Children's Home run by St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council in St Helens

Unique reference number SC063550 Inspection date 11/02/2013 Inspector Sonya Robinson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/08/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. The accommodation is for up to six 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 good progress .

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Progress

At the last full inspection in August 2012 the home was judged as adequate overall. At that inspection Ofsted asked the provider to make improvements in some areas.

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Progress

The provider was asked to ensure that records in relation to behaviour management contain the relevant information within a volume kept for that purpose; that staff files contain information required under legislation; that the Statement of Purpose and children's guide were updated; also specific training for staff was highlighted.

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Progress

Additionally, the home was asked to ensure that young people should have access to independent advice and support, such as telephone helplines and that records pertaining to missing from care detail circumstances of the child's return.

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Progress

Since that last inspection records in relation to physical intervention and sanctions now contain the relevant information as required by legislation. The Statement of Purpose and young people's guide have both been reviewed and updated and now contain Ofsted's up-to-date details and information for young people about how to access their social worker and independent reviewing officer. This provides young people with the means of contacting their placing authority without having to ask for this information. Staff files have been reviewed and items such as a recent photograph have been added where previously identified as missing. Staff have received additional training since the last inspection which has included such topics as child sexual exploitation and emotional well-being. The latter has covered issues such as attachment, loss and bereavement. Staff spoke very enthusiastically about the training and said 'it was good to reflect on.’

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Progress

Information regarding various child telephone helplines and how to access independent advocates is clearly displayed within the young people’s activity room. The local authority also has a children's rights worker who speaks to young people on a regular basis. This means that young people have a number of ways to obtain support if they needed to. The home fully co-operates with the police protocols in place and records in relation to missing from care, where applicable, have also been reviewed since the last inspection. The details of how young people are when they have returned from being missing are now noted; for example, if they are tired or hungry. Young people are also given the opportunity to speak to someone independent from the home after an episode of missing from care. This means that staff follow clear guidance in order to keep young people safe.

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Progress

Young people make a positive contribution to the home through regular key worker sessions and young people's house meetings. Young people meet regularly with their key worker and this ensures their wishes and feelings are taken into account in their care planning and daily routines. Young people are forming and sustaining positive relationships with the staff and each other and as a result they are also gaining a more positive view of themselves. This helps with their self-esteem and emotional resilience.

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Progress

Staff implement boundaries which means that young people know what is expected of them and what is unacceptable. Consequently, young people are able to consider their action and how they can handle situations differently in the future. Young people are aware of the rewards for positive behaviour and there have been plenty of financial rewards given and additional activities such as, playing darts or watching a DVD. Young people say that house rules are fair and that 'it’s a nice place to live.’

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Progress

The Registered Manager undertakes regular monthly monitoring of the home and in addition a representative on behalf of the local authority also visits on a monthly basis. Monthly monitoring reports undertaken by the representative show that visits are used to monitor records and highlight shortfalls. The visitor talks to staff, young people and where possible parents and professionals. This means by seeking the views of those who use the service the visitor can make an assessment of the care that is being provided. Recent improvements made by the home include some joint working with a national youth service to look at improving and capturing the views of young people who have left the home. This will help the home to reflect on their practise and the service they offer. They have been involved in a 'healthy homes' pilot which has included all issues around health for young people and health and safety issues. They have also been actively working with drug and alcohol specialist

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Progress

workers to support, educate and promote positive outcomes for the young people in their care. As a result of all of the above the home is judged to have made good progress since the last 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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