Children's Home run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in Rotherham

Unique reference number SC037521 Inspection date 09/01/2013 Inspector Debbie Foster Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a short break service run by a local authority, providing care for young people with learning and physical disabilities.

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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 inadequate progress .

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Progress

This interim inspection focused on the progress made by the home since the last full inspection in July 2012, at which the overall judgement was adequate. The home is making inadequate progress. This is due to the service not implementing all of the requirements and a number of recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Progress

Action has been taken to implement one requirement made at the last inspection. This is to ensure the design of the premises is suitable to achieve the aims and objectives set out in the home's Statement of Purpose. In particular, that young people especially those in wheelchairs can access all areas of the home without staff assistance where able. The hoist tracking systems work correctly and its positioning is appropriate for use. This ensures that the independence and dignity of young people is promoted within the home and meets their needs.

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Progress

Four recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed. Staff are supported to manage their feelings arising from working with children, particularly where children display challenging behaviour. Refresher first aid training has been undertaken by those staff requiring it to ensure they can respond to emergency health situations appropriately when required. Staff are meeting the needs of young people in relation to managing their behaviour, by consistently implementing formal behaviour strategies and following the individual plans of care for each young person. Young people are able to routinely access the garden, which adds to young people's enjoyment and making daily choices of activities they wish to participate in.

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Progress

One requirement and three recommendations have not been implemented in full. All staff are not routinely receiving formal supervision to assist in the monitoring of care practices and to support individual staff development. Up-to-date records have not been kept to evidence that all agency staff have received fire instruction. This does not demonstrate that all staff working in the home are competent to respond appropriately in the event of a fire and keep young people safe. Young people are not regularly accessing the local community on trips and activities to assist in widening their life experiences and being involved in their local community. All young people's care plans have not been revised and updated at regular intervals, and do not always demonstrate the progress they are making. Due to this recommendation not being implemented, a requirement has now been made on revising care plans. Where deficiencies have been identified by the home’s monitoring system prompt

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Progress

action has not always been taken by the registered provider and the manager to assist in improving on the quality of care further.

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Progress

The staff team are committed and caring. They continue to provide sound and overall, safe care to young people. Over the last six months new young people with more complex needs have been introduced to the service and have settled in well. Staff have also built more trusting relationships with young people during this period. As a result, this has brought mutual trust, greater understanding and assists in meeting young people's individual needs.

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Progress

Monthly monitoring systems are in place and undertaken by the manager. However, the outcome of this monitoring is not sent to Ofsted as required at the appropriate intervals.

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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 the registered person supplies to the HMCI a report in respect of any review conducted by him for the purposes of paragraph (1) of the service. In particular supplying a summary of the regulation 34 report twice a year (Regulation 34 (2)) 28/02/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all staff receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. In particular, formal supervision for all staff 28/03/2013 including agency staff (Regulation 27 (4)(a))

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the registered person keeps under review and revises all young people’s placement plans as necessary (Regulation 12 (2)) 28/03/2013

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure, by means of fire drills and practises at suitable intervals, that the persons working at the home and, so far as practicable, children accommodated there, are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. In particular agency and temporary staff. (Regulation 32(e)) 28/01/2013

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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 young people can pursue individual social interests and hobbies. This should include taking part in a range of activities. In particular, routinely accessing the community through trips and other activities (NMS 7.2)  ensure effective procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home. In particular, ensure monitoring systems identify all omissions and deficiencies and thereby take immediate action to assist in improving on the quality of care. Where deficiencies have been identified prompt action must be taken by the registered provider and the manager. (NMS 21.1)

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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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