Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Halton

Unique reference number SC457433 Inspection date 12/09/2013 Inspector Pamela Nuckley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/05/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home, run by a private company, provides care and accommodation for one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

At the previous full inspection, in May 2013, the overall effectiveness of the service was judged to be good. One recommendation was set to improve practice. This has been fully addressed.

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Progress

A recommendation was raised in relation to ensuring that any restrictions to contact were clearly identified. The young person’s care plan and risk assessment highlights any restrictions to contact. Staff sign to say that they have read and understood these conditions. Therefore, young people only have contact with people that have been agreed with by their social worker. Further to this, staff have appropriate training, supervision and support if they are required to supervise and facilitate contact. Therefore, staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in ensuring that contact is a positive experience for young people and that it can be facilitated safely.

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Progress

Young people were not available to speak with the inspector at the time of this visit. However, young people are consulted formally and informally as part of everyday life, they readily voice their opinions about the home. Young people discuss their views, wishes and feelings through several forums. They attend staff meetings, are involved in their placement plans and engage in key working sessions. They are encouraged to make appropriate choices and their views are central to how the home operates. The staff are innovative and flexible and successfully engage the young people in their work. This means that young people have the opportunity to discuss any issues on a regular basis and can influence the care that they receive.

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Progress

The young person’s social worker and team manager say that this home has offered the young person a stable environment. They were very complimentary about the proactive work being undertaken with the young person. For example, when coming across new concerns they source outside professional help quickly. They also commented on the excellent communication and investment in the young person especially when times have been difficult. The team manager says ‘although there has been deterioration in behaviour over the summer period, this has to be put into context of the massive progress the young person has made’. She attributes this to staff listening to the young person, working closely with professionals, being able to introduce strategies and having her well-being at the heart of their service.

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Progress

Young people are rarely reported missing from home. However, they have had some unauthorised absences. The staff have searched the local area and places known to the young person. They have been successful in re-engaging them and returning back to the home. Staff are aware of their limitations in restricting a young person’s freedom but wherever possible they follow them and try to encourage them to come back home. As good practice the home has kept a chronology of events, updated risk assessments, and an independent visitor from the young person’s local authority has visited to ensure they are safe and well. This ensures that young people are able to express their reasons for going missing, risk assessments are fully updated and that any concerns or issues raised can be fully addressed. However, the missing from home coordinator of the police raised some concerns. They said staff could have reported more promptly a potential safeguarding concern about a young person in

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Progress

the community. This led to a delay in notifying the appropriate authorities.

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Progress

Young people were progressing well in this home. Due to this improved behaviour and requests from the young person they were given unsupervised free time in the community. It became apparent that the young person was not using this free time productively. The staff responded quickly to this and in consultation with other professionals this was revoked. In response to this, the young person has reverted to some unacceptable behaviour, requiring police involvement. However, good behaviour management strategies, key working sessions and liaising with outside agencies has led to the young person reflecting on the consequences of their actions. For example, the young person is now engaging with the Youth Offending Service on an anger management programme.

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Progress

Educational needs are catered for well, with young people making some progress in their educational attendance and achievement. The staff have worked in a determined manner to ensure that appropriate placements are sourced quickly for young people, who have been out of education for some time prior to their placement. Staff support young people in education planning meetings, or represent their views if they choose not to attend. Contact between the home and school is frequent and effective. A notable area of strength is the staff’s close communication with and support of educational professionals to sustain and increase young people's time in education. The staff make a lot of effort to encourage young people’s good attendance and ensure that they are well prepared for the school day. Personal education plans inform the staff of the support required at the home to help young people achieve their education targets. There is space, resources and facilities at the

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Progress

home to enable the completion of homework. As a result, young people’s education has improved.

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Progress

The home is well managed by a qualified and enthusiastic manager. Regular discussions about the young people, in daily handovers and team meetings, ensure that young people receive the continuity and consistency of care they need. The staff group are committed to providing high quality care and are involved in the home’s development. The home has a development plan in place which includes an improvement agenda. This demonstrates the management’s commitment to continue to improve their service and the outcomes for young people in their care.

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Progress

Regulation 33 visitors are making regular monthly, unannounced visits. This enables the home to monitor the quality of care given to young people on a regular basis. The visitor consults with young people and other professionals to ensure their views are incorporated into the findings. The manager forwards copies of these as well as copies of the regulation 34 monitoring report to Ofsted. This means Ofsted have good oversight of the home between inspection visits.

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Progress

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

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Progress

ensure that the registered person and staff work effectively in partnership with other agencies concerned with child protection. This is specifically in relation to alerting the appropriate authorities about concerns they may have about other young people within the community. (NMS 4.7)

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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 person and staff work effectively in partnership with other agencies concerned with child protection. This is specifically in relation to alerting the appropriate authorities about concerns they may have about other young people within the community. (NMS 4.7)

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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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