Children's Home run by Acorn Care (UK) Limited in Darlington

Unique reference number SC390751 Inspection date 13/11/2012 Inspector Nicholas Murphy Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 30/01/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home provides accommodation for up to five young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private company.

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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 home received a full inspection in May 2012. At that inspection, the home was judged to be adequate overall. Most young people at the home are continuing to make satisfactory progress. Generally, their attendance at school and other educational placements has improved. Young people are in good health, and they understand the risks to their health caused by smoking or alcohol use. There continue to be a number of incidents where young people go missing. However, for the majority of these, staff know the location of the young person so that any risks to them are more easily controlled. Occasionally, staff have to use physical restraint to keep young people safe. However, the use of restraint is in accordance with the home’s policy and well recorded. This ensures that there is full accountability for the use of this measure, and young people are not hurt during these incidents.

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Progress

At the last inspection, three requirements and four recommendations were made. All requirements have been addressed in full. Young people’s placement plans now include actions to meet needs related to their culture and identity. The home has improved assessments of risk related to leisure activities, which ensures that staff know how to minimise any potential harm. Monitoring of the home’s performance now takes account of the views of young people, their parents and placing authorities. This enables the home to better identify and remedy shortfalls and build on areas of strength.

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Progress

Two of the four previous recommendations have been addressed. There is now a very comprehensive development plan for the home, which is clearly child-focused and has realistic objectives for improving standards. Increasing the meaningful participation of young people is a key feature of this plan. For example, the provider intends to involve young people in the recruitment of staff. Another recommendation, that new staff undertake the Children’s Workforce Development Council’s induction standards, has been achieved.

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Progress

Two previous recommendations remain unmet, and have therefore been repeated. Internal monitoring reports have not been forwarded to Ofsted, which means that the regulator cannot be assured of what the home is doing to improve. Additionally, one television still has a perspex screen covering it, which gives the lounge an institutional feel. However, the young people themselves say that they want the television protected so that it cannot be damaged. Furthermore, the provider plans to provide bespoke frames which will give the television necessary protection while looking more homely. Accordingly, the impact of failing to meet this recommendation is not significant.

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Progress

Staff provide a suitable level of care which provides good emotional and practical support to young people and helps them to make progress in their lives. The Registered Manager’s post is currently vacant. However, the provider has put in place satisfactory arrangements to maintain effective managerial oversight. This ensures that staff have the right support to be able to meet the needs of young people.

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Progress

Young people have a say in how the house is run, and can exercise choice over everyday things such as menus and activities. Staff encourage young people to attend group meetings which enable any issues within the home to be discussed and resolved. This means that young people are able to shape the development of the home and its routines. The manager and provider are keen to develop this participation further. For example, young people have worked with staff to evaluate what work needs doing in the home to improve its homely feel. This will enhance young people’s sense of ownership of their surroundings.

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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 reports reviewing the quality of care under Regulation 34 are supplied to Ofsted at six monthly intervals within 28 days of completion (Volume 5, statutory guidance, paragraph 3.14)  provide a comfortable and homely environment, specifically by modifying any covers for televisions so that they do not lead to an institutional feel. (NMS 10.3)

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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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