Children's Home run by Future In Mind Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC067839 Inspection date 13/03/2014 Inspector Michael Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 05/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and the organisation operates other children's homes in the area.

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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

In December 2013, the full inspection of the home judged its overall effectiveness to be good; outcomes for young people were also judged to be good and the quality of care was judged to be outstanding. It recommended one area for improvement. This inspection found that since then the home has addressed the recommendation and while it has maintained outstanding quality of care there has been continued improvement in outcomes for young people. Overall the home has therefore made good progress since the last inspection.

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Progress

Following the previous recommendation, the children's guide to the home now contains a space for the contact details of each young person's independent reviewing officer (IRO) to be entered. Young people are therefore now able to contact their IRO as well if they wish to raise a concern.

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Progress

The last inspection reported that an experienced acting manager was in place covering the temporary absence of the Registered Manager. The Registered Manager returned to the home in February 2014 to resume being in charge. Together with the company's head of care and the home's deputy manager, they are continuing to exercise effective leadership of the home's staff and operation so that an outstanding quality of care is delivered that meets the individual needs of each young person at the home.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, the home has sent Ofsted a copy of the report of monthly registered provider visits to the home. The last visit, in February 2014, reported the following general comments: 'The home on arrival was pleasant. Staff in the home are eager and happy in their job role. Positive comments from social worker and good skills demonstrated by staff.' Together with the Registered Manager's monthly review of the quality of care, reports of which are also sent to Ofsted, this monitoring and reporting provides proper oversight of the home.

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Progress

The home implements a proportionate approach to any risk assessment, balancing the need to safeguard young people with encouraging them to take appropriate risks as part of growing up. For example, an initial risk assessment is completed, recorded and implemented as part of a young person's move into the home, as is a lone working risk assessment where only one member of staff is on duty at any time. These risk assessments are regularly updated.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, outcomes for young people have continued to improve in areas such as education, behaviour and relationships, and leisure activities. For example, one young person is now in full time education at a suitable school, where their attendance is currently 100%. The latest independent review of their placement reported: '[The young person] writes that the thing that has gone well in the review period is starting school.' The school is supporting them to reach their educational potential and during this inspection they telephoned their key worker at the home to report that they were having the best week they had ever had. In turn, this improvement has led to a reduction in the young person's anxiety and physical aggression and therefore the need for staff to use physical restraint with them. The last inspection reported that physical intervention had been used on a number of occasions, but it has not been used since. Young people have developed a sense of

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Progress

trust and safety which has also helped them to participate in community based leisure activities without staff supervision and without incident. When asked for their view of the home, one young person commented, 'It's fine' and went on to describe it as 'brilliant' and 'lovely'.

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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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