Children's Home run by Roundhouse Care in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC425859 Inspection date 31/07/2012 Inspector David Morgan Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/12/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is one of two children's home operated by the same private organisation. The home provides care for up to three young people between the ages of 10 and 17 years who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

The last inspection was a full inspection and was the first inspection since registration. It found that the service was operating at a good standard and set two recommendations. These have been addressed. The Statement of Purpose is up to date and has been forwarded to Ofsted, as required. Progress has also been made in the management of risks, such as those posed by kitchen knives, so that children and young people benefit from as normal an environment as possible. However, the risk assessment tool is less objective than possible. This increases the likelihood of inconsistent and therefore less effective practice. It also means that risk assessments provide less precise evidence of changes in children and young people's risk levels. Certain institutional features are in use that are reasonably employed to control risks. However, the use of internal and external door alarms, for example, is not reviewed

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Progress

sufficiently. This means that children and young people's privacy and independence are infringed unnecessarily.

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Progress

Children and young people live in a safe environment where appropriate safety measures are maintained, for example, regarding staff recruitment and fire safety. Social workers consider that there is good communication with them about routine as well as serious incidents. Notifications are made promptly. However, the outcome of child protection enquiries are not sent to Ofsted as required. This has minimal impact on children and young people though.

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Progress

Children and young people continue to benefit from close attention to their needs. They live in an attractive and well-presented property that has good access to local amenities. There is a conscious use of colour in the home that adds to the cheerful and positive atmosphere. Recreational activities are arranged to suit individual wishes and include sporting as well as voluntary activities, such as supporting a local dog rescue service. Recent table-top activities have included compiling a presentation about the Olympic Games; young people attend the religious meetings of their choice and have also been away on summer holidays. These events provide children and young people with valuable developmental opportunities as well as teaching them the value of their contribution to society.

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Progress

Staff are thoroughly trained in the therapeutic approach pursued by the organisation. This means that individual children and young people are engaged effectively in decision-making and learn to manage their own behaviour appropriately. One young person reported, ‘They have made me think about how I speak to my family’. As a result, children and young people fully benefit from their education and are prepared well for independence. Several young people have successfully moved out and remain in contact with staff. Issues such as bullying and going missing are controlled well, with appropriate liaison with other agencies. Police involvement is minimal and physical interventions are used very rarely. These outcomes serve to maintain the dignity and self-respect of young people.

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Progress

The manager and staff are keen to improve the service. For example, there has been prompt attention to recent national concerns about child sexual exploitation, which has led to attendance at a conference and staff training. In addition, good management is demonstrated by a member of staff being delegated responsibility to oversee the matter on an ongoing basis. A business and development plan is in place and the manager undertakes regular quality assurance checks. These measures, along with monitoring by the organisation, serve to maintain standards well. Consultation occurs with interested parties, such as other professionals and parents. However, it is not sufficiently clear in either of these processes what improvement targets are being set, how they will be achieved, or that the manager and staff are engaged in the process. As a result, progress in improving the care provided to children and young people is insufficiently well organised.

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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 if any event listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. This is with regard to informing Ofsted not only about the instigation but also the outcome of any child protection enquiry (Regulation 30(1)) 03/09/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is an effective system for improving the quality of care provided in the children's home. (Regulation 34(1)(b)) 01/10/2012

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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 there are effective procedures in place for monitoring and controlling how the home is run. This is with regard to improving the method of assessing the level of risks (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.23)  implement a written policy regarding electronic devices used to monitor children that sets out how they should be used, how they promote the welfare of children, how children will be informed of their use, how legitimate privacy of children will be protected and how children will be protected from potential abuse of such measures. This is with regard to internal and external door alarms. (NMS 10.5)

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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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