Children's Home run by McRae Residential Care Services Limited in Croydon

Unique reference number SC025813 Inspection date 19/02/2014 Inspector Angus Mackay Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately-owned home is registered to care for up to six young people (boys) who may have 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

This home has been closed since October 2013. The registered provider says that the home will not be operational for over three months. Should the home decide to accept placements they are required to inform Ofsted of their intention, three months before they do so. The home has a detailed development and refurbishment plan which the provider is progressing, to make the home fit to accommodate young people. The provider has continued to monitor all health and safety matters ensuring a safe working environment during the refurbishment. There have been no structural alterations and no replacement of gas fittings or boilers. Consequently the home does not require planning permission or building regulations certification. The home is suitably insured during the refurbishment. The provider has continued to make improvements since the last inspection, but some work is incomplete. Outstanding work includes changing kitchen work tops. Since the last inspection the fire alarm

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Progress

system fault has been fixed and new smoke detectors fitted.

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Progress

Following the last inspection the responsible individual requested some changes in the registration: a reduction in children to be accommodated from eight to six; a change of name; a change in the category of young people to be accommodated to include children with learning disabilities(LD); a change to single sex accommodation(boys). These changes have been made. No children or young people have been accommodated by the home since its closure. The management have left the choice of some furniture, fittings and accessories to the young people to be accommodated. Included in this is the personalisation of bedrooms and communal areas to aid young people in developing a sense of ownership for the home. Managers are aware of all of the matters which must be addressed, to make the home fit for young people to be accommodated. This inspection repeats the three requirements that relate to improvement to the premises, the general environment

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Progress

The home's responsible individual is registered with Ofsted, and the Registered Manager is currently managing a nearby home run by the company. The responsible individual is aware of recent changes to children's homes regulations and of proposed changes due to be implemented in April 2014. The provider is aware that policies and procedures must be updated to comply with these changes. This is to ensure compliance with regulations and the provision of a safe environment for young people and staff. The provider accepts that the premises do not currently meet the necessary standards, as outlined in the home's Statement of Purpose, national minimum standards and regulations relating to children's homes.

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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 that the children's home is suitably furnished with adequate living storage and communal space to meet the needs of the children accommodated; and achieve the aims and objectives set out in the Statement of Purpose (Regulation 31(4)(a)&(b)) 31/05/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the premises is kept in good structural repair externally and internally. Also ensure that the home is kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31(2)(d)&(e)) 31/05/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that subject to paragraph (1A) the registered person shall consult with the fire and rescue authority as detailed in sections (a) to (e). (Regulation 32(1)(a-e)) 31/05/2014

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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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