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

Unique reference number SC005066 Inspection date 19/03/2014 Inspector Carole Moore Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 04/11/2013 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 one young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It provides short term, crisis placements. The home is owned by a private company.

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 satisfactory progress .

p.3

Progress

The home was last inspected in November 2013.The overall quality rating for the service was judged to be good. Two recommendations were made. The service is judged to be making satisfactory progress following this interim inspection. Four recommendations have been raised as a result of this inspection of which two have been reinstated.

p.3

Progress

At the previous inspection recommendations were made relating to evidencing that young people can access their records and make comment should they choose to do so. Also that the children's guide includes key information about the home. Neither of these recommendations have as yet been met and therefore have been reinstated.

p.3

Progress

The aim of this home is to provide brief positive intervention to enable crisis behaviours to be stabilised and to assess the suitability of a longer term placement. Relationship building is a key strength in this service. Young people are enabled to develop confidence as they are treated with respect and their contributions are valued by staff. Positive role modelling and meaningful discussion supports young people to improve their social skills and to reduce risk taking behaviours.

p.3

Progress

Behaviour management strategies are effective and this means there has been no need for any physical restraints and minimal sanctions for negative behaviours have been given. When staff give a sanction they evaluate its effectiveness. Young people know how to complain and said they are confident that if they did complain, their complaint would be taken seriously and acted upon.

p.4

Progress

Young people’s safety is well managed. There are good levels of support and supervision to ensure young people’s welfare is given high priority. Staff ensure that young people are provided with a safe and enjoyable environment both inside and outside of the home. Young people are not taking unnecessary risks related to their welfare. Risk assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly. Staff training on child protection and safeguarding ensures that staff know their key areas of responsibility. All these actions demonstrate that young people’s welfare is promoted.

p.4

Progress

The manager provides clear leadership and places a strong emphasis on meeting young people’s needs and promoting their welfare. Staff confirm they receive regular supervision and support. The home has a written development plan in place. However it is a generic plan and does not reflect any planned changes in the operation or resources of the service. Also it is not clear from the manager's report under Regulation 34 that the manager regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the home's policies, to identify any concerns and to identify patterns and trends.

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 that the children’s guide includes a summary of what the home sets out to do for children (NMS 13.5)  ensure that where sanctions are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure the manager regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records kept by the home to ensure compliance with the home's policies, to identify any concerns and to identify patterns and trends. This is then reflected in the regulation 34 report (NMS 21.2)  ensure the registered person has a written development plan, reviewed annually, for the future of the home and that it is a working plan reflecting the current home's operation and resource. (NMS 15.2)

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