Children's Home run by Care Today Parallel Parents in Leeds

Unique reference number SC403890 Inspection date 13/12/2012 Inspector Russell Shackford Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 18/06/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is one of a number that is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional 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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the last full inspection June 2012 the home was judged as good. Following this interim inspection the home is judged to have made satisfactory progress. The home has maintained the quality of care and has addressed the recommendations made at the previous inspection. However, despite well managed, determined and innovative staff support, some young people have chosen to engage in risk taking behaviours, drug use and offending which has contributed to a decline in their outcomes. The manager has ensured that all efforts to arrest this decline are supported by regular training and supervision. Team meetings, reviews and inter agency strategy meetings are held regularly to review progress and consider further their efforts. Staffing levels have been increased to provide for one-to-one support where necessary. More recently, the manager has utilised the organisations positive intervention option, a short structured activity holiday which allows the staff to break

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Progress

the cycle of risk taking behaviours and plan for an improved return to the home. Close liaison with placing authorities ensures that a multi-agency approach and shared responsibility exists. At the last inspection, recommendation was made about the records relating to young people's care and progress at the home and the monitoring of the quality of care at the home.

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Progress

Young people's case records have been improved to ensure that they contain the required information and detail. Young people, their family and social worker have been consulted to help improve the plans with their beneficial contributions. Staff confirm that team meetings and supervision have been used to discuss how records can be improved. This has included a new approach to placement plan records which prompt staff to provide evaluative comments about young people's progress. A notable area of strength is the homes ability to sustain placements for young people have had multiple unsuccessful placements previously. One young person described how the staff have, 'become like family and helped me to decorate my bedroom in my chosen way and negotiated a time out agreement with me which allows me to socialise safely with friends in the community.'

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Progress

There is effective monitoring of the quality of care for the young people in the home. There is a good system to monitor, report and evaluate the administration systems of the home, ensuring what staff record they record well. The manager's findings are fully recorded and evaluative; this aids service development. Any areas of weakness identified are promptly acted upon. This effective evaluation helps to ensure the standards within the home continue to improve.

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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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