Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Unique reference number SC039056 Inspection date 03/03/2014 Inspector Catherine Honey Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/10/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority owned children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to nine children and young people. The home caters for children with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, complex health needs and challenging behaviours allied to their learning difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to care for up to five children under short break arrangements and up to four children under other arrangements.

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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

At the home's full inspection in October 2013, the overall effectiveness was judged as good with adequate leadership and management. Two requirements and four recommendations were made. Both requirements and one recommendation have been addressed. As a result of this inspection, two requirements are made and one recommendation is repeated. Although quality of care in the home remains high and young people continue to make progress; partial progress with meeting recommendations made at the last inspection means the home's capacity to improve is limited.

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Progress

For safeguarding reasons, electronic recording devices such as cameras are used where young people have specific night-time health needs and in the communal corridors. The cameras enable night staff to monitor these areas and the young person concerned without unnecessary intrusion. Since the last inspection, parents have been consulted about the use of the cameras, permission has been sought from social workers and young people’s care planning documentation clearly demonstrates the reason why they are in use. In addition, the home’s policy on the use of electronic monitoring devices has been updated. The policy clearly states how the cameras are used and when the cameras should be switched on and off. This means there is a clear procedure in place to protect the privacy of children and young people.

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Progress

The home’s statement of purpose has been updated and a copy submitted to the regulator. This ensures Ofsted and other people accessing the document are clear on the aims and objectives of the home and the services it provides. The children's guide also been updated in a user-friendly format, making it more accessible for young people. At the previous inspection, a recommendation was made in relation to staff receiving training in safeguarding specific to the needs of young people with disability. A training course has been booked and two members of staff have already received the training. However, until the majority of staff have received training, the recommendation remains unmet and is repeated. This shortfall has not impacted negatively on the welfare of young people as staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures.

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Progress

At the previous inspection, stock control systems for homely mediations such as paracetamol were not sufficiently robust. A change in policy means that stocks of homely medicines are no longer kept in the home, this means stock control measures are no longer required as each young person has their own prescribed supply of medication. Agency members of staff are occasionally used at the home to maintain high staffing levels. However, there is no record of the training these staff have received and there is limited recruitment information available. The Registered Manager has been actively seeking this information since the last inspection. However, this weakness compromises the otherwise comprehensive recruitment and training records held by the home.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the home has worked in conjunction with the young people, the placing authority and external agencies to help some young people successfully transition to foster care arrangements in line with care plans. This more permanent arrangement benefits young people by providing a stable and secure environment for them to grow up in.

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Progress

Parents and carers are encouraged to contribute their ideas about the running of the home through informal consultation with staff at the home, for example through coffee mornings. Young people's views are clearly listened to and acted on. Young people are involved in the operational running of the home through young people's meetings. They have had their own choices respected in relation to the improvements that have taken place in the building. For example, young people have helped choose their bedroom colours. Young people's art work is displayed throughout the home. Some areas of the home have benefitted from redecoration and a cinema room is being created for young people. This will improve the space available for young people to use in their leisure time.

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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 all persons employed by him receive appropriate training. This specifically relates to agency staff (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 03/04/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure full and satisfactory information is available in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2. This specifically relates to agency staff. (Regulation 26 (3) (d)) 03/04/2014

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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 staff are trained in appropriate safe care practice, this includes training specifically on issues affecting disabled children (NMS 4.6)

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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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