Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC065855 Inspection date 08/03/2013 Inspector Jo Stephenson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/08/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home provides an intake and assessment service. It provides short-term care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and operates on behalf of a local authority.

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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

This home was judged as outstanding overall at the last full inspection in August 2012 and no requirements or recommendations were made. Since that time the children's home has demonstrated continued improvements in the quality of care for young people. For example, individualised placement assessments include effective consultation with young people, their placing authority and other professionals involved in their care. This promotes positive outcomes for young people.

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Progress

The home works in close partnership with the placing authority. Staff discuss internal support and intervention plans with allocated social workers, and senior staff attend review meetings. Internal behaviour plans and risk management strategies are regularly reviewed and reflect young people’s complex and challenging care needs. As a result, assessment documents used in the home are compatible with the identified aims and objectives in young people’s statutory placement plans. This means that young people benefit from a consistent approach to meeting their care needs which promotes their skills and development. The home has seen a substantial reduction in episodes of young people going missing from the home. Staff are proactive in identifying triggers to missing from home events. They work with young people, their families and community police to ensure all actions are taken to safeguard young people when they are missing from the home.

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Progress

Young people participate in regular ‘placement plan’ sessions to discuss their care and welfare needs. Staff use these sessions to formulate support plans around behaviours and risk assessments. They identify individual needs, abilities and vulnerabilities and detail strategies to encourage development. For example, staff assist young people to reflect on their behaviours by setting targets for them to achieve while in placement. Progress made by young people is recorded and monitored in personalised assessment records. This provides young people with a comprehensive record of their development.

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Progress

Staff continue to meet the physical and emotional health needs of young people. They source and access a range of statutory and voluntary specialist health services to promote the welfare of young people. The home has established partnership arrangements with education services and provides practical support to encourage young people to attend their school placements. Staff work with families to promote positive contact, where appropriate, and help young people to sustain suitable relationships with their families and others who are important to them. This means that young people experience an integrated approach to meeting all their care and welfare needs.

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Progress

Young people say they understand how to make a complaint. Young people are able to access complaints forms without reference to staff and are provided with information on advocacy services. Complaints records are extremely detailed. They show when young people receive feedback on the issues they have raised and if they are content with actions taken to resolve their complaint. Therefore, young people benefit from a transparent and robust approach to addressing their concerns.

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Progress

Staff are supported in their role and say they receive regular and effective supervision that assists them to review their practice and develop their knowledge and skills. Staff complete mandatory training courses and workshops around the specific needs of young people, such as autism. This means that young people are cared for by staff who are well trained and able to understand their individual needs.

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Progress

Young people enjoy positive relationship with staff and each other, and there is a happy atmosphere in the home. The home is well maintained and provides a relaxed environment for young people. The home has a comprehensive and detailed environmental risk assessment in place to keep young people safe. Fire safety and health and safety records show that all young people are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire and have participated in fire drills.

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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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