Children's Home run by Green View Young People Limited in Barnsley

Unique reference number SC386057 Inspection date 23/01/2013 Inspector Russell Shackford Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 02/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately run children's home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

This home was judged as outstanding at the full inspection in October 2012 and is judged to have made good progress at this interim inspection. The home has improved the quality of care and outcomes for young people and has addressed the two recommendations made at the previous inspection. These were about the arrangements for professional supervision of the registered person and the development plan for the home.

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Progress

The registered person has secured regular professional supervision for himself from an appropriately qualified and experienced person. This helps to ensure that the registered person has opportunities for continued professional development and reflection.

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Progress

The manager described the plans for developing the service which are now embedded in a written service development plan. The plans are realistic and challenging and designed to improve the quality of care at the home. Part of the plan is about the continued offer of emergency placements. However, the manager does not have a recording system for ensuring that the home only provides admission to children whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet. Also ther is no system for recording the consideration of the needs of the existing group of young people.

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Progress

Additionally, continued improvement was noted in several key areas. The staff have worked in a determined manner to ensure that appropriate education placements are sourced quickly and, as a result, young people's education is disrupted as little as possible in order that that they can continue to attend and achieve. Young people's education attendance has been well supported by unwaveringly committed staff. As a result, young people continue to achieve very good attendance records in full time education. Education achievements are increasing because staff help young people to expand their horizons and take on further challenges. One young person has attained a series of General Certificate of Secondary Education and National Vocational Qualifications and is now enjoying work based taster placements. Another young person has been supported to attend college open days and choose the most appropriate place for themselves. Young people's friendships made at school have

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Progress

been strengthened by after-school socialising at the home or in the local community. Young people now have greater involvement in activities and broader socialising. This has included bowling, meals out, attending youth club, and children's rights group activities.

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Progress

Involvement in football, bike riding and dancing helps to keep young people fit and healthy. Anti-smoking programmes and health promotion work have been successful in reducing smoking amongst young people at the home. Staff have worked earnestly to ensure that young people take responsibility for their health and attend health assessments and appointments. This has resulted in improved health outcomes for young people. Good liaison between staff and other health agencies has resulted in young people being able to engage with them quickly and easily when required.

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Progress

Staff training and support is described as, 'fantastic' by staff at the home. Training and team building days have been effective in both increasing staff competence and retaining staff at the home. However, not all existing care staff have attained a level 3 qualification, and not all new staff are working towards the level 3 Children & Young Peoples Workforce Diploma within 6 months of their employment. This helps to ensure that young people are looked after by appropriately qualified staff at all times.

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Progress

There is effective monitoring of the quality of care for the young people in the home. A member of staff said, 'we have come on in leaps and bounds with our quality assurance and consultation work. We strive to keep up-to-date with best practice to improve outcomes for our young people. The manager has a good system to monitor, report and evaluate the administration systems of the home, ensuring what staff record they record well. Robust quality assurance processes are regularly carried out by people independent of the home, and any areas of weakness identified are promptly acted upon. These useful evaluations ensure the standards within the home remain high and continue to improve. There were two recommendations made at this inspection. These were about admission procedures and staff training.

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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 the home has and implements clear procedures for introducing children to the home, which covers in particular emergency/immediate placements (NMS 11.1)  ensure that all existing care staff have attained a minimum level 3 qualification and all new staff hold the level 3 Children & Young Peoples Workforce Diploma or be working towards the Diploma within 6 months of confirmation of employment. (NMS 18.5)

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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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