Children's Home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC020595 Inspection date 26/02/2013 Inspector Julian Mason Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately-owned children's home for up to four 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

The home was judged as good overall at the last full inspection in October 2012. Two requirements were made and both of these have been met. The format used to detail young people’s needs has been reviewed to ensure required information is clearly detailed and accessible to staff. For example, young people’s needs in relation to their identity, culture, family background and experiences are clearly identified. Fire safety routines have been improved in relation to checking that internal doors can close properly in the event of a fire.

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Progress

The Registered Manager and staff team know young people well and can confidently identify the progress made by each individual since arriving at the home and more recently. Young people who have a range of complex needs and difficult family backgrounds are provided with an environment where they can thrive. Young people continue to make good progress in their lives. Regular discussions and consultation with young people supports their continuing personal development and involvement in life of the home. Young people’s leisure interests continue to grow and they are making more choices in relation to the activities they do individually and together. There is an improved involvement in the home’s domestic routines and tasks as well as young people taking a greater part in planning and organising their weekly timetables. Although young people still sometimes struggle with their behaviour, the Registered Manager’s monitoring of staff interventions shows that the use of formal

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Progress

measures of control are reducing. Staff are always around and talking to young people, highlighting the positive progress they are making. Recent encouragement has helped and enabled young people to explore the best ways for them to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Because of this, staff are better informed about young people’s emotional well-being so they are more able to respond in a helpful and supportive way.

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Progress

Young people are making good steps forward in education and therapy. Staff are very well informed about young people’s levels of engagement and the progress they are making outside the home. Young people have recently and successfully expanded their attendance at school to full-time hours as well as re-establishing a therapeutic relationship with a designated therapist. Young people have also been supported more recently to restore some family contact because of the support and advocacy from the Registered Manager and staff team.

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Progress

The Registered Manager continues to carryout robust scrutiny of the home’s operation along with monthly monitoring visits that are completed by an organisational representative. Information produced from these activities provides a clear picture of how young people are progressing in important areas of their lives, such as education, leisure, relationships and family contact. The monthly visitor’s reports are child focused and reflect young people’s positive experiences as well as some of the difficulties they face. The Registered Manager evaluates these reports along with other quality assurance information to formulate the on-going development and improvement of the service. For example, improvements to the home’s environment has either been planned for or completed. Two young people’s bedrooms have been decorated and furnished, and there are plans to update the kitchen before the summer. Assessments completed by education, therapy and care

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Progress

services are being further developed to provide a more integrated approach to information sharing. Young people make good progress because information continues to be used effectively to support practical working partnerships between professionals. This results in staff practice and approaches that are shaped to meet each young person’s needs and circumstances.

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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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