Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC441717 Inspection date 26/10/2012 Inspector Jacqueline Malcolm Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/04/2012 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 children's home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people who experience behavioural and emotional difficulties. This is the homes first inspection.

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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 adequate .

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are cared for in a supportive environment. They benefit from positive and trusting relationships with staff and make good progress from their starting points. This is evident in the improvements in some young people's behaviour, few missing from home episodes and their engagement in education, which for some is a major achievement. However, not all young people benefit from good outcomes in this area, which impacts on their future prospects. Staff are committed to improving the life chances of all young people. They continue to encourage and motivate young people in line with their plans and ensure communication with social workers, parents and other professionals affect change.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's safety and welfare is promoted and young people confirm they feel safe. Their care is delivered by a relatively new staff team of carers who have varying degrees of child care experience. They are well supported by a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager who provides good leadership. The endurance of the staff team has been tested as a result of some young people's risky and challenging behaviours. In recent months, staff report an increasingly stable home environment.

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Overall effectiveness

Five requirements and two recommendations are made to improve practice. These relate to the Statement of Purpose, lack of notification of significant events to Her Majesty's Chief Inspector (HMCI), Ofsted. Not all Regulation 33 reports have been sent to HMCI, Ofsted and Regulation 34 reports are not robust. There are issues in relation to young people's educational attendance and attainment, young people's records and physical intervention.

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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 matters to be included in the Statement of Purpose includes the number, relevant qualifications and experience of persons working at the children's home. In particular ensuring up to date staffing information (Regulation 4(1)) 30/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the children's home is conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the welfare of children accommodated there. In particular that the Registered Manager responds to the issues discussed about physical intervention (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 16/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) promote the educational achievement of all young people through regular attendance at school, college or alternative provision (Regulation 18 (1)(b)) 30/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure in relation to the children's home if any events 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, in particular notify to Ofsted (Regulation 30 (1)) 30/11/2012

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the person carrying out the Regulation 33 visit prepares a written report on the conduct of the home and that the registered person supplies a copy to the HMCI. (Regulation 33 (5)(a)) 16/11/2012

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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 is a system in place to monitor the quality and adequacy of record keeping and action taken when needed (NMS 22.1)  ensure regular monitoring, in line with regulations, all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the home's policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (NMS 21.2)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are adequate .

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Outcomes for children and young people

All young people make good progress as a result of the good quality of care that they receive at the home. This nurtures their emotional resilience and understanding of their background. However, not all young people are positively engaged with all services, which restrict some outcomes for them.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from care that recognises and promotes the importance of a good education. Most are good attendees at college and are progressing well. Young people say that they enjoy their learning and have aspirations to succeed in their chosen professions. Some young people refuse to attend school. This is despite significant efforts made by staff to encourage and facilitate their attendance. Young people's educational is at risk of lower attainment because their attendance is poor. However, staff continue to motivate and encourage all young people to attend their educational provision despite the lack of impact for some.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Most young people attend health appointments with staff support and those who refuse to attend are encouraged. Young people are well informed about the effects of smoking on their health and can access health support services, depending on their needs. No young people have health needs that require them to take medication, but measures in place ensure their safe administration.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are actively encouraged to make a positive contribution in the home and community. They have made friends and have invited them to the home for meals. Young people are enabled to partake in hobbies and activities that they enjoy. This includes visits to the cinema, shopping, theme parks, holidays, bowling and playing Nintendo WII, computer and watching DVD's in the home. Young people's social skills and inclusion are enhanced as a result of their activities.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact arrangements that support their identity and maintains their connections with family, friends and significant others. Staff facilitate and support contact and endeavour to work with parents to maintain links.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are helped to acquire practical and life skills to prepare them for adult life. This is appropriate to their age and ability. Young people can cook, clean and most have good budgeting skills, which will benefit them when they live independent lives.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy good, constructive relationships with staff and young people like the staff. Positive and trusting relationships have developed. Staff are child focussed and care about the young people and positively recognise their individual qualities, which helps them to meet their individual needs. Staff care for young people in conjunction with their comprehensive care and behaviour management plans. Young people's diverse needs are sensitively met and needs arising from their cultural background and personal identity are addressed. In particular, young people who originate from different parts of the country and are getting used to a new area. Social workers consider that young people's needs are well met and they are making good progress.

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Quality of care

Staff are proactive and consistently support the educational achievement of young people. Some young people refuse to attend school and despite staff efforts to support their re-engagement, the outcomes are not good for all young people. Support from the local authority is limited and representation has been made on behalf of the home to address this pressing issue.

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Quality of care

Young people are involved in how the home is run and they are regularly consulted. House meetings, key work sessions and contacts between young people and staff ensure their views are listened to and acted on. Young people know how to complain and previous complaints are promptly resolved. Young people know who they can talk to with any concerns and express satisfaction with their care.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy good health. They are supported to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce some of their risky behaviours. Young people are registered with health professionals and specialist mental health services if they need this support. Young people are encouraged to eat a healthy and varied diet and confirm that they have a say in the meal choices. Young people have opportunities to go food shopping with staff and can prepare meals, snacks, drinks and bake cakes.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a comfortable and homely environment that is located close to transport and community facilities. Young people say that they like the home and can personalise their own rooms. The home is well maintained and the manager is aware about improvements and repairs needed in parts of the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are cared for by staff who prioritise their safety and welfare, protecting them from neglect, abuse, exploitation, accidents and bullying. Staff are trained in safeguarding young people and prioritise this practice. Young people say that they feel safe and do not identify bullying as an issue at the home. Young people confirm the adults that they can approach with any worries or concerns. Staff are available to the young people and offer advice and support to them about keeping themselves safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are supported to develop socially acceptable behaviour. Their behaviour is well managed, which has improved over time. Good behaviour management plans and risk assessments support good care practices and reinforce clear boundaries. Young people are helped to reflect on and improve their negative behaviour. One young person commented that they had learned a lot during their time at the home. They say that their behaviour has improved. Young people generally respect the boundaries in the home and say that staff are fair. Sanctions are proportionate. They are monitored for their effectiveness and reviewed as necessary. Young people are rarely restrained. An issue raised with respect to physical intervention is being addressed by the manager.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Missing from home is not a common feature that young people experience. This is a particular strength of the home because some young people have a history of significant missing episodes. These young people have settled at the home and running away is not a concern. Young people understand the expectations on them to return home at the agreed times. When young people do not return home on time or absent themselves from the home, staff work within the agreed protocol with the police to effect their safe return. The manager has approached the local police service to promote positive working relationships with them and promote young people's safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are involved in the recruitment of staff. They benefit from practices that ensure suitable people are appointed to care for them.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety checks on the fire system and home are regularly carried out. This ensures that young people live in a physically safe environment. Plans are in place to review the fire and risk assessment for one of the bedrooms to ensure that the window lock installed does not present a health and safety risk to young people.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

Young people live in a well managed home by a suitable registered manager who is qualified, experienced and child focussed. They promote a learning and enabling environment for the team to develop their practice and provide a good quality of care for young people. The manager is supported by a deputy and senior staff who are experienced and provide peer support to less experienced staff. Staffing issues are addressed by the manager and the staff team has improved in competence and experience. Staff are undertaking induction training and will be progressing to an approved childcare qualification. This ensures a fully qualified team.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from child focussed staff who are trained in areas such as first aid, child protection, team teach, health and safety at work, food hygiene, equality and diversity and the national minimum standards. This enhances how their care is delivered. Staff consider the manager to be supportive and they enjoy their role and responsibilities. Staff are regularly supervised and have personal development plans.

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Leadership and management

Young people are provided with an informative young people's guide and DVD, produced by looked after young people. The homes Statement of Purpose clearly informs about the services that young people can expect to receive. However, it does not contain up to date staff details. Social work and professionals are happy with the services that young people receive and feel that young people are well placed. Leaders and managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and a development plan is in place. Internal monitoring is regularly carried out, but does not provide an evaluative account of the quality of care, patterns and trends, so is not robust. Monitoring has not recognised that a notification had not been sent to HMCI, Ofsted. Regulation 33 visits on behalf of the provided provides a good overview of the conduct of the home. However, on one occasion, a written report has not been supplied to HMCI, Ofsted.

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Leadership and management

Young people's records are generally maintained to a good standard. They show the progress young people make and will be helpful to young people now and in the future. However, not all young people's records are recorded in a manner that can withstand scrutiny in the event of a complaint.

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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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