Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC060554 Inspection date 26/03/2014 Inspector Michael Williams Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 28/05/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is one of four children's homes owned by the provider organisation.

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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 May 2013, the full inspection of the home judged its overall effectiveness to be adequate; outcomes for young people and the quality of care were also judged to be adequate. It required the home to take account of three areas for improvement and recommended it take account of another 11 areas for improvement. Then in August 2013, an investigation visit to the home required it to take account of a further five areas for improvement. This inspection found that since then the Registered Manager has addressed all of these areas for improvement and as a result has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for young people. No new areas for improvement were identified.

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Progress

The home's Registered Manager post was vacant at the time of the last inspection. It has since been suitably filled and the Registered Manager has driven the home's improvement in the following required areas. Young people's case records, and other records the home is required to maintain, now include all the information required and are kept up to date. The manager's review of the quality of care now includes consultation with young people accommodated, their parents and placing authorities. All staff now receive appropriate and timely core and specific training, supervision and appraisal. To promote their welfare, any activities in which young people participate are now so far as reasonably practicable free from avoidable risks. No person now starts work at the home until such time as full and satisfactory safer recruitment information is available in relation to them. And at all times there is now

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Progress

a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced staff working at the home, including staff able to use physical restraint in the event that it is necessary.

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Progress

The Registered Manager has also driven the home's improvement in the following recommended areas. Young people are now better safeguarded through a proportionate approach to risk assessment, including where only one member of staff is on duty, and staff training in appropriate safe-care practice. The home now makes more reasonable and appropriate decisions about young people's day-to-day arrangements. Young people's educational attendance and achievement has improved through staff working more closely with their education providers and placing authorities. A more suitable physical environment is now provided for young people, where they know what to do in an emergency and where substances which could be hazardous to health are securely stored. New staff are now supported to complete induction training and commence the relevant qualification for the role. There is better monitoring of the operation of the home, by both the Registered

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Progress

Manager and the registered provider, so they can identify any trends and issues of concern and continually improve the quality of care they are providing. And staff now better support young people to reflect on and understand their history and keep appropriate memorabilia of their time in the placement.

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Progress

Since the last inspection, one young person had moved on from the home, for safeguarding reasons, and two young people had moved in and were in placement at the time of this inspection. Staff had improved outcomes for both of them. Staff had successfully worked with one of the young people to maintain a more healthy lifestyle, and as a result more positive behaviour and relationships, and to support them to prepare for the world of work and their upcoming move to appropriate future accommodation. They had also successfully worked with the other young person to continually improve their educational attendance and achievement. For example, they were on target for 100% school attendance in March 2014 and their school's current assessment was that they were either 'on or above' target in most of their subjects, for which the Registered Manager was planning to reward them. The views of this young person in particular are taken into account in all aspects of their

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Progress

care, as they have produced the first newsletter for the company running the home and actively participate in the children's care council in their placing authority. The young person has an especially comprehensive box of memories and a scrapbook about their time at the home. The preface they wrote to the scrapbook includes the following: 'I've never been happier. Here and now, I have found somewhere I belong and feel appreciated. I will never be able to thank them [the staff] all enough for everything they've done for me. So, flicking through these pictures, you have an insight to some of the beautiful moments I've spent and the wonderful memories I have 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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