Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC006013 Inspection date 28/06/2012 Inspector Elaine Clare Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/03/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This private company-run home provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality 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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

The outcomes for young people and the quality of care provided by the home are adequate. Young people benefit from a stable and caring staff team who are dedicated to their roles. This inspection notes weaknesses particularly in education attendance and promoting positive behaviour. The home's care planning and staff practice are personalised to meet the individual needs of young people. Young people have positive views about the quality of their care in the home and relationships with staff.

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Overall effectiveness

To further improve, the home must work towards taking appropriate action to prevent young people from behaving inappropriately and to engage young people in a positive experience while undertaking education.

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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 there is an environment and culture which promotes, models and supports positive behaviour and that all staff understand and implement this (NMS 3.2)  ensure that children are helped by staff to achieve their educational goals. (NMS 8.4)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress in developing a positive self-view and are able to establish good relationships with staff. They are cared for in an individual way and develop their skills and abilities over time. Positive progress is made relative to each young person's individual starting point. For example, young people learn to develop and practise skills to build and maintain positive relationships with staff and peers.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s health care needs are well assessed and a system is in place to address these needs. Young people have prompt access to doctors and other health professionals, including specialist services when they need these services. They benefit from reducing smoking habits. Young people enjoy eating home-cooked healthy meals and this reflects their diversity and preferences.

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Outcomes for children and young people

There is a reduced willingness to attend education. When in education young people don't always wish to engage unless it's a practical lesson for example baking. This is different from the last inspection when education was more of a positive experience for the young people. Facilities at the home are conducive for young people to study. Staff support young people with homework to achieve educational attainments.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make some positive contribution to their home and wider community through participation in recreational, sporting and cultural activities. At home they participate in various household tasks including looking after their own space, house shopping and keeping communal areas clean and tidy.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are able to maintain good relationships with their parents and siblings through regular contact. Young people have access to the phone so that they may contact their families on a regular basis.

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Quality of care

Young people have individual placement plans and these promote all aspects of their individual identity. Staff contribute to individual placement plans which are tailored to the individual. Staff act as role models and assist young people with developing a strong identity. Staff discuss issues with young people relating to their race, culture, gender and sexuality.

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Quality of care

Staff are committed to encouraging and supporting young people to attend formal education but this has a less effect than it had been previously. Staff positively address challenges to educational progress and achievement and work with the placing authorities and the organisation’s school to provide suitable educational arrangements for young people. For example young people work in the home and a teacher from the school comes and undertakes the lesson in the lounge. When young people do attend the school setting staff accompany young people to education and liaise with the school.

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Quality of care

Key workers have good relationships with young people, their parents and others involved. They seek young people's views, wishes and feelings in order to improve the service delivery. Young people are able to choose their menus, activities of their choice and influence the running of the home.

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Quality of care

Young people have access to the home's complaints procedure and know how to make complaints should they wish to. Staff maintain a records of all complaints received by young people and neighbours.

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Quality of care

There are house rules in place which young people understand but don't always comply with. They don't always take ownership of behavioural issues that might have occurred during the course of the day. Property and vehicles have been damaged. Staff have been assaulted. This has seen an increase of physical interventions. These are recorded and a financial reward is given for positive behaviour. The environment and culture is to promote and support positive behaviour, with young people taking ownership of this. Other types of rewards are also given.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy a variety of purposeful and enjoyable activities. Staff ensure young people's access to local community resources including shopping trips, swimming, bowling and day trips. In the house, television, DVDs and music are available.

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Quality of care

The home is appropriately located, designed and maintained. Young people have the opportunity to personalise their rooms and communal rooms are clean and tidy. The home has no issue with keeping the property maintained and all damage is repaired quickly.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people report that they generally feel safe in the home. The home has an appropriate child protection and anti-bullying policy in place. Staff are provided with relevant child protection training. There are no issues with bullying.

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Safeguarding children and young people

One incident in relation to missing from care has been recorded. Staff follow the agreed procedures when a young person goes missing from care and report all incidents to relevant professionals. Individual risk assessments demonstrate what actions the home should be taking to prevent the young person going missing in future.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff are provided with challenging behaviour and physical intervention training. Staff impose various forms of sanctions for young people's unacceptable behaviour which young people said were fair. Staff develop individual behaviour management strategies. There is evidence that the home regularly reviews incidents of challenging behaviour and examines trends or issues emerging from this, which enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There are regular checks on fire alarms, smoke detectors and emergency lighting. Staff carry out fire alarm testing and fire drills to keep young people safe. Gas and electrical appliances are tested by the relevant professionals.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has recently recruited two care staff. The recruitment processes are good. The home carries out all relevant checks on staff prior to the appointment. All files include written reference letters, photocopies of their proof of identity and enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure numbers.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home has developed a Statement of Purpose and a children's guide. The Statement of Purpose includes the aims and objectives of the home. The children's guide provides information about the facilities available to them. The home has policies on the promotion of equality and diversity and staff have completed equality and diversity training. Staff are recruited from various minority ethnic groups. They are able to meet children and young people's cultural, religious and dietary needs.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from a stable staff team who provide continuity of care. The Registered Manager is also supported by a deputy manager and they both are suitably qualified. Regular staff meetings take place which promotes good communication between the staff team.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. Staff spoken to are generally satisfied with the training they are receiving. Two new care staff have yet to complete the Children and Young People's Workforce Diploma at level 3.

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Leadership and management

Monitoring visits take place on a monthly basis and reports are sent to Ofsted. The Registered Manager monitors and signs the home's records and takes appropriate steps on issues requiring actions. The manager completes written reports at appropriate intervals in terms of reviewing the quality of care. A written development plan on how they intend to improve the quality of service and develop it further is available on the staff notice board.

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Leadership and management

Each young person has an individual case record which helps them to reflect on and understand their history and keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in the placement.

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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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