Children's Home run by Young Alliance Limited in Cheshire East

Unique reference number SC381531 Inspection date 12/06/2013 Inspector Sue Winson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/02/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is a specialised children's home that is provided by a private residential childcare provider in partnership with an independent mental health community service. The service provides residential care for children and young people who have experienced moderate to serious mental health problems. The home is registered to care for five children at any one time.

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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 on 14 February2013 the home was judged to be good. The home has demonstrated continued improvement in the quality of care and outcomes for the young people. The one action, with regard to the recording of restraint, raised at the last inspection has been addressed. On this inspection an action has been made in respect of the recording of sanctions. There is no impact on the outcomes for young people of this deficit, so the overall judgement has not been affected.

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Progress

Young people continue to make progress from their starting points, and are appropriately placed in the home. They commented positively about their care and the support they receive, and said that ‘staff really care’ and are ‘lovely and treat everyone well’. Individualised care planning ensures that their individual needs are met, and they are safeguarded. Young people are routinely involved in their plans;, they add their comments and sign their plans and records. They gain from the home working with their parents and a range of professionals, to provide additional support when they need it. Young people have successfully moved on from the home, due to the progress they have made. Some continue to visit, or are in telephone contact with staff.

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Progress

Healthy living is well promoted and young people are involved in shopping and cooking, and follow their own dietary preferences. They are increasing their life skills, in line with pathway plans, where appropriate. The staff work effectively with mental health professionals, which ensures that young people receive high levels of support from specialist services. Young people are attending and achieving in education, and have made progress. They receive tuition and arrangements are made for them to sit public examinations. To help them make decisions about their on-going education, they have been given information or visited local colleges. Young people choose activities they wish to engage in, according to their wishes and interests.

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Progress

Good relationships between the young people and staff underpin positive behaviour management, to which the young people respond well. The staff work in an open way to help them manage their feelings in more appropriate and safer ways. Staff are alert to young people’s mood changes, provide appropriate supervision, and take actions to protect them when young people are unable to manage their own behaviours. The use of restraint is rare. Young people are consulted about recompense for their inappropriate actions, and sanctions are few. They rarely go missing from the home, and appropriate actions are taken to safeguard them as far as is possible, when they do so.

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Progress

The manager and staff group are highly committed to meeting the needs of the young people and providing good quality care. They are well supported and trained to do so. Opportunities are in place for in-depth discussions about the young people, with specialist professionals. These meetings also provide for additional support to staff, which they value. Records are clear, safely stored, and demonstrate the progress young people are making. Visits carried out by the monitoring visitor take place regularly, and the manager monitors and audits practice and records. Significant events are notified to all the relevant people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose. (Regulation 17B(3)) 12/06/2013

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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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