Children's Home run by Crystal Care Solutions Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC358638 Inspection date 13/06/2012 Inspector Katarina Djordjevic Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 03/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is part of an organisation operated by a private company. The home is registered to care for one young person aged eight to 17 years, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive a good quality of care which reflects their individual needs. This can be attributed to the commitment of the staff team who are determined to help young people reach their full potential and prepare them well for adulthood. Young people are happy and feel safe at the home and this is due to the excellent relationships they have with staff.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff, ably led by the Registered Manager, have worked very hard to address the requirements made at the last inspection. As a result, young people have made good progress since the last inspection in a number of areas which has helped to increase their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall effectiveness

Comments received from social workers and families are very positive about the care provided to young people. They recognise and appreciate the support young people have received and the progress they have made. Families are particularly grateful for the support they themselves have received from staff which has helped improve family relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive a good standard of individualised care which takes into account their levels of abilities, age, gender, religion, and ethnicity. They feel safe and secure at the home due to the positive relationships that exist with staff as they can raise any concerns they may have. Young people feel valued and respected by staff which helps to increase their self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have made good progress since being admitted to the home in changing their poor behaviours. This has enabled them to engage more in community activities and become accepted members of the wider community. This has also has increased their self-confidence as well as increasing their social interaction skills. Furthermore, as a result of their changes in behaviour, young people have benefited from increased contact and improved relationships with their families. Social workers and carers confirmed that young people have made a lot of progress in changing their behaviours since being at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health has improved since the last inspection. Young people are eating a much healthier diet and engaging in more physical exercise. As a result, young people’s self-esteem and confidence has improved and they are more willing to engage in a wider range of activities.

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Quality of care

Young people receive a good quality of care because their care plans, risk assessments and associated records are of a very good standard. They give clear details of young people’s needs and areas of risks which take into account their cultural background and personal identity including their age, gender, religion, ethnicity, communication needs and their sexual orientation. Young people are consulted about their care plans and are involved in reviewing them which makes them feel valued and listened to. Records are reviewed regularly which ensures care and support provided to young people is based on their current needs and risks. This helps to protect young people from the risk of harm ensuring their needs are met while at the same time promoting their independence.

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Quality of care

There is excellent communication with young people’s families, social workers and independent reviewing officers. Weekly and monthly reports produced by the home are sent to young people’s parents, carers, social workers and independent reviewing officers. This helps families and relevant professionals monitor young people's progress and to ensure they are receiving care in line with their agreed placement plans.

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Quality of care

Every effort is made to empower young people and for them to have a real say in the day-to-day running of the home and in their future. This is made easy by the excellent relationships that exist between young people and staff. This also helps to protect young people from the risk of harm as they are able to raise any concerns they may have. Young people feel listened to within the home. However, at times they feel frustrated that they are not listened to by their placing authorities about what they want for their future. Where this is the case, and where appropriate, staff advocate of behalf of young people which helps to make young people feel listened to. Young people live in an environment where healthy living is actively promoted. Staff have worked tirelessly since the last inspection to enable young people to make changes to their lifestyles in order to become healthier. Staff have been proactive in

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Quality of care

accessing appropriate health services based on the individual needs of young people. As a result, young people’s physical health and emotional well-being has improved. Young people enjoy healthy meals which take into account their specific dietary needs including their cultural dietary needs. Staff have presented as positive role models and in some instances have actually participated in activities to encourage young people to try new activities. Consequently, young people enjoy improved health; they have had new and different experiences which have helped to improve their confidence and self-esteem.

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Quality of care

Staff continue to provide excellent practical and emotional support to young people and their families to ensure they have regular contact. Consequently, young people’s contact with their families has increased tremendously and relationships have improved.

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Quality of care

Staff continue to encourage young people to try a range of different activities based on their individual interests and activities that also help them educationally and prepare for independence. Since the last inspection young people have tried numerous activities including singing and drumming lessons. Young people have enjoyed these new activities; additionally, this has made them feel listened to as these are suggestions they have put forward.

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Quality of care

Staff are committed to promoting the educational achievement of young people. Where young people are reluctant to engage in education, staff work hard to encourage young people to improve their attendance at their education provision. Staff work closely with placing authorities and education provisions to try and find ways of encouraging engagement in education. Staff advocate on young people’s behalf where there are barriers to accessing education and/or retaining educational placements. This gives young people improved chances of achieving their educational potential and therefore their opportunities in adulthood.

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Quality of care

The home is situated in a suburban environment which enables easy access to local community resources including shops, libraries and leisure facilities. The home has benefited from new carpets and being redecorated since the last inspection making it more homely and comfortable for young people. Young people have a say in choosing the furniture and décor of the home which makes them feel valued and encourages respect for the environment. Young people have their own bedroom which they are able to decorate and furnish to reflect their individual personalities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people feel safe at the home and are protected from the risk of harm and abuse. The effective implementation of a range of safeguarding policies and procedures enables young people to prepare for adulthood in a safe and nurturing environment. Young people learn how to take controlled risks and how to keep themselves safe in a trusting and supportive environment.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people learn how to change their socially unacceptable and risky behaviours which enables them to develop positive relationships with their families, peers and members of the wider community. The ethos of the home is based on respecting each other; accepting difference and recognising and rewarding positive behaviour. Sanctions are not imposed regularly and restraint is not often used and is only ever used as a last resort. This is testament to the skills of the staff team in supporting young people to develop positive and acceptable behaviours.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Procedures and practices relating to young people going missing are robust and help to further protect young people from the risk of harm. Incidents of young people going missing are infrequent. However, there are a range of individual protocols for staff to follow in the event of a young person going missing which take into account different locations and activities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The management of health and safety in the home is good and helps to protect young people and staff from the risk of harm and injury. This can be attributed to: regular testing and servicing of equipment and installations; a range of generic and individual risk assessments which are regularly reviewed; staff training in fire safety and regular monitoring of practices. The home follows robust recruitment procedures, carrying out all the required checks which helps to protect young people from the risk of harm and abuse. Further protection is provided due to the vetting and monitoring of visitors to the home.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose gives clear details about the services provided in the home. This informs young people, parents, carers and placing authorities about what to expect. Practice in the home is in line with the Statement of Purpose.

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Leadership and management

Since the last inspection there have been changes to the staff team which has provided more consistency for young people. The appointment of a deputy care manager has increased on-shift managerial support as she mostly works opposite shifts to the Registered Manager. Consequently, this has also improved the monitoring of staff practices; young people are receiving a more consistent quality of care based on their individual needs. They are able to make progress as they are clear about the boundaries and what is expected of them.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive a good quality of care from a competent, committed and well trained staff team. Staff feel well supported by the Registered Manager who presents as an enthusiastic role model. Staff receive regular supervision and are able to raise any issues with the management team. The home has a development plan which gives clear details of the targets for the year and is reviewed regularly. This demonstrates a willingness and commitment from the staff team to constantly improve the quality of care for young people.

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Leadership and management

Robust and effective internal quality assurance systems help to ensure young people receive care and support based on their individual needs; and that care is being provided in a safe manner. There are various systems where young people are involved in the monitoring of their care and the running of the home which gives them a voice and helps them feel valued. For example, monthly consultation forms are given to young people to comment on the care they receive and make suggestions for improvements; young people are consulted as part of the annual appraisals of staff.

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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