Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today Children's Services in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008486 Inspection date 06/03/2014 Inspector Anthony Kyem Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 16/05/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.2

Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned.

p.3

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.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

p.3

Progress

The home was judged to provide young people with good quality care at its previous inspection. The home has made good progress addressing both of the previous recommendations made. Young people are actively encouraged and supported to attend school or alternative educational provision. Young people make good progress with their education and they benefit from personal education plans and the support they need to enjoy and achieve.

p.3

Progress

The registered manager exercises strong and effective leadership of the home's staff and operation of the home. As a result young people benefit from a home that is managed efficiently. Staff act as positive role models for young people. Young people benefit from a diverse range of adults who they can look up to and learn from.

p.3

Progress

Young people said 'The staff are alright. They're not too strict and we have freedom...If you have a question staff have the answer. Staff are more open and understanding...It's more like a family home and staff are like family members. It's not like a care home. They tell you where you go wrong and they help you.'

p.3

Progress

Young people's positive behaviour is promoted and the use of sanctions and restraints are kept to an absolute minimum. There have been no restraints since the previous inspection. However, it was identified that there are occasions when young people may have part of their clothing allowance deducted for the purposes of reparation. This is not recorded as a sanction and the practice is not recorded clearly. This issue was raised with the registered manager to ensure appropriate records are maintained.

p.3

Progress

Young people are protected from abuse, bullying, neglect and sexual exploitation. Staff adhere to safe working practice. They have a positive awareness of young people's needs and their vulnerabilities and they take appropriate action to address them. The use of clear risk assessment, management and pro-active safeguarding practice ensure young people, including the most vulnerable, benefit from effective support and protection.

p.4

Progress

Staff receive relevant training on child sexual exploitation. However, it is unclear whether the training covers the risks posed by social media to ensure that staff are knowledgeable and know how to protect young people from all forms of significant harm.

p.4

Progress

Staff follow and implement the home's missing person's policy to protect young people if they go missing. Some young people have appropriate risks assessments in place that are compatible with the joint protocol for reporting young people missing from care. However, there has been a recent admission and as a result there are other young people who require them.

p.4

Progress

As a result of this interim inspection three recommendations are made. These relate to staff receiving training about the dangers of social media, completing appropriate risk assessment for young people who go missing from care and improving the recording of any measure that involves the use of reparation as a sanction.

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 ensure sanctions for behaviour are clear, reasonable and fair and are understood by all children and staff. This relates specifically to any measure which involves the loss of money for reparation purposes (NMS 3.8)  ensure young people are helped to understand how to keep themselves safe including outside the home and when using the internet and social media. This relates specifically to staff having training on safeguarding and social media (NMS.4)  ensure risk assessments in relation to young people going missing from care are compatible with the joint protocol and procedures maintained by the police and the local authority. (NMS 5.6)

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5