Midmeadows

Unique reference number SC457025 Inspection date 11/02/2014 Inspector Wendy Anderson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 19/04/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.2

Brief description of the service

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

p.3

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.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

p.3

Progress

The overall rating for this service at its last full inspection on 19 April 2013 was adequate. At this inspection two requirements and 5 recommendations were made. All of these have now been met.

p.3

Progress

The majority of the staff team have received training in relation to anti bullying and restorative justice work. The only ones who have not yet undertaken this training are the newly recruited staff but this training has been scheduled for them. The manager said that this training has improved the approaches of the staff team and is having a positive effect on the young people. One of the young people has also taken part in some of the restorative justice training.

p.3

Progress

Weekly updates are now provided by the home to each of the young people’s social workers. This frequency can be superseded in light of incidents or events. These updates not only include any issues the young people may have had but also praises them for their achievement throughout the week. The home’s computer system has now been updated which enables the home to maintain good contact with placing social workers. The manager provided evidence of feedback they have received from social workers, which is very positive. The home also carries out surveys with the social workers, independent reviewing officers and young people’s families. These have praised the staff for the work they have done and the difference they have made to young people’s lives. Young people also complete a leaver’s survey. The manager uses data from these surveys improve the homes policies and practices.

p.3

Progress

The homes missing persons records now include a de-brief with the young person. This includes welfare checks on the young person health as well as ascertaining why they went and how this could be prevented in the future. The manager monitors these carefully for trends. Information from these records is discussed with staff to improve their practice as well as improving the approaches to working with individual young people.

p.4

Progress

At the last inspection the issue of the lengthy processes the home had to go through to purchase new furniture or the completion of major work was raised. This has now been resolved. The home is scheduled to have a new heating system in the spring. However there are still items of maintenance that were reported to the organisation in December 2013 that have yet to be addressed. This could lead to the young people’s environment looking unkempt. The home’s cooker currently has a broken oven door handle. A replacement has been ordered. The cooker itself is a small domestic cooker which is of insufficient size for the number of people the home caters for, especially where young people are cooking for themselves as part of their independence work.

p.4

Progress

Since the last inspection there has been an emergency placement from one of the organisation’s other homes. A placement meeting was held but due to the young person being admitted over the Christmas period this meeting did fall outside of the 72 hours.

p.4

Progress

The home is now fully staffed. The manager said that prior to the last inspection there had been a lot of sickness in the staff team. This has now been addressed and staff sickness has significantly dropped. The home’s statement of purpose contains all the required information on the current staff team.

p.4

Progress

Staff receive regular supervision. New staff should be receiving supervision once a fortnight. On examining the supervision records of new staff the list of supervision dates did not correspond to the supervision notes held on file. Thus it is not possible to robustly evidence that these sessions took place.

p.4

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.

p.4

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all parts of the children's home used by children are maintained and have suitable kitchen facilities. In particular there should be a prompt response to maintenance requests and the home cooker should be of a suitable size to cater the numbers living at the home. (Regulation 31 (2) (4)). 31/03/2014

p.5

Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that all staff receive appropriate supervision. In particular new staff should receive supervision at the frequency as stated in the home's policy and that the notes for these supervision sessions are made available at inspection. (Regulation 27 (4(a)) 31/03/2014

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6