Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC008269 Inspection date 11/07/2012 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service is owned by a private company.

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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 good .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people living at this home experience an overall good standard of care. Effective management and staff teams provide individualised care which meets the specific needs of young people. Consistency in care planning and delivery ensures young people benefit from positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are valued and develop within this home. They make good progress from their starting points across all aspects of their welfare and development. Young people have consistently positive views about their care, the staff and the home. They are able to express how they have benefited from the care and support at this home. Young people are safe and report that they feel safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are generally encouraged to contribute to planning and reviewing their care. They participate in the running of the home and in the recruitment of new staff. Relationships between young people and staff are excellent. The staff group are knowledgeable and highly experienced which ensures that young people have consistent care, boundaries and expectations.

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Overall effectiveness

Shortfalls identified within this inspection are in relation the omissions of recording young people’s views in some records; monitoring of social media; the provision of a telephone for young people; physical interventions and ensuring all staff attain the minimum level child care qualification within set timescales. The shortfalls identified within this inspection do not have a negative impact on the outcomes for children.

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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) ensure that young people are provided with a telephone on which to make and receive calls in private. (Regulation 15 (4)(a)) 29/08/2012

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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 staff encourage children to take appropriate risks as a normal part of growing up. Children are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe including outside the home and when using the internet or social media (NMS 4.4)  ensure staff support and encourage the child to reflect on and understand their history, according to their age and understanding, and to keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in placement. Staff record and help children make a record of (subject to age and understanding), significant life events (NMS 22.6)  ensure all existing care staff have attained a minimum Level 3 qualification. All new staff engaged from the commencement of NMS (in April 2011) are to hold the level 3 Children & Young Peoples Workforce Diploma which must include mandatory social care units; or be working towards the Diploma within 6 months of confirmation of employment (NMS 18.5)  ensure where sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are

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Recommendations

encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept my the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure staff understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the emotions and behaviours presented by children and understand how past experiences and present emotions are communicated through behaviour (NMS 3.9)  ensure where children's homes use restraint, staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques, with particular regard to only using the homes agreed techniques. Training is regularly refreshed. (NMS 3.15)

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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 make positive progress and develop within this home. They benefit from developing a positive self-view and improved emotional resilience. Developing positive attachments and relationships with carer’s means behaviour becomes significantly more positive and productive. Consistency in care and boundaries further ensure young people feel secure.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress in education in relation to their starting points. Attendance is supported and consistent. They make positive transitions to college with plans for vocational training. Young people benefit from staff having strong and effective links with schools and colleges.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive health care appropriate to their individual needs to ensure they achieve good health outcomes. Their health needs are met because the staff work alongside a range of health care professionals. Young people benefit from a healthy lifestyle promoted by a skilled and knowledgeable staff team.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from appropriate contact with their families, friends and other people who are important to them. The staff team have detailed knowledge of individual circumstances. They collaborate with professionals and families to promote positive contact in line with arrangements agreed in individual care plans.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make strides to develop independence skills. Independence skills form a routine daily element of the home. Young people develop confidence, practical experience and knowledge. This preparation ensures young people benefit from improved outcomes to live independently.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a home where they are cared for by nurturing and dedicated staff who strive to meet each young person’s individual needs. The positive relationships and effective daily organisation of the home demonstrate consistent concern with the welfare and development of young people. Young people feel valued and cared for because of the quality of the relationships they enjoy.

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Quality of care

Young people contribute and participate in the running of the home and their views are central to how the home operates. They meet regularly to contribute ideas to express preferences, make choices and to improve care provision. This inclusion builds their confidence and increases their participation in their own care.

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Quality of care

Young people report that they know how to make a complaint to staff and external agencies. The complaints procedure is in an appropriate format and within the Young Person’s guide. However, young people do not currently have access to their own telephone to make private calls. This is not an issue for young people currently at the home but may in the future, compromise their ability to express any concerns they may have independently of the staff team.

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Quality of care

Care planning, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are individualised and comprehensive. This enables staff to provide effective support to young people. Young people receive consistent care because their care planning is clear and detailed.

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Quality of care

Young people are actively involved in their care planning, with regular keyworker sessions, attendance at statutory meetings and review of their placement plans. This means that young people are able to make choices and contribute to their care plans.

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Quality of care

Young people’s physical, emotional and psychological health needs are met because the home provides a healthy environment. They benefit from routine appointments to ensure good medical, optical and dental care. They receive prompt medical attention when they are ill. Therapeutic provision from a range of professionals supports young people’s emotional and psychological health. This means young people benefit from comprehensive health care which promotes good health.

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Quality of care

Staff ensure that all young people attend and are supported within school. Effective communication with education providers ensures consistency in supporting young people to meet educational goals. Collaboration with schools further promotes educational achievement and the monitoring of progression. Progress is rewarded which means that young people are motivated to engage and enjoy

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Quality of care

Young people engage with a wide range of social activities both within and outside of the home. They participate in group and solo activities and enjoy regular holidays and trips away. Young people and staff participate in activities together. This strengthens relationships and supports young people to achieve their goals.

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to develop appropriate friendships within the local community, clubs and within school. This means that young people learn a range of social skills, including sustaining friendships, widening support networks and developing positive attachments.

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Quality of care

The maintenance and the décor of the home are of a good standard. Young people’s bedrooms are individualised and young people have choice in their decoration preferences. The home is comfortable and provides a homely environment. The home offers opportunity for both privacy and social engagement.

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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 are safe and say they feel safe. Young people are protected because a skilled staff team promotes safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no reported incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. However, the home has clear procedures in place to notify the relevant bodies in the event of a child going missing. Informal visits from a local police officer further enhance the safeguarding culture at the home. Staff have a good understanding of the relevant policies and procedures and implement them when necessary.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The use of physical restraint in the home is minimal. It is used as a last resort when a young person is placing themselves or others at risk. There has been one restraint since the last inspection. The management reviewed this physical intervention. This review identified that whilst all staff are suitably trained in regards to restraint, further training was necessary to ensure all staff are competent in using the home's agreed techniques. Records of restraint provide evidence that young people are given the opportunity to discuss incidents of restraint they have been involved in. However, the home's recording system does not provide for the views of young people to be fully explored and recorded. This means that the impact of restraint on young people cannot be fully evaluated

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff promote positive behaviour. Young people are encouraged to develop improved behaviours with reward and incentive schemes. They are encouraged to take responsibility for behaviours. As a result of the behaviour management practices, young people learn to improve in their interaction with staff and each other. Records demonstrate that good behaviour is recognised and rewarded. However, where young people receive a sanction, the home does not record the views of young people. This means that young people cannot share their views and staff unable to evaluate the impact of behaviour management strategies.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from clear and appropriate risk assessment, which is individualised and effectively managed. They are able to take age-appropriate risks in line with agreed care plans. However, despite appropriate measures to ensure internet safety, young people have accessed social media though the use of mobile telephones. This could potentially compromise their safety, therefore young people need to be helped to understand how to keep themselves safe when using social media.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no allegations, complaints or incidents of bullying within the home since the last inspection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home is physically safe for the children. Maintenance within the home is of a good standard, with staff implementing consistent monitoring and security to ensure the safety of children.

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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

Young people benefit from a home that has maintained good standards. At the last inspection there were no requirements or recommendations. Continued improvement within the home is promoted by the home’s development plan which contains practical proposals for improving care provision. The Registered Manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and takes action to tackle weakness and make improvements.

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Leadership and management

The home’s Statement of Purpose is clear, accessible and comprehensive. The provision of care provided to young people reflects the aims and objectives within this guide. Young people receive their own guide to the home. The guide is appropriate and accessible. It contains relevant information for the young person’s needs, including the contact details for Ofsted.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from effective management and monitoring of the home. The Registered Manager undertakes routine monitoring activities, in addition to the independent monitoring visits by the regulation 33 visitor. These systems ensure that young people receive a consistently good quality of care. Young people and stakeholders provide their feedback on the care provided to shape the service and improve outcomes.

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels provide good levels of support which meet the needs of the home and the young people in placement. The managers provide additional support on shifts and an on-call service.

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Leadership and management

Staff are equipped with the necessary skills to provide appropriate care because they participate in a comprehensive and rigorous training schedule. However, not all staff have attained the minimum level child care qualification.

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Leadership and management

Regular supervision and appraisal of the staff team enables the Registered Manager to effectively evaluate the performance of individuals and the staff tea, identify their training needs and provide specific support. Staff express positive views about the manager and the quality and consistency of the support they receive.

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Leadership and management

Young people’s records are generally good. They are clear, up to date and stored securely. This ensures that records contribute to an understanding of young people's lives. Young people are being encouraged to participate in work to record their time at the home. However, they would benefit from staff being proactive in recording their time within the home and where appropriate to help young people make a record of significant life events.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager has systems in place to notify relevant agencies, including Ofsted, of significant events to ensure the protection of young people by multi- agency decision making. Notifications are carried out as required and appropriate action is taken to follow procedures and protect young people.

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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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