Children's Home run by Cheshire West and Chester Council in Cheshire West and Chester

Unique reference number SC034849 Inspection date 25/03/2014 Inspector Sue Winson Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 11/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

The children's home is purpose-built and managed by a local authority. It provides short-break care for up to six children and young people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and sensory impairment. It is appropriately adapted to address the needs of children and young people with these additional needs.

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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

At the last full inspection in December 2013 the home was judged as adequate. The manager, who was appointed a short time prior to the last inspection, has been registered by Ofsted. Good progress has been made in addressing all of the three requirements made, and the majority of the seven recommendations. Following the joining together of 2 short break services, considerable progress has been made to improve planning and reviews to ensure that the needs of young people are met. The manager and team are committed to improving outcomes for young people, and their enjoyment of their short break stays.

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Progress

Good planning ensures that young people’s needs and preferences, in regard to their care, are known to all staff. Reviews on all young people have taken place and their plans updated. Any further changes are now discussed in team meetings, and key workers have responsibility for ensuring that any actions are implemented. Health plans contain full details of young people’s needs, including for example, signs, triggers and symptoms. Staff have clear and specific information and know what to do if there are concerns. Young people benefit from the home working in conjunction with health specialists, including district nurses and young people’s own health teams.

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Progress

Young people’s welfare is at the centre of staff practice. Detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans outline how they can be kept safe. Considerable improvements in the arrangements for administration and monitoring of medication ensure that young people’s health needs are safeguarded. For example, staff members ring schools to make sure that young people have their medication with them, and specific staff are responsible for medication booking in and following up of any errors or concerns on each shift. Only staff members who are fully trained administer medication to the young people.

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Progress

Consultation with young people and their parents or carers has taken place recently. This includes their views on the use of electronic monitoring of young people and parents have signed to agree their consent. Those young people who were not happy about electronic monitoring were given the option of visiting the home at times when its use was not necessary. Monitoring is only used in line with risk assessments, and its use is included in the homes’ Statement of Purpose which has been updated to reflect the services provided. Information is given to young people through the children’s guide. Information from consultations with young people, their parents or carers and involved professionals has yet to be collated in order to inform the homes’ development plan.

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Progress

The manager and staff are committed to improving outcomes for young people and ensuring that they enjoy their short breaks. Improved communication, handovers and shift planning benefit the young people. Whilst some progress has been made in providing effective staff training, some of this remains a work in progress; for example, gaining agreement to commission specialist training relevant to children with disabilities and their specific needs. The home is well organised and efficiently managed. The manager monitors and audits the quality of care, acts on priorities and is in the process of compiling a development plan in consultation with staff.

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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 that there are clear and effective procedures for monitoring the home. In particular that collected feedback from stakeholders is collated within the internal quality monitoring programme (NMS 21)  ensure there is a good quality learning and development programme for staff. In particular that this includes refresher training in child protection; the particular vulnerabilities of children with disabilities, and the range of communication needs of children with disabilities. (NMS 18.1)

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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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