Children's Home run by Essandore Limited in St Helens

Unique reference number SC066218 Inspection date 10/02/2014 Inspector Denise Jolly Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 20/06/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home offers accommodation for young people who have learning disabilities and who may also have physical disabilities. The home is owned by a private company.

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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 full inspection in June 2013 the overall effectiveness of the home was judged as good. The home continues to make good progress and managers have fully addressed the two recommendations made at that time. Recording of information on young people’s files has improved. This means that it is clearer to see how the actions of the home have supported the very good progress young people continue to make. Key workers provide comprehensive individual person centred plans, to ensure that young people receive the right amount of support to foster their learning and independence. Young people were unavailable during this interim inspection.

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Progress

The learning and development matrix demonstrates that staff have completed basic and additional specialised training, specific to the needs of the young people who use the service, which benefits them. Staff have made good progress in achieving a suitable qualification that equips them to provide good quality care to complex and vulnerable young people.

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Progress

The qualified and experienced Registered Manager recruits and selects new staff by using procedures that help prevent unsuitable people from having access to young people. Staff complete induction programmes that help them to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to provide safe care, that promotes the development of young people with disabilities.

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Progress

Young people continue to enjoy very good outcomes in many aspects of their lives. Staff support them very well, to enjoy a range of experiences and leisure pursuits, in line with their interests. Some enjoy visits to wildlife parks or the beach, whatever the weather, while others enjoy choosing and listening to music or watching a favourite television programme. Their views and those of their parents or carers, are routinely sought by the home, and any suggestions or requests are acted upon where possible. Parents say they are, ‘happy with the overall quality of person centred support provided.’

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Progress

Staff are skilled and innovative in gaining the views and wishes of children and young people, including those who do not communicate verbally. For example, staff use observation of the young people to gauge their emotional responses to a variety of situations, and record the information in their care plan. Staff then use this as an indication of how young people feel about the food they eat, or whether they have enjoyed a new activity. By responding to individual preference and need, staff help young people to enjoy new experiences and broaden their horizons without undue stress and anxiety. This enriches their lives and increases their ability to socialise. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the progress young people are making.

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Progress

Good planning ensures that young people’s individual needs are being met, and all staff know their preferences in regard to their care. Good communication and relationships with their parents and professionals who support them ensures that they share any relevant information in a timely manner. Professionals say that the home provides ‘excellent placement plans that fully support all behaviour plans’, to help young people make good progress. Despite requests made by the Registered Manager, not all minutes of placement review meetings are present in the home. Staff record their own notes of the meetings, to ensure they continue to provide care that addresses any identified needs, and the care of young people is not compromised.

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Progress

Young people’s welfare is at the centre of staff practice. Key workers regularly update and review detailed risk assessments and management plans that outline how young people can best be kept safe. These are specific about individual risk and highly personalised. Managers protect young people’s health needs by effective monitoring of medication administration. Key workers gather full information from medical specialists and parents or carers, and update individual health care plans as necessary. Staff are trained in the administration of medication and care of young people with epilepsy.

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Progress

Managers use thorough quality assurance systems to monitor the progress of young people and the overall operation of the home. There is good evaluation and analysis of the impact of the work done with young people that builds on an already comprehensive record. This has helped inform practice, for example how staff support young people to increase their independence in communication or personal care. Consequently young people benefit from improved relationships because they decrease unwanted behaviour, as they use appropriate communication skills more confidently.

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Progress

The home has a realistic development plan that identifies areas for improvement. It builds on and recognises the key strengths that the service consistently delivers on, such as an environment that best supports young people with autism. This promotes continuous improvement for young people’s care.

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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 home keeps all the documents and records specified in Schedule 3, in particular the result of any review of the placing authority's plan for the care of the child, or of his placement plan. (Regulation 28 (1), Schedule 3 (19)) 31/03/2014

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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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