Children's Home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Sandwell

Unique reference number SC404994 Inspection date 07/03/2014 Inspector Mark Ryder Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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

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Brief description of the service

This service provides care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. A charitable organisation owns and operates this setting.

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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 last inspection in May 2013 the home was judged as adequate with two statutory requirements and six recommendations. The outcome of this inspection is that both requirements have been met and all but one of the recommendations have been addressed. Young people are currently making satisfactory progress within this home.

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Progress

Suitable, trained and competent staff provide young people with a clear structure and support throughout their placement. Recent recruitment has strengthened the team by providing further trained staff. However, deployment of staff is not always suitable as some staff continue to shift lead while still completing their induction and probationary periods. The Registered Manager is fully aware of this situation and has appropriately risk assessed the occasions where this is unavoidable. There is no evidence that this practice negatively impacts on the quality of care provided to the young people. However, this practice does not presently meet national minimum standards. Young people currently do not have access to a telephone without reference to staff. The lack of a phone, other than the office phone and subject to an assessment of risk, is an area of conflict between staff and young people. While this has not

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Progress

prevented young people from making calls to agencies such as Ofsted, there is the potential for young people to be restricted as to when and who they can call if they wish to make a complaint.

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Progress

Young people are supported to attend education although this has not been without significant challenge. Staff strongly promote education within the home. Incentives are available and clear boundaries exist to encourage engagement in learning opportunities. However, this has limited success in engaging young people back into education.

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Progress

Staff manage young people's behaviour well. Relationships between staff and young people are positive and friendly. Young people are aware of the boundaries and respect that there is a need for order within the home. Sanctions are fair and proportionate. Young people say that the rules are fair even though they do not always like the consequences.

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Progress

Bullying is challenged by staff. Young people acknowledge that conflict does occur between them but is resolved by talking through the concerns and sharing this with staff.

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Progress

Incidents of young people who go missing has recently reduced. There is good management oversight of all documents relating to these incidents. Young people say that they do not go missing now because they have negotiated with their social worker and staff about where they are and the times they return.

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Progress

The homes Statement of Purpose reflects the ethos and practice of this home. Any revisions to this document are sent to Ofsted within 28 days. This is an improvement since the last inspection.

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Progress

The Registered Manager is a positive and stable influence within the home. Staff feel supported and focused on improving the lives of young people. Young people said that they like the manager and how the home is managed. There is effective monitoring of the home. A development plan provides direction and clarification to the staff as to further improve.

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Progress

As a result of this inspection there is one statutory requirement and one recommendation none of which adversely impacts on young people's welfare.

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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 children accommodated in the home are provided at all reasonable times with access to the following facilities which they may use without reference to persons working in the home- a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private. (Regulation 15 (4)(a)) 25/04/2014

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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 members who are placed in charge of the home and other staff at particular times such as shift leaders, have substantial relevant experience of working in the home and have successfully completed their probation periods. (NMS 17.5)

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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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