Children's Home run by New Foundations Care Homes Limited in St Helens

Unique reference number SC406636 Inspection date 04/01/2012 Inspector Chris Scully Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 03/08/2011 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 service is a children’s home and can accommodate up to six children of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This is one of two settings owned and managed by a private provider.

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Progress

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

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Progress

The home was last inspected on the 3 August 2011 and received a satisfactory judgment. Three statutory requirements were raised. These were in relation to the appointment of a manager, maintenance of records pertaining to students and fire safety. Six recommendations were also raised relating to: behaviour management, health promotion, placement plans, maintenance within the home and the monitoring systems.

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Progress

The home has provided details of the new manager and an application to register has been received by Ofsted. Young people's safety and well-being has been improved. This is because the home has enhanced the systems for accepting students on placement within the home. All students are now required to complete an application form, provide references and undertake a Criminal Records Bureau check. All missing information identified at the previous inspection was sourced for the student on placement. The home has enhanced the safety of children within the home as they have consulted with the fire authority regarding the wedging open of fire doors. The home has complied with the fire authority’s recommendations. Consequently, all staff have undertaken fire safety training and the identified fire doors have been upgraded.

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Progress

The home has seen a significant decline in the number of sanctions and incidents of inappropriate behaviour since the last inspection. This is because of the revised behaviour management systems and the support and training provided to staff. This has enabled staff to reflect and evaluate the behaviour management systems and adapt these to ensure they reflect the individuality of each young person. Behaviour management plans clearly reflect the individual needs of each young person and take into account their cultural heritage. Professionals involved with young people say, ‘since settling into the home the young person’s progress is remarkable.' They feel this is due to the 'unconditional support they have received from the home.' Parents are equally supportive and comment upon the progress the young people have made. Young people have the opportunity to comment upon the sanctions and their suitability of them. This means young people are more empowered and are able to

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Progress

take more responsibility for their actions and the consequences of these.

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Progress

As young people's behaviour has improved the complaints from neighbours has decreased. However, the records of these complaints do not contain sufficient detail as to how the complaint was investigated nor the outcome for the complainant or young person. On some occasions confidential information regarding a young person has been shared with a complainant. This is not appropriate and is a breach of confidentiality. The new manager has been proactive in addressing this issue with the staff concerned to ensure it does not reoccur.

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Progress

Young people's health is better supported as staff ensure they source all the information in relation to specific medical conditions. This means young people receive the right support and medical attention when they need it. The home has also revised young people's health care plans to ensure all health care needs are identified and systems are implemented to support the young person. Young people's cultural and religious needs are recognised and supported. This is because the monitoring of placement plans has improved to ensure they contain all the required information. Staff are proactive in sourcing additional information to support young people, for example using the internet to support their understanding of specific cultures.

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Progress

The home provides a more homely environment as most of the issues identified at the last inspection have been addressed. Furniture in young people's bedrooms has been repaired and there are suitable window dressings to support their privacy. The settees are still showing signs of wear and tear and this has not been identified within the monitoring of the home. Young people are taking an active interest in the décor of the home and have created many canvasses which now adorn the walls of the home. One young person has shown their feelings about staying in the home within their art work, commenting that being in the home is better than what they thought it would be. Young people continue to be encouraged to personalise their own bedrooms. Monitoring systems for the home are improving. However, they have not identified the wear and tear to the settees in the lounge and Regulation 34 reports have not yet been forwarded to Ofsted.

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Progress

The new manager has, in consultation with staff, improved a number of systems within the home. This includes a revised procedure for young people's meetings. Young people are encouraged to create the agenda and have the opportunity to raise their issues at the beginning of the meeting rather than staff's agenda items. This has empowered young people who feel more confident to raise issues that are important to them. These issues included later bedtimes, activities and feeling there is a lack of consultation on their activity planners. Staff ensure young people have an appropriate response to these issues, for example, explaining that young people are asked each week what they would like to do and these are planned with them. However, on some occasions, for instance when a young person changes their mind at short notice, they may not be able to accommodate this due to staff availability or transport arrangements. Young people are reassured that staff will do their best to

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Progress

accommodate their requests. Staff continue to feel supported by the manager and feel that the outcomes for young people continue to improve.

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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 information about children is kept confidential and is only shared with those who have a legitimate need to know and information is clearly recorded, in particular the records of complaints from neighbours (NMS 22.2, NMS 2.5)  ensure the monitoring systems for the home provide sufficient detail with regards to the action taken in relation to identified shortfalls, such as maintenance issues and Regulation 34 reports sent to Ofsted within the prescribed timescales. (NMS 21.2)

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