Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Unique reference number SC035477 Inspection date 19/03/2014 Inspector Mark Kersh Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 07/10/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's residential unit is operated by a local authority and provides care for up to six young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The unit takes emergency placements. Services have also been developed to support young people in need who are registered as refugees.

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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 inspection in October 2013, the overall effectiveness judgement for the home was adequate. At that inspection one requirement and four recommendations were set. The requirement was in relation to the timely manner in which the home was sending notifications into Ofsted. There is now a new protocol in place which ensures all notifications are sent to Ofsted within a 24 hour period. Recommendations were around behaviour management and impact on other young people of admissions made to the home at that time.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, two of the young people have moved on to other placements. These moves were positive in order to safeguard young people and were made as part of the young people's care plans. The previous recommendations were set as a result of the disruption caused to the home by these two young people. There has been one new young person admitted to the home and the impact of this admission on the remaining young people has been minimal as the young person has settled in well with no disruption to the group. The Registered Manager has considered all new referrals for placements in the home and ensured that impact risk assessments have been fully completed prior to any new admissions. As a result the suitability of potential placements is given careful consideration, taking careful account of each young person living in the home and what impact, if any, this will have on them. The impact risk assessment also ensures

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Progress

that the home can meet the needs of any new admission.

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Progress

There have been no physical interventions with the current resident group, and all staff have completed training in safe restraint techniques. Consequences are used and recorded for inappropriate behaviour and these are fair and known by young people. However, not all consequence records have been completed consistently, particularly the effectiveness and outcome section. This compromises the Registered Manager's ability to effectively scrutinise any impact a consequence has had on young people's behaviour. There are positive consequences through which young people receive reward for their good behaviour.

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Progress

All the current young people are engaging well in educational provisions, with good support from the staff team. The attendance of all young people in educational placements is very good. Young people clearly have aspirations for their futures and value education and study. They speak positively of their achievements and the goals they have reached. Their inclusion in education has also enabled them to form friendships in the local area.

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Progress

The staff team support young people to maintain positive and meaningful contact with family members and significant others. In line with agreed contact plans, family members can visit the home and staff transport young people to see their family.

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Progress

Internal monitoring systems review the quality of care that young people receive and identify areas where outcomes for young people may be improved. Since the last inspection, detailed reports of Regulation 33 monitoring visits at the home have been produced. These visits now take place when young people are present to capture their views on the care they receive in the home.

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Progress

Consultation with placing social workers, staff and parents takes place on a regular basis. This ensures any shortfalls in the quality of care and any suggestions are identified and promptly addressed. Young people are consulted on the abilities and quality of each member of staff. This information forms part of the staff appraisal process to develop their practice. Young people speak favourably about the staff and say, 'They're always there for you, just like my best friend.’

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Progress

There are currently no safeguarding issues or young people being missing from home. All young people speak very positively about the care they receive and the support all staff give them. Following this inspection the home is judged to be making good progress with one recommendation set.

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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 the home regularly reviews incidents of challenging behaviour, specifically effectiveness and outcomes, examines trends or issues emerging from this, to enable staff to reflect and learn to inform future practice. (NMS 3.21)

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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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