Children's Home run by PIC Children’s Services in St Helens

Unique reference number SC022442 Inspection date 19/02/2013 Inspector Pamela Nuckley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 18/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is run by a private organisation and provides care and accommodation for one young person with 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 previous full inspection, in July 2012, the overall effectiveness of the service was good. One requirement was set and has been addressed. Furthermore, the home continues to develop the service and young people have made significant progress in several areas.

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Progress

A requirement was raised in relation to ensure that visits by the registered provider take place at least once a month. Regulation 33 visitors are making regular monthly, unannounced visits. This enables the home to monitor the quality of care given to young people on a regular basis. The manager forwards copies of these as well as copies of the regulation 34 monitoring report to Ofsted. This means Ofsted have good oversight of the home between inspection visits. These monitoring records show that the views of young people are taken into account when identifying areas for improvement. As a result, any improvements identified are incorporated into the home’s development plan.

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Progress

Young people continue to make good progress in most areas of their lives and positive relationships with staff are evident. Young people declined to speak with the inspector during this inspection. However, young people are consulted formally and informally as part of everyday life; they readily voice their opinions about the home. Young people discuss their views, wishes and feelings through several forums. They are involved in their placement plans and engage in key working sessions. They are encouraged to make appropriate choices and their views are central to how the home operates. Through these systems young people said they wanted to eat more healthily. They now take full responsibility for devising menu’s, shopping and cooking. In addition to this, the home has opened accounts at a local greengrocers and butchers. Young people can go here and order their own food. This enables young people to prepare for independence and pick fresh food for their menus while

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Progress

A social worker commented on the good progress that a young person has made since being at this home. Her comments include: 'The young person engages better with professionals', 'Has started to attend her own reviews' and 'Is doing well in education.’ She attributes this to the excellent communication between all parties, the staffs’ ability to work with the young person on her level and that the young person is fully included in decisions about her care. Feedback from another social worker states ‘I appreciate your staff team’s commitment towards two young people who have left, as they no longer have this duty. However, they clearly demonstrate their commitment in continuing to support them.’ This shows that staff fully invest in young people. Letters from young people show that they appreciate the care they were given and the support they still receive.

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Progress

Educational needs are catered for well, with young people making some progress in their educational attendance and achievement. The staff have worked in a determined manner to ensure that appropriate placements are sourced quickly for young people, who have been out of education for some time prior to their placement. A notable area of strength is the staffs’ close communication with and support of educational professionals to sustain and increase young people's time in education. The staff make a lot of effort to encourage young people’s good attendance and ensure that they are well prepared for the school day. Good incentives have also improved young people’s attendance. Staff readily discuss, change and implement new incentives periodically when it appears that they are no longer having the impact that they were. For example, one young person was receiving extra money for attending education. After a period of time the young

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Progress

person started refusing education. The young person and the manager discussed the situation and the young person is building up credits for items for her semi- independence in the future. As a result, young people’s education has improved.

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Progress

The home is well managed by a qualified and enthusiastic manager. Staff are positive about the support, leadership and guidance they receive from her. Regular discussions about the young people, in daily handovers and team meetings, ensure they receive the continuity and consistency of care which they need. The staff group are committed to providing high quality care and are involved in the home’s development.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the manager has made improvements to the supervision record and personal development plans for staff. Staff are now able to reflect on their practice within supervision. Their personal development plans have a further working document and guidance on the children’s homes national minimum standards. The manager says that this will help new staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in caring for children and refresh existing staffs’ knowledge. This ensures that staff have the right skills and knowledge to meet the needs of individual young people and that they remain child focused and committed to improving outcomes for young people. As a result, staff were knowledgeable about the home’s policies and procedures. They demonstrated a sound reporting system for any safeguarding concern, the missing from home protocol and dealing with any complaint or concern.

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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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