Children's Home run by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in Dudley

Unique reference number SC039897 Inspection date 20/03/2013 Inspector Pete Hylton Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 06/11/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority owned children's home can accommodate up to four young people.

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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 to be outstanding at the last inspection in November 2012. One recommendation regarding a policy for the use of electronic monitoring was made. The Registered Manager has implemented a policy and ensured that all young people, staff, parents, carers and social workers are aware of how such measures will be used. As a result, the safety of young people is further promoted within the home and the recommendation has been met.

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Progress

The home continues to make good progress. An experienced, skilled and ambitious Registered Manager leads a highly motivated staff team. Young people benefit from a home that strives to continually improve the quality of care. For example, an innovative text messaging system has been implemented to further promote young people’s safety. This system allows young people to text the home, for free, to request staff support or advice. As a result, young people are reassured that they are always able to maintain contact with the home and get immediate support if needed.

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Progress

An audit of young people’s care plans has resulted in improvements being made to personal care information. For example, all young people have reviewed their choice of doctors, opticians and dentists. This ensures that the wishes and preferences of young people with regards to their health needs are fully recorded and met. The personal choices of young people have also been reviewed with regards to bedroom decoration and furnishings in the home. As a result, young people feel involved and that their choices are respected. A young person commented, ‘I decorated my own room staff helped me and encouraged me to make it individual and my own space.’

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Progress

The staff team are committed to providing high quality care at all times. Regular supervision sessions focus on areas to improve and staff are encouraged to share their ideas. This results in a settled and stable staff team who provide highly consistent care to young people. The Registered Manager has implemented improved quality checking systems since the last inspection. The staff team are currently focusing on relationships with young people, communication between staff and the effectiveness of records in the home. The senior team constantly review these areas to ensure high standards at all times. Where weakness is identified, appropriate action is taken to improve practice. This is effectively underpinned by regular and high quality training. All staff are trained in fire safety, restraint, safeguarding, food hygiene and first aid. Furthermore, additional qualifications in first aid have been completed since the last inspection. As a result, the skills of the staff team are

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Progress

enhanced and the safety of young people further promoted.

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Progress

The home is well presented and recent redecoration has further improved the warm, comfortable and homely feel. All required checks on gas, electrical and fire detection equipment are up-to-date and the environment is regularly checked for defects. Restraint is rarely used in the home and only for the purpose of keeping young people safe. There have been no incidents of restraint since the last inspection. The recording system should restraint occur is appropriate and ensures that the views of young people can be robustly explored and recorded. Sanctions are rarely used in the home and where they do occur, are appropriate, fair and understood by young people and staff. The views of young people are actively recorded in the records. This enables the staff team to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures.

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Progress

Young people are safe and feel safe at the home. Since the last inspection, there have been no occasions of young people going missing. Complaints from young people are rare and where they do occur, are appropriately managed. The Registered Manager ensures that any complaints are referred to the organisation’s complaints officer and investigated thoroughly. A young person commented that, ‘everybody is happy, if anybody has a problem it gets fixed.’

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Progress

Young people continue to make excellent progress at the home. All young people are engaged in appropriate educational provision and are encouraged to achieve to their full potential. Any tensions or difficulties with education are swiftly identified and promptly resolved. As a result, young people feel completely supported by the staff team. A young person commented, ‘staff help me with my education and help me to sort any problems out.’ Where young people are beyond compulsory school age, they are supported in accessing further training opportunities. Furthermore, young people are supported and encouraged to complete voluntary work in the local community. This ensures that young people develop a wide range of skills that will equip them for adulthood. Comments from young people include; ‘it’s great, it really gives me independence, I am treated like a young adult’ and ‘I can cook for myself, staff are supporting me with getting ready to be an adult.’

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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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