Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC372661 Inspection date 30/08/2012 Inspector Julian Parker Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 23/05/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is part of a range of young people's services within a private care organisation. The home is registered to offer care and accommodation to one young person with 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

At the last inspection in May 2012, the overall quality rating for the service was judged as good, with two requirements and one recommendation being made. The requirements have been met but one recommendation continues to require further attention to become fully compliant.

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Progress

Plans drawn up identifying a structured reintegration into the provider’s school identify how educational needs of young people will be met. This provides access to a full time curriculum while acknowledging potential areas of difficulty, particularly in group settings.

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Progress

Placement plans receive on-going review and attention, ensuring that they accurately reflect current issues affecting the young person’s life. They provide a detailed picture for young people, identifying what staff do to address specific needs. Progress, while slow, is evident and well recorded, but placement plans still lack sufficient detail about young people’s recreational interests. The behaviour management aspect of the plan continues to receive thorough reassessment following any incident. Risk assessments ensure consistent practice to manage behaviour, which is necessary to keep everyone safe. Following this approach, staff demonstrate that they are well aware of the individual support needs of complex young people.

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Progress

The redirection of difficult behaviour has, however, created some obvious visible damage to the fabric of the building for which the present rate of maintenance and refurbishment is not keeping pace. In some areas, young people have made some commendable efforts to repair and redecorate their damage to a surprisingly good quality. In others the extent of the visible damage creates a concerning first impression for any visitors to this children’s home.

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Progress

Young people have benefited from continued progress, significantly reducing risky unauthorised absence. Missing-from-care records are clear and provide sufficient information to demonstrate that young people have access to an independent person to talk to, following an episode where they go missing from the home.

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Progress

Young people continue to enjoy a good consistency of care and generally trusting relationships with staff, although this is sometimes tested by allegations that require referral to the local safeguarding agencies for investigation. Staffing levels at the home continue to remain stable, ensuring young people know who are looking after them.

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Progress

Staff receive good support and regular supervision from the home’s manager. The manager’s full time presence within the home has been compromised since the last inspection, by the assignment of additional duties in terms of supporting some of the provider’s other services. The impact of this absence has inhibited the progress of this home.

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Progress

There is an effective range of systems within the home to monitor the quality of care provided. The monthly checks of in-house records enable the Registered Manager to identify trends and patterns that may inform improvements to practice. In addition to these internal systems, Regulation 33 monitoring visits and reports highlight any shortfalls. This continues to help the manager and staff reflect upon and improve their practice.

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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

31 ensure that all parts of the children’s home used by children 30/09/2012 (2001) are kept in good structural repair externally and internally by repairing promptly any damage inflicted to walls, doors, windows, fixtures and fittings within the home (Regulation 31(2)(d)

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children’s home used by children are kept clean, reasonably decorated and maintained by replacing damaged furniture, particularly that in children’s rooms, promptly. (Regulation 31(2)(e)) 30/09/2012

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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 that the interests and hobbies of children are fully identified within their records (NMS 7.5)  ensure that managers are clear about their roles and responsibilities by preventing the inappropriate allocation of additional tasks outside of the home for which the manager is registered. (NMS 21.4)

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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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