reflect upon their own behaviour and those around them.

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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 the written development plan clearly identifies planned changes in the operation of the home, resources of the service, or confirms the continuation of the home's current operation and resources (NMS 15.2)  ensure records and documents are clearly record and in a way which will be helpful to children in the future when they access files; in particular records contain the required information for the administration of medication (NMS 22.5)  ensure that reports reviewing the quality of care under Regulation 34 are supplied to Ofsted at six monthly intervals within 28 days of completion. (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14)

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