Children's Home run by Stanfield Care Services Limited in Norfolk

Unique reference number SC451152 Inspection date 12/12/2013 Inspector Clive Lucas Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 16/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private organisation.

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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 previous inspection the home was judged to be providing an adequate standard of care for young people. Since that inspection the Registered Manager has left that post to become the Responsible Individual. The assistant manager has taken on the manager role. Her application to become Registered Manager is in progress.

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Progress

At the previous inspection shortfalls were identified relating to recruitment checks, some areas of record keeping, the administration of medicines, staff training and consultation with young people, parents and social workers. All requirements and the majority of recommendations from the previous inspection have been met. There are now clear records to show that staff are subject to appropriate checks before beginning work. This helps to reduce the risk of young people being looked after by adults who may pose a risk to them. Records of the administration of medicines are now full and show that young people are given their medicines as prescribed. Staff have had recent training in this area. There are also full and clear records of incidents of restraint and young people being missing from care. These show that staff manage these incidents appropriately to help safeguard young people. There has been a significant reduction in the number of restraints and incidents of young

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Progress

people going missing from care. This reflects a more settled period in the home since the Summer.

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Progress

Since the previous inspection staff have had training in working with young people who self-harm so that they have more knowledge in this area. The home has been open for just over one year and there has been a number of new staff. Overall the number of staff with National Vocational Qualification at level three is low, but staff are either working towards it, or have been recently registered for it. Recently some new staff have been employed with this qualification and significant experience in residential child care. There is consultation with young people, their parents and social workers through regular surveys. This information is looked at by the Responsible Individual when he visits the home to do monthly monitoring. It is also reviewed by the manager on a regular basis. Issues are identified and acted upon. Young people say that they are listened to and that staff and the manager act on their views. They give examples of positive changes that have been made as a result

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Progress

There have been changes to the way that risk assessments are kept, so that they are more readily accessible for staff. Staff have a sound awareness of the areas of risk for young people. While risk assessments are clear and are regularly reviewed and read by staff, in some areas they do not have as much information as they could. While they are a useful tool for staff to work effectively with young people, the lack of clarity does reduce this to a degree. However, this is countered by the staff's sound awareness of the individual young people.

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Progress

Young people speak very positively about the changes to the home since the previous inspection. They say that they are listened to by staff and the home feels like a safer place. Staff spend more time with them and they describe this as 'quality time'. They play games with staff and have individual key worker time as well as regular residents meetings. They say that this helps them to speak to staff about how they feel. Young people also say that there is more structure in the home, they are encouraged to do homework and are learning independence skills.

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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

 implement a proportionate approach to any risk assessment, this relates to ensuring that risk assessments provide clarity in all areas. (NMS 4.5)

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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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