Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC426318 Inspection date 03/03/2014 Inspector Julian Mason Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 22/11/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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

The home was judged as good overall at the last full inspection in November 2013, no requirements or recommendations were made.

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Progress

Young people continue to benefit from living in a home environment where they are cared for as individuals taking account of their backgrounds, wishes and feelings. This approach remains key to how domestic routines and daily support is tailored to each young person’s changing needs and circumstances. Young people are provided with living accommodation that is spacious, clean and tidy. The home has benefited from recent decoration to communal areas and bedrooms. The décor is contemporary and has improved the comfort and standards of accommodation provided. The home has an on-going plan of maintenance and upgrades including the provision of new furniture for some communal areas.

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Progress

The staff team continue to monitor the home’s environment, ensuring it is safe for everyone. Due to current behaviours, internal monitoring alarms have been fitted to promote and improve the safety of individual young people. The alarms are activated based on individual risk assessments, which are reviewed and update regularly and have the necessary approval for their use from placing social workers.

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Progress

Young people learn about how to look after themselves in preparation for becoming a young adults and leaving care. Staff follow agreed placing authority plans which includes young people’s views and wishes about their aims and preferred arrangements when they leave care. The home's approach is not only to help young people develop practical life skills but to build their self-awareness and confidence. Staff carefully balance the need to ensure young people are safe against their need to establish themselves in their own communities as they become more independent.

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Progress

Young people’s safety and welfare continues to be a priority for the staff team, they remain focused and use established procedures and practices to help promote and safeguard everyone. Detailed assessments are in place, which identify areas of individual risk and vulnerability. Staff use this information to shape their daily work with each young person which includes managing risks associated with having unauthorised absences or being missing from care. These events have increased recently but overall, young people’s whereabouts are known when they are not in the home. On the occasions where young people have left the home without permission or have not returned on time, staff respond quickly to these circumstances to ensure young people are safe. The Registered Manager uses established partnerships with the local police and other designated professionals to ensure a coordinated approach is taken in these circumstances. Where concerns

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Progress

remain about risky behaviours, the Registered Manager organises professionals meetings or requests that a looked after review is brought forward. These measures ensure that the home adapts and responds to the changing needs and circumstances of individual young people.

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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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