Children's Home run by Lytham Care Limited in Knowsley

Unique reference number SC454035 Inspection date 14/02/2014 Inspector Michelle Bacon Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 27/09/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a privately-owned children home that provides care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and 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 satisfactory progress .

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Progress

This interim inspection has focused on the progress made by the home since their last full inspection in September 2013; the home was judged as adequate with some good features. Three requirements and nine recommendations were made to further improve the quality of care. The home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for young people.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the manager has improved the recording of physical interventions. The records clearly show the date, time and the behaviour leading up to a physical intervention. It is also clear from the records if a young person has been offered medical treatment and the names of the staff involved in the physical intervention. This gives the manager a detailed picture of any intervention used so she can fully evaluate the appropriateness and impact on young people.

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Progress

A recommendation to ensure young people's views are recorded in the disciplinary records has not been fully met. Although young people are provided with the opportunity to express their views, the records show they often decline to comment. The home uses positive reinforcement to help young people improve their behaviour; these include trips to the cinema, a meal out or a dvd. However, at times sanctions are imposed that involve a monetary consequence. For example, a young person had some of their pocket money deducted for being missing from home. There is evidence that the manager is monitoring the records more robustly as she has recently retracted some monetary consequences because this was neither reasonable nor fair.

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Progress

There are improvements to the information held on staff files; all files now contain a full employment history with any gaps in employment explained. This ensures that young people are only cared for by suitable people.

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Progress

The manager has taken action to improve the missing from home records; these clearly demonstrate that young people are given the opportunity to discuss the reasons why they were missing and any action taken in light of those reasons. The home continues to follow agreed protocols in relation to young people who go missing from the home to ensure they return safely. There is a multi-agency approach to managing the risk of young people who go missing to ensure young people are being kept safe.

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Progress

A recommendation to ensure the home has a copy of each young person's personal education plan on file has been addressed. Young people have an up-to-date plan that identifies their targets and the support needed to meet these. This means that staff are aware of any progress young people make and they can challenge any barriers to learning. The manager asked young people to give feedback on how staff support them with their education; they commented that the staff support them with their homework and course work. This helps young people to value the importance of their education.

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Progress

The homes development plan has been revised and updated to reflect the homes strengths and weaknesses. This ensures the quality of care is kept under review as well as improving outcomes for young people. However, the views of young people, their parents or stakeholders are not taken into account in the external monitoring of the home to help improve the service. Young people are encouraged to engage in regular house meetings where they can have input into the menus and activities. However, the minutes of these meetings do not reflect how the views of the young people are acted upon, in the day to day running of the home.

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Progress

At the time of the last inspection, not all staff were receiving regular supervision. The records demonstrate staff are receiving monthly supervision that supports them in their role. Furthermore, the manager has sought feedback from the young people regarding staff performance for their annual appraisal. The manager is committed to the development of the staff and new staff have been allocated time to complete the induction programme. Most staff have completed all the mandatory training, however, not all staff have completed medication or food hygiene training. This training is planned for the first week in March 2014.

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Progress

Improvements to the rota ensures that there is a clear record of who is working in the home; similarly, the visitors book makes it clear why a person is visiting the home. This provides a clear audit trail of staff who have worked in the home as well as any visitors to ensure young people are protected from potential harm.

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Progress

At the last inspection, the manager was asked to ensure that any allegations against staff are reported to the Local Area Designated Officer. All concerns and allegations are reported to the appropriate safeguarding professionals for their consideration. The manager also maintains a record of any allegations made and the action taken in response to them. This ensures the welfare of young people is well protected.

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Progress

Overall, the home is well maintained with young people helping to design and decorate the new music room. However, a wall at the backdoor which was treated for damp now requires plastering and painting. Furthermore, the fire evacuation records do not demonstrate that young people, who have recently moved into the home have practiced the fire evacuation procedures so they know how to leave the building safely.

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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.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure all persons employed to work in the children's home receive appropriate training.(Regulation 27(4)(a)) 31/03/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the person carrying out the visit interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parent, relatives and persons working at the home in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home.(Regulation 33(4)(a)) 31/03/2014

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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 children's views, wishes and feelings are acted upon, in the day to day running of the home and this is reflected in the minutes of the young people's meetings(NMS 1.1)  ensure sanctions for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair(NMS 3.8)  ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment that is well maintained and decorated. Specifically that the wall by the backdoor is re- plastered and re-painted(NMS 10.3)  ensure young people are familiar with the emergency escape plan and have practiced this so they know what to do in an emergency.(NMS 10.9)

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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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