Children's Home run by Brookfield House in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008484 Inspection date 11/02/2014 Inspector Paul Scott Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 06/11/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a private children’s home; the owner is also the Registered Manager. The home provides care for up to six young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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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

This interim inspection has focused on the progress made by the home since the last full inspection in November 2013, at which the judgement for overall effectiveness was good. At this inspection the home is judged to be making good progress.

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Progress

The home has demonstrated continued improvement by suitably addressing the requirement and recommendations from the previous inspection. Procedures for notifying Ofsted in the event of a serious incident have been improved to ensure reports are sufficiently detailed and notifications are made within designated timescales. All bathroom locks are now in working order and the water damaged floor covering in the young people's bathroom has been replaced. Restraint records have been improved. Recording formats have been simplified and staff have been given guidance on what information must be recorded following incidents of physical intervention, including details of the method of restraint used. Following the use of restraint managers scrutinise practice and recording in partnership with the staff involved in the incident. This has improved the quality of restraint records as well as supporting staffs professional development. Young people's views are now

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Progress

consistently gathered and recorded following the use of any sanction. This clearly evidences that they have been encouraged to reflect on their behaviour and discuss the fairness of the sanction. The homes emergency evacuation plan has been updated to include details of agreed practice in relation to procedures for unlocking doors during the night. These procedures have been further strengthened by replacing external locks so that one key fits all. These improvements have improved quality of care and safeguarding for young people.

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Progress

Young people benefit from living in a very homely, child-focused and supportive home. They talk very affectionately about living at the home, their relationships with staff and the care and support they receive. All young people said that they feel safe and that their lives have improved because staff care and give them good advice and support. As a result, young people are stable in their placements, making excellent progress in many aspects of their lives and are optimistic about their futures.

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Progress

The home’s ethos is underpinned by strong family like relationships that make young people feel valued and respected as individuals. Staff utilise these relationships to good effect by instilling parent like boundaries that make young people feel safe and secure, while improving their behaviour. One young person who has recently been admitted said, 'This is a good place to live. The home is much calmer than my last placement and I feel that staff genuinely care. Even though I have not been here long, I feel very settled and in a better place. I want to return home but after I have stayed here to sort myself out.'

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Progress

At the last inspection a newly admitted young person did not have a school placement. Staff have worked closely with education professionals to ensure this situation was resolved as quickly as possible. This means all young people are routinely attending school or college and are noted to be making good academic progress. One young person said, 'I am doing really well at school. I am very proud of how much my reading and writing has improved and I like doing my homework because staff read to me'

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Progress

Young people enjoy a wide range of purposeful and stimulating activities that promote general and social development. These include ice skating, horse-riding, playing rugby and going to cubs. One young person has recently been on a residential camp which he thoroughly enjoyed because it was fun and he did lots of new things. Staff openly encourage young people to have friendships outside of the home and have the same experiences as their peers. For example, one young person recently stayed overnight at a friend’s house. This was arranged in the same manner as a parent would plan for their child staying overnight, to ensure it was safe, well planned and a positive experience.

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Progress

Young people are appropriately supported to develop their independence skills and prepare for leaving care. Staff work closely with leaving care professionals to ensure transitions to independence are well planned. They will strongly advocate on behalf of young people ensuring they get the best possible services and support for when they leave. Staff have a good track record of maintaining links with young people after they have left. This provides an extra layer of parental like support and reinforces the message that staff genuinely care for the young people with whom they work.

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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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