Children's Home run by Care Afloat Ltd in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC006011 Inspection date 27/02/2014 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company owns and operates the home.

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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 good progress .

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Progress

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

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Progress

The overall rating given following the previous inspection was good. Since then the home has continued to make good progress. For example, young people are benefitting from a greater consistency of care due to all the staff team who work directly with young people, now being permanently based in the home. All staff recently received in-house training on autism, enhancing their knowledge and skills base in this area. This has resulted in young people's specific needs being met more effectively.

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Progress

The home has maintained its good links and cohesive working practices with the external services responsible for keeping young people safe. Should any safeguarding or missing from home issues arise, young people are provided with a co-ordinated, multi-agency response. These active arrangements have contributed significantly to keeping young people safe.

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Progress

Young people are at different stages of their journey through the home. The home has specific strategies in place to address young people's diverse needs. Should young people fail to keep to the boundaries put in place for them, staff work supportively, rather than punitively to address issues of concern. As a result, young people are less likely to place themselves at risk through their own actions.

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Progress

Individual needs are recognised and recorded in planning documents and assessments of individual risk. Serious behaviour management incidents within the home since the previous inspection have been rare, with young people enjoying positive relationships with staff. These relationships provide the foundation for staff to work positively with young people during periods of difficulty and unrest. This has resulted in young people experiencing improved social, emotional and educational outcomes, based on their starting points.

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Progress

Young people are well informed and consulted about their future plans, giving them a feeling of worth, a sense of direction and personal goals to aim for. They confirm their views and opinions are regularly sought and taken account of regarding life in the home and when planning for their own future. For example, the plans for one young person have been modified on a number of occasions recently, to reflect changing attitudes and aspirations for the future.

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Progress

The home is well organised and managed. A permanent staff group work collectively to meet the needs of young people in their care. Young people are relaxed and at ease in the company of staff, appreciating the positive relationships that have been created. One young person speaks enthusiastically about the activities they enjoy and share with staff.

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Progress

At the previous inspection only one recommendation was made. This has been fully addressed resulting in the home being able to evidence more effectively that potential staff members’ right to work in the United Kingdom has been addressed as part of the recruitment process.

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Progress

Despite the short time between inspections the home has made good progress, and the good standard of care noted then has continued to improve. Young people are experiencing positive outcomes in all areas of their lives when compared to their starting point when first admitted. No new recommendations have been made.

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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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