Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC426318 Inspection date 01/05/2012 Inspector Louise Redfern Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/10/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people, who have emotional and/ or behavioural problems.

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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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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last inspection in October 2011, the overall rating for the service was judged as good. One recommendation was made in relation to improving the admissions procedure. Good progress has been made since the last inspection with the recommendation being fully addressed.

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Progress

The manager has implemented a thorough impact risk assessment. This ensures that the needs of potential new admissions do not have a direct impact to an unacceptable degree on the home's existing residents. This process supports young people to move into the home in a well planned and managed way, without adversely disrupting young people already established in the home.

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Progress

The manager regularly attends young people’s meetings. All young people receive a full written individual reply to the requests made at these meetings. This means that young people have a clear understanding that not all requests can be agreed. One young person commented, ‘I have asked for things but when they say no I understand.’ Young people live in a home that is warm and nurturing. One young person commented, ‘it’s sound here, staff look after me well I’d score the house 10 out of 10.’ Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviours through clear behaviour management plans. Since the last inspection, young people have not been restrained, demonstrating a continued commitment to managing young people’s behaviours in a positive manner.

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Progress

Leadership and management of the home is good ensuring that practice remains focused on effectively safeguarding vulnerable young people. The staff team benefit from regular supervisions that are underpinned by focused team meetings. As a result young people are fully supported by a knowledgeable and consistent staff team. Staff have annual appraisals in place. This ensures that they are setting clear goals and targets to improve individual work practice. This further supports young people to improve their outcomes. However, the manager does not have an appraisal in place; this currently has no direct impact on young people.

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Progress

Young people who live at this home are not stigmatised in the local community because the whole staff team have established good relationships with neighbours. The manager has continued to develop the service since the last inspection. She has implemented regular quality assurance checks of the building and of all the homes recording systems, ensuring young people continue to live in safe environment.

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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 all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and this takes into account any views of children the service is providing for, with regards to the Registered Manager. (NMS 19.6)

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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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