Children's Home run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Cornwall

Unique reference number SC432404 Inspection date 28/02/2013 Inspector Guy Mammatt Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/07/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children’s home is part of a local authority short breaks service for up to two children with disabilities, complex individual needs and fragile health.

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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 full inspection in July 2012 the service was judged as adequate with five requirements and two recommendations put in place. Since the last inspection the service has met all the actions and demonstrated continued improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for young people.

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Progress

The service now has an up-to-date Statement of Purpose in place that reflects the current staffing structure. The service has now submitted the Statement of Purpose to HMCI. The service also now has a detailed welcome pack for children and families that use the service. This ensures that all stakeholders who use the service receive the appropriate level of information about its facilities. The service is now visited on a monthly basis by an independent visitor to conduct monitoring visits. The monitoring visits include regular consultation with families and observe staff practice with children that attend the home. The monthly reports are now submitted regularly to HMCI. This ensures that thorough monitoring of the service is now in place to safeguard young people and promote their welfare.

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Progress

However, the records of the monthly monitoring visits by an independent person are not kept at the home. Therefore the Registered Manager is not able to fully use the visits to help improve the quality of care provided. The Registered Manager also carries out regular monitoring of the home. It is evident across the home that regular consultation takes place with families, staff and to the best of the staff’s abilities, with children. The recording of consultation is evident in the development plan for the home.

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Progress

In response to the recommendations made at the last inspection a developmental plan is now in place. The developmental plan is specific to the service and has incorporated the preferences of the children and the ideas of staff and families. Staff supervisions are also now carried out regularly and recorded formally. This ensures that staff feel supported to fulfil their role and receive the correct guidance from experienced leaders.

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Progress

Staff engage young people in activities to ensure they receive a balance approach between relaxing and being stimulated during their stay. Staff display an excellent understanding of the young people’s health needs and their communication abilities. The physical environment within the home is well resourced and ensures the young people have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

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Progress

Parents and placing authorities speak very highly of the service and the staff team. They state that the young people benefit from the service and always willingly attend. Young people take pleasure from being around other young people of a similar age. Parents state that the care is ‘absolutely wonderful’ and would like the service to be open more throughout the week; as well as increase its capacity to benefit the social interaction opportunities for the young people.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that the registered provider's written report of a visit carried out under Regulation 33 visit is lodged in a home for the manager and staff to read and to respond. (NMS 21.8)

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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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