Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire West and Chester

Unique reference number SC032083 Inspection date 23/10/2012 Inspector Sue Winson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 15/03/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

Brief description of the service

The home accommodates two young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is run by a private company which has other homes in the area.

p.3

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

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people make good progress in relation to their starting points across all aspects of their welfare and development. This is achieved through effective and high quality support based on individual needs and knowledge of young people’s particular vulnerabilities. Social workers and others, including parents and independent reviewing officers, commented on the high standards of care provided. The impact that the home has had in supporting young people's progress and achieving positive outcomes is evident.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Detailed and highly individualised placement planning is central to the care provided and young people contribute to their plans. Effective partnership working with a range of agencies and professionals is a strength and ensures consistency of care which is central to the young people’s ability to progress. Good relationships and communication with parents also benefit them. The staff advocate strongly on behalf of young people to ensure they receive the services they need. Young people are fully involved in decision making at all levels. They are positive about life in the home and their relationships with staff. Respect and understanding of difference is well promoted.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

Young people’s physical, emotional and psychological health needs are met and they understand the importance of healthy living. They are in education, their attendance has improved and they have aspirations to attend colleges. They are encouraged to take part in a range of activities in the community, with varying degrees of success and they go on trips out and holidays. Young people develop life skills and their independence is maximised and promoted, as far as possible, while ensuring they are safe. A statutory requirement has been raised in respect of the home's responsibility to refer any allegation to the local authority designated officer. Young people say they are safe in the home, and their social workers report that they are safeguarded. This was an isolated occasion which the manager is addressing and as a result it does not affect the overall judgement of this inspection.

p.3

Overall effectiveness

The home is well managed and efficiently run. The staff team is stable, experienced and committed to meeting the needs of the young people. They work together under the positive leadership of the managers, to provide highly consistent care. The managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and development plans demonstrate on-going improvement.

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the procedure under paragraph (1)(b) shall in particular provide for any prompt referral to the local authority in whose area the children’s home is situation, of any allegation of abuse or neglect affecting any child accommodated in the children’s home. Regulation 16(2)(b) 31/10/2012

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress in developing a positive self-view and are gaining confidence and skills. For example, they are well supported in understanding their background, have memory boxes and photograph albums and are completing life story work. They benefit from the home's use of 'positive books' in which staff write daily comments and they have begun to recognise and add their own contributions.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

The young people are involved in their care plans and are assisted and supported to add their contributions. They are able to share their wishes, views and feelings and are fully involved in decision making about their future plans and day-to-day life in the home. They have people outside of the home who they can contact directly should they have any concerns and they also have access to an independent advocacy service. Information about children's rights organisations is easily accessible to them in the home.

p.4

Outcomes for children and young people

Their physical, emotional and psychological needs are well met. They have access to appropriate health professionals and have information about healthy living so that they can make informed decisions and choices. They are making progress in education, their attendance has improved and they are positive about moving on to colleges. They have some positive engagement in the wider community and access to leisure pursuits in line with their wishes and aptitudes. Daily living opportunities in the home ensure that young people build on their skills and are well prepared for independent living. They benefit from contact with friends and families and are making and maintaining positive relationships.

p.5

Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive continuity of care from staff they know well. Boundaries, routines and expectations are clear so that the young people know the consequences of their actions and learn strategies to manage their own behaviour. They benefit from positive behaviour management based on encouragement, praise and rewards.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people enjoy positive relationships with staff who place their well-being at the centre of their practice irrespective of the challenges they present. They develop a positive self-view through praise and encouragement and a focus on their abilities and skills. Individualised planning and care augmented by good communication within the staff group, ensures young people receive continuity of care from adults they know well. Staff have high aspirations for the young people, and advocate strongly on their behalf, for example, to ensure they are treated fairly and with respect and that their wishes and views are taken into account.

p.5

Quality of care

Individualised placement plans ensure that there is a focus on meeting young people's needs. These are updated regularly and young people are consistently encouraged to contribute to their plans and sign and comment on records, which they do. Health promotion ensures that young people know what constitutes a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. Staff ensure that they have knowledge about health services and health promotion agencies, and work together with medical staff to meet individual's specific health needs. Young people benefit from a strong focus on their psychological health and well-being. When young people receive therapeutic services staff work with the providers to the benefit of the young people.

p.5

Quality of care

Good relationships and regular communication with schools ensure young people's needs are met and they make progress. Through encouragement and support the young people have aspirations to gain GCSEs and attend college courses in line with their wishes and aptitudes. Attendance has improved and staff attend school meetings with young people and ensure they receive the support they need. Young people are well supported to engage in community activities and they meet with their friends and have stayed overnight at their homes. Young people enjoy trips out arranged by staff sometimes with their friends and holidays are taken annually.

p.5

Quality of care

Young people are assisted and supported to maintain contact with their families and gain an understanding of family life. Positive relationships between families and staff benefit the young people. Parents commented that 'staff are always polite and courteous' and social workers were very positive about how the staff work with them to ensure contact is positive for the young people. The home facilitates contact and ensures that young people are well supported while on contact visits.

p.6

Quality of care

Young people are encouraged and supported to take responsibility for their behaviour. Reward schemes are highly individualised and are effective in that the young people respond positively to them. They benefit from consistent care, which is achieved through good communication within the staff group and with parents and others outside of the home. The staff have access to advice from a range of professionals and training which enhances their abilities to meet the needs of the young people. Life skills training is part of everyday living for all young people and allows them to maximise their skills. Formal pathway planning is to start in the near future and young people are starting to consider their future plans.

p.6

Quality of care

The views and wishes of the young people are central to the running of the home and the delivery of care. Regular house meetings take place, which sometimes the young people decline to take part in. They have the opportunity to express their preferences and views during day-to-day life in the home and individual consultation sessions. They are informed of their right to complain, and have done so. Their concerns have been fully addressed and their opinions on the outcomes are sought.

p.6

Quality of care

The arrangements for the administration of medication are safe and effective in protecting the young people. The home does not carry stocks of non-prescription medication, preferring to consult with doctors when necessary.

p.6

Quality of care

The fact that the home is located in the country without public transport does not affect young people's ability to take part in community activities or visit their friends. Staff take them and collect them from the nearby local town or to their home areas and should they need any changes of clothes, money or medication will deliver it to them. The home is appropriate to their needs and well maintained. Young people personalise their rooms and choose furnishings for communal areas.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

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

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say they feel safe in the home and their social workers report that they are happy there. Comprehensive risk assessments and risk management plans inform and guide staff in keeping them as safe as possible. An appropriate balance between their need for independence and safeguarding is maintained. Young people rarely engage in risky behaviours and are informed about keeping themselves safe in the community. Young people do not generally go missing from home apart from occasional times when they are late back from visiting friends or leave school premises. Good relationships between the home and the police ensure staff are informed about protocols and discuss dangers with the young people. Young people are protected by staff being alert to the potential for bullying or intimidating behaviour and there have been no incidents since the last inspection.

p.6

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people’s relationships with staff, staff training and positive behaviour management strategies result in most challenging situations being diffused without the need for physical intervention. Restraint is rarely used and records demonstrate it is only used as a last resort when other strategies have been exhausted. Debriefing for the young people after physical intervention ensures they understand the reasons for the actions. Practice is continually monitored by the manager.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

The manager and staff largely protect the young people by advocating strongly on their behalf if their welfare or safety may be compromised. They have taken prompt action to do so. However, where young people make then withdraw complaints there has been an oversight in ensuring that allegations contained in the complaint are dealt with separately and according to safeguarding procedures.

p.7

Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected by the home's recruitment and vetting procedures, and no staff start work in the home until all checks and references have been obtained. Young people are further protected by visitors being supervised while in the home. The environment is physically safe and secure and regular checks take place to ensure it remains so. Young people have the opportunity to practice evacuating the building during fire drills.

p.7

Leadership and management

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

p.7

Leadership and management

The Registered Manager provides effective leadership and guidance to the staff team who say they are well supported, supervised and managed. The manager is described as approachable and available to them. Open discussion is promoted and this allows staff to reflect on practice with a view to improving outcomes for young people. Sufficient staff are on duty in the home to provide the necessary levels of supervision of the young people. This allows young people to keep appointments have contact visits and go on activities.

p.7

Leadership and management

There is a stable, experienced and skilled staff team who are enthusiastic and child focused. They work together and support each other in often demanding situations. Team meetings, handovers and effective communication result in continuity of care and consistency of response which the young people respond to positively. Staff are positive about the range and quality of training and say they are well supervised and this enables them to meet the young people's needs. Staff are encouraged to take on roles and responsibilities as part of their professional development. All but the new members of staff have achieved appropriate qualifications. The home is well monitored and audited and any concerns are addressed by the manager. Visits are carried out by the monitoring visitor on a regular basis and comprehensive reports inform the manager’s monitoring. Staff are involved in the improvement agenda and are committed to improving services to the young people.

p.7

Leadership and management

Records are largely clear, well organised and securely stored. They are up-to-date and signed by the manager and often by the young people.

p.8

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.

p.9

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.

p.9