Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC028905 Inspection date 21/03/2012 Inspector Joanne Vyas Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/12/2011 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 part of a local authority residential provision for looked after children. It provides emergency short- term residential accommodation for a maximum of five young people, of either gender. Placements are for a maximum of 12 weeks, other than in exceptional circumstances. During this time plans are made for a return home, or another placement will be made and initiated.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the previous inspection in December 2011, the overall quality rating for this home was judged as outstanding in all areas with one recommendation. The Registered Manager was asked to ensure the Children’s Guide provided information about young people’s rights and how to contact appropriate professionals if they wish to raise a concern. They were also asked to summarise in the guide what the home sets out to do for young people. The Children’s Guide now contains all this information and therefore fully meets the recommendation. Furthermore, a young person confirmed that they have a copy of the guide.

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Progress

Young people say they feel safe living at this home. They say that staff help them to feel safe by being there. They know how to make a complaint but complaints are rare. A young person said, ‘Any problems, go to them (the staff) and they will help you. Complaints are resolved quickly and effectively. Young people rarely go missing from this home. When they do go missing, there are good procedures in place to help keep young people safe.

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Progress

Young people are consulted about decisions in their day-to-day lives. They have one- to-one sessions with staff and residents’ meetings. They are also involved in the daily handover of information from one shift to the other on occasions. However, issues brought up by young people in the residents’ meetings are not always followed up at the next meeting nor have they been discussed with the young person bringing up the issue. Therefore young people may not understand how their views have been taken into account.

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Progress

Staff spend time getting to know the young people and have good relationships with them. A young person said, ‘Staff have a laugh with you.’ Staff spoke about providing care and support to young people using a social pedagogy approach for which they have had extensive training. They said that they have been given the freedom to ‘have fun with the kids’ giving examples such as water fights, go-karting and having a barbeque. Young people are kept active and appear to particularly enjoy outdoor pursuits. Photographs of young people enjoying a variety of activities are displayed around the home. They also leave the home with a photograph album which provides them with memories of their time at the home.

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Progress

The home is welcoming, warm and homely. It is furnished and decorated to a high standard. It is clean and well maintained. Young people all have en-suite bedrooms ensuring their privacy. They also have a Jacuzzi bath which is apparently very popular.

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Progress

The Registered Manager has robust systems in place to ensure the quality of the service provided to young people. Although the Registered Manager monitors items referred to in Schedule 6, the reports from this monitoring are not sent to Ofsted as required by Regulation 34. This has had no impact on outcomes for young people.

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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) supply to the HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1) of Regulation 34. (Regulation 34 (2)) 30/04/2012

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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 children understand how their views have been taken into account, and where significant wishes or concerns are not acted upon, they are helped to understand why (NMS 1.2)

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