Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC390577 Inspection date 22/01/2013 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 29/08/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is privately run children's home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A school, registered with the Department for Education, operates on site.

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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 was last inspected in August 2012. It received an overall judgement of good with three recommendations made to improve some areas of practice. The majority of these have been successfully addressed. At this inspection the home is judged to be making satisfactory progress.

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Progress

The manager now keeps detailed records to demonstrate the amount of time she spends in the home. This reflects the number of hours she devotes to managing the home and her contact with the young people. Young people said the manager is regularly at the home and they have a good relationship with her. The home is effectively managed with appropriate monitoring systems in place. The systems assist staff to provide good quality care to the young people.

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Progress

The current staff team, with the exception of one new staff member, are experienced in their work and deliver continuity and consistency of care in the home. Staff have either achieved or are enrolled and undertaking an appropriate childcare qualification to support them in their work with the young people. Young people said they feel safe and like living in this home. However, they are still not routinely consulted or asked their views on all aspects of their care and support. Some young people said they feel quite sad and set apart from the younger children because of the home's stringent independence programme. They said they are expected to shop, prepare and cook all their own meals but do always want to do this. Most of all they want to be part of a family type environment and have meals made for them.

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Progress

Staff continue to support young people to attend school regularly and they maintain positive links with designated teachers. Young people are significantly encouraged to participate in work experience to help them gain future employment. Some young people have a part time job in a local hair and beauty salon. They said they really enjoy this and look forward to a career in this type of work.

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Progress

Some young people have been admitted to the home on an emergency basis. Although emergency admissions are part of the home's Statement of Purpose, reviews of the placement are not taking place within 72 hours. This means the suitability of the placement has not been fully considered to ensure young people are appropriately placed in the home.

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Progress

Young people have access to a range of leisure activities and enjoy regular visits to sporting and singing events. They also have use of a games console in their bedroom. However, some young people have access to computer games that are not age appropriate. This means their welfare is not fully promoted in line with good parenting.

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Progress

The home's Statement of Purpose has recently been updated and gives details of the facilities and services provided. The document is very wordy and not an easy read for young people. Additionally, it contains unnecessary information about services and accommodation unrelated to this home.

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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 children communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support (NMS 1.3)  ensure that the views and wishes of children accommodated in children's homes are taken into account in relation to decisions about the daily life of the home (NMS 1 and Volume 5, statutory guidance paragraph 2.34)  ensure the home has a clear Statement of Purpose which is available to and understood by staff and children (NMS 13.1)  ensure a review is initiated no more than 72 hours after any emergency admission to consider whether the child should remain at the home, or it is in that child's interests to move to a different placement (NMS 11.7)  actively promote the welfare of the children, in particular that access and use of computer games are age appropriate (NMS 4.2)

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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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