Children's Home run by CASC (Barrow) Limited in Cumbria

Unique reference number SC436826 Inspection date 22/01/2013 Inspector Anne Bannister Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/06/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately-owned children's home is registered to accommodate and care for four young people of either gender. Young people accommodated at the home experience emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home accepts emergency placements and can offer care to young people on a short, medium or long- term basis.

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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

Following the home's first full inspection, in June 2012, Ofsted rated the overall effectiveness of the home to be adequate and made two requirements and four recommendations. Since then the registered persons have taken action to address all of the issues raised. It is judged that the home is making good progress, demonstrating that action is taken to address shortfalls and improve outcomes for young people.

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Progress

Young people living in the home are making good, steady progress from their starting points on admission. Young people are cared for by a staff team, who work positively and energetically to meet their needs. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safe working practices, linked to young people's individual needs. As a result, these working practices ensure young people’s welfare is promoted.

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Progress

Young people achieve positive outcomes following admission to the home. Young people say they are consulted on all aspects of the home and on all issues relating to their personal well-being. Placement plans, and individual risk assessments have been revised in consultation with young people. They outline individual needs. Young people's progress is recognised and their achievements celebrated.

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Progress

Staff are very supportive of young people's education and go the extra mile to overcome any barriers to them being able to fully participate. As a result young people are engaging more with their education. Healthy lifestyles are promoted. Updated placement plans ensure that young people have opportunities to attend routine medical and health checks. There are good collaborative links with health professionals and agencies. This allows helpful guidance and support to be provided when young people are not engaging with routine appointments to promote their health and well-being.

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Progress

All young people are made aware of issues relating to fire safety. Fire safety is now included in care planning documents. Each young person has an individual fire evacuation plan. As a result young people are aware of how to respond appropriately should an evacuation of the building be necessary. Equipment within the home is serviced and checked at appropriate intervals. Weekly and monthly checks of fire equipment are evidenced, to ensure fire regulations, designed to promote the safety and welfare of both staff and young people, are routinely adhered to.

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Progress

The home now has robust procedures in place to deal with the recruitment and selection of staff, ensuring that all staff are carefully vetted in advance of taking up appointments in the home.

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Progress

The home demonstrates capacity for improvement based upon its performance since the last inspection. Monitoring systems are effective and identify any shortfalls in practice. They evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the quality of care and are linked into the home’s development plan. Any areas of weakness identified are promptly acted upon.

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Progress

There were no shortfalls identified at this inspection.

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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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