Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Unique reference number SC390577 Inspection date 26/06/2013 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/01/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is privately run children's home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A school, registered with the Department for Education, operates on site.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The home is effectively and efficiently managed by the Registered Manager and deputy manager. They are aware of the strengths of the home and areas for improvement to help them continue to provide a high quality of care.

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Overall effectiveness

Staffing is sufficient to meet the assessed needs of young people who live at the home. Recent staffing changes mean a number of new staff have joined the core staff team. Staff present as competent and enjoy their work with the young people. The majority of staff have yet to achieve a relevant childcare qualification but are enrolled or completing this.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive good quality care which contributes to their progress while in the home. The home provides a warm and welcoming family environment in which young people feel comfortable and well cared for. Staff actively engage with young people to ensure their education and health needs are fully considered and met. Young people are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle and benefit from regular school attendance.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's individual needs are well met through very effective partnership working with a range of professionals. They are extremely positive about the dedication and commitment of the staff team and their support to young people. Professionals and parents say they consider the young people are well looked after and are kept safe. Young people confirm they feel safe in the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Three recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection to further improve outcomes for young people. These relate to young people having appropriate sex and relationships guidance and undertaking life story work. One recommendation is carried forward from the last inspection regarding direct consultation with 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

 provide support and guidance as necessary on good health and personal care, including appropriate sex and relationships advice (Volume 5, statutory guidance paragraph 2.58 and NMS 6.9)  ensure that children communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support (Volume 5, statutory guidance paragraph 2.27 and NMS 1.3)  support children to keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in placement and for staff to record and help children make a record of significant life events. (NMS 22.6)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people make good progress from their starting point at the home to their current position. They live in a welcoming and comfortable home environment and are cared for by staff who understand their individual needs.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's contact with family and friends is effectively supported by staff. This means young people maintain links with those who are important to them. A parent said 'It's like walking into a family home, the way they (staff) interact with my child and with me is fantastic.’ However, life story work with young people is not routinely undertaken. This means they are not always aware of their life history and reasons for living in the home. Additionally, they have little tangible evidence to reflect on their time spent in care.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people said they feel safe and well looked after by staff. One young person said 'I like the home, if I'm ill they make sure I'm okay, I'm happy here.’ Staff ensure young people are registered with primary health care services so that their routine health needs are met. Regular contact with psychological services means young people gain from specialist health care support. However, arrangements to ensure young people benefit from age-appropriate sex and relationship advice are not in place.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and to understand the importance of a healthy diet. They receive advice about a range of health matters, such as anti- smoking and the consequences of substance misuse. This enables young people to make well informed decisions to promote their health.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s education is highly valued by staff and attendance at school is an expected daily routine of the home. Young people have very good attendance and their achievements are celebrated. Young people's regular school attendance improves their life chances and enables them to develop new skills and gain qualifications. A teacher commented about the extremely positive partnership working between school and the home. They said 'I can't sing staff's praises enough.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people take advantage of the opportunities to engage in a range of community activities. This includes access to local leisure activities and visits to places of interest which they said they enjoy. Young people learn skills for independence and undertake different household tasks in the home. This supports young people for when they leave care. Young people take pride in their appearance and are encouraged to maintain good personal hygiene.

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Quality of care

Young people have very positive relationships with staff, who manage behaviour with consistent and clear boundaries. A young person said 'I really like the staff, that's the best bit.’ A parent said they always find the staff to be open and honest and describe contact with them as 'brilliant'.

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Quality of care

Staff work closely with social workers and other professionals, such as those in health and education, to promote positive outcomes for young people. A teacher commented about the significant improvements young people make in relation to school attendance and learning. This is brought about by staff's proactive and effective working relationship with the school. A teacher said 'staff are absolutely fantastic, they're spot on.’ Staff also support young people to participate in work experience projects and obtain college placements of their choice.

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Quality of care

Young people are fully involved in the care planning process and placement plans are worded in a way that is meaningful to them. Young people's opinions are valued and make a difference. This includes their choice about meals and activities. Young people are encouraged to attend and have their say in their statutory review meetings. For one young person this has meant their request to return to their placing authority area has been agreed and a planned move arranged. The young person is very happy about this although they say they enjoyed their time at this home.

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Quality of care

Young people confirm they are fully aware of the complaints process and know who to contact should they have any concerns. Although young people give their views, they are not directly asked about the quality of their care in the home. Therefore, staff miss opportunities to enable young people to specifically influence the care they receive. Staff provide many learning opportunities and actively encourage young people's involvement in leisure pursuits and hobbies. Examples include skating and cycling as well as participation in music events. Young people talked enthusiastically about how much they enjoy their hobbies, particular bicycle motocross.

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Quality of care

The home is detached, well maintained and spacious. It is located in a private residential area with easy access to local facilities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are looked after by staff who have a clear focus on safeguarding. Staff understand their responsibilities to promote young people's welfare. Parents and professionals said they are confident that staff protect and keep young people safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff follow risk assessments and individual care management plans to help them manage young people's behaviour positively. Young people consider staff are fair with them. They are fully involved in their plans and have been innovative to work with staff on ways that promote their good behaviour through the use of privileges.

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Safeguarding children and young people

On occasions some young people put themselves at risk by going missing from the home. Staff follow the local police protocol for missing from home episodes and have good partnership working with safeguarding agencies. Staff and professional agencies work with young people to help them understand the dangers associated with this. A parent commented on the robust systems in place to keep their child safe, for example, young people have a mobile phone and are able to maintain contact with staff when away from the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people said they are happy living in the home and generally get on well with other young people who live there. They say there is no bullying in the home and know who to talk to should this become an issue.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The provider's robust recruitment and employment arrangements help ensure that staff recruited to work with young people are suitable and safe. Good health and safety arrangements enable staff to maintain a safe home environment for the benefit of the young people.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are good .

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively managed by an experienced Registered Manager who also manages another children's home run by this provider. To support the manager in her absence is a competent deputy manager who understands and is familiar with the everyday management of the home. Staff are really positive about working at the home and said they feel very well supported by the management team. Staff receive regular supervision and training relevant to the needs of the young people. There are adequate staffing levels in the home. Young people were seen to be happy in the home and had lots of conversation and laughs with staff. They said they like the staff and the staffing arrangement provides them with continuity of care.

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Leadership and management

A number of new staff have joined the staff team and bring with them a range of life skills. The established team members are experienced in their work although the majority of staff do not have a relevant residential childcare qualification. However, most of the staff are enrolled or undertaking the qualification so that this supports them in their work with young people.

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Leadership and management

As part of the home's monitoring process, the provider ensures there are monthly independent visits to the home. The visitor consults with the young people to obtain their views about the home and their care. The reports produced following the visits reflect the care given at the home and highlights areas for improvement. This ensures the provider is aware of how well the home is operating and meeting young people's needs.

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Leadership and management

Key professionals in other agencies comment very positively on their working relationships with the manager and staff. One professional said staff have a holistic approach to their work which really benefits the young people.

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Leadership and management

All but one of the five recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Staff now monitor young people's access to computer games so that these are age appropriate. Young people's views and wishes are taken into account through regular consultation with staff. The home's Statement of Purpose is now arranged in sequence to show the aims and work of the home. The manager is fully aware of the statutory review process. She confirms her understanding in relation to any emergency admission of a young person to the home. Direct consultation with young people about the quality of their care has yet to be instigated.

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Leadership and management

The manager ensures there is regular written consultation with placing authorities about the home. A social worker commented that they are 'impressed with the level of care and service' young people receive from staff and that there is a 'consistent approach and response from staff'.

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Leadership and management

The manager ensures the appropriate authorities are notified of any significant events relating to the protection of the young people. Young people's records are up to date and stored securely.

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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 main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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