Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC032838 Inspection date 05/02/2013 Inspector Bill Drumm Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Date of last inspection 20/08/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately owned residential special school, which is also registered as a children’s home. It provides a service to eight children, between the ages of six and 12 years, who experience 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 good progress .

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Progress

At the last inspection in August 2012, the overall effectiveness rating of the home was good. The home has made good progress since the last inspection. Developments and improvements ensure that young people remain well cared for and safe. Young people appear happy living at the home and have a warm, relaxed and friendly manner with staff.

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Progress

One requirement and two recommendations were made at the last inspection and all of these matters have been addressed.

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Progress

The requirement was to ensure that the independent visitor to the home interviews, with their consent and in private, the parents or relatives of children accommodated there as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided. The home's manager has liaised closely with the independent visitor and has, where appropriate, provided them with the relevant contact details of the parents and relatives of young people. Records show that parents and relatives are regularly consulted about the running of the home and that their opinions are borne in mind about the quality of care provided to the young people living there. A recommendation was made to ensure that individual placement plans record the reasons for young people being placed at the home, and that the placement plans themselves can be understood by both staff and young people. The home's manager has undertaken a thorough and comprehensive review of each young person's

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Progress

placement plan. New documentation has been produced which is clear, easy to understand and written in plain English. Young people understand why they have been placed at the home and what living there is meant to achieve.

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Progress

The final recommendation was to ensure that the home's room search guidance is followed by staff, for example, when removing items from a young person's bedroom. The home's manager has, through individual supervision sessions and team meetings, reminded staff of the procedure to follow when removing any items from a young person’s room. In addition, the home's manager has reviewed the paperwork used to record such actions. Staff are now fully aware of the relevant procedures to follow and what recording must be completed.

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Progress

In addition to the above, the home has made further improvements that enhance the quality of the care provided to young people. The home's manager has developed and improved the transitions process for young people who are due to leave the home. Local authorities are encouraged to let staff at the home take a lead role in developing individual transition plans. The transitions process is now more child- focused and based on individual needs. The home also plans to install a computer at the home linked to a large viewing screen. This will enable all the young people to enjoy computer games and televised events more easily. The home's manager has also introduced a suggestion box. Young people can use the box to suggest new activities they would like to try, how the home can be improved, or to voice any concerns they might have. This means that the involvement of young people in the running of the home has improved.

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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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