Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC008269 Inspection date 27/11/2012 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service is owned 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 good progress .

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Progress

At the last inspection in July 2012 the overall rating for the home was judged as good, with five recommendations and one requirement set within the inspection report. Since that time the children’s home has demonstrated capacity for continued improvement.

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Progress

The manager has appropriately addressed the requirement raised at the previous inspection. The home now has a designated telephone for the sole use of the young people to make telephone calls in private. This means young people are able to express any concerns they may have independently of the staff team.

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Progress

Records demonstrate that young people’s views are sought and recorded. This ensures that young people can communicate their views on all aspects of their care. In addition, staff support young people to keep memorabilia of their time in placement with the use of creative ‘memory books’. The home now has more effective monitoring of social media, including the use of mobile telephones. This means young people’s safety is improved. One recommendation related to the use of physical restraint and that while all staff was suitably trained in regards to restraint, further training was necessary to ensure all staff were competent in using the home's agreed techniques. The home has delivered mandatory and refresher training to the staff group. This means staff are competent in managing physical interventions and young people kept safe.

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Progress

Lastly, a recommendation to ensure staff understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the emotions and behaviours of young people has been met through the provision of reflective and more frequent supervision where needed.

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Progress

Young people continue to receive care appropriate to their individual needs. This ensures young people benefit from improved outcomes. The home provides an environment with integrated social, education and therapeutic professionals. Young people benefit from a good quality of care promoted by a skilled and knowledgeable staff team.

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Progress

The staff team is stable and cohesive. This means familiar and knowledgeable carers support the young people. Young people develop positive attachments and relationships with carers, which generally results with their behaviour becoming more positive. This ultimately means young people benefit from planned placement endings with transitions to independence; readiness for foster placements or rehabilitation to family.

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Progress

Young people develop independence skills through structured independence plans. They undertake a range of activities, dependent on their age and ability, to prepare them for independent living. The acquisition of such life skills provides young people with improved outcomes when living independently.

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Progress

Young people live in a safe, secure and stable environment. Robust and regularly reviewed policies and procedures guide safeguarding practice. The staff team are well trained in safeguarding and implement clear and structured strategies to safeguard young people and manage their behaviour. The home work collaboratively with a range of agencies to maximise safeguarding practices.

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Progress

The home implements effective protocols and procedures when young people are absent from care. Staff awareness of factors which lead to young people going missing minimise risks. Moreover, staff work with young people to address these issues within key work sessions.

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Progress

Leadership and management arrangements for this home are good. Internal and external monitoring processes provide continuous quality assurance which maintains standards of care, while promoting the continuous development of this service. The home has a development plan in place which reflects practical proposals for continued improvement.

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Progress

Effective monitoring of health and safety of the home ensures the building is safe and appropriately secure. Therefore young people protected from potential harm. The home’s environment is inviting and comfortable with décor and furniture of a good standard. Young people have chosen the décor of their bedrooms and communal areas. The home replicates a homely family environment.

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Progress

The home has made good progress since the last inspection. The management team and staff are skilled and are clear about what is necessary to ensure that young people continue to receive high standards of care.

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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.

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