Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

Unique reference number SC066072 Inspection date 20/03/2014 Inspector Helen Walker Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 17/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This privately owned home provides care for two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This home is also registered as a school.

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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 overall judgement of the home was adequate. Since then the home has made good progress. The manager provides effective management of the home and has addressed the one requirement and three recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Progress

Notifications relating to significant events about the home and young people are made to the relevant agencies in accordance with regulations. This helps to ensure appropriate action is taken and that Ofsted is made aware of any significant issues relating to young people's welfare.

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Progress

Staff receive regular supervision with the manager which gives them access to individual support and advice about their work with the young people. For example, the use of any physical intervention is discussed as soon as possible after the event and also in staff supervision. This enables staff to consider the circumstances, the intervention used and any alternative behaviour management strategies available.

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Progress

Sanctions used with young people are monitored and are now more relevant to their misbehaviour. The manager has an overview of their effectiveness so that any unsuccessful measures are identified and appropriate sanctions used. This enables young people to reflect and recognise the impact of their behaviour on others. Physical intervention is seen as a last resort and has not been used since the last inspection. This indicates a positive behaviour management approach in the home.

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Progress

Young people said they like living in the home and the care they receive. They said they feel safe and are 'happy' at the home. There are people to talk to if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care. This includes people who are independent of the home such as advocates, their family and other professionals.

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Progress

Staff value the importance of education for the young people's future. Young people make good progress in education and attend lessons that are tailored to their needs. A tutor teaching in the home at the time of the inspection commented on the young people's positive engagement with learning. A young person said he liked the physical education lessons which involve going to the local gym. Staff routinely encourage and support young people to complete homework tasks, as was evident during the inspection.

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Progress

Young people's well-being is promoted through contact with health professionals. This includes psychologists and therapists so that their emotional and psychological health needs are well considered. A psychologist said staff are supportive of the work the psychologist is doing with the young people. Additionally, psychologists attend staff team meetings and work with the staff to assist them in developing strategies to manage and care for young people positively.

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Progress

A consistent team of staff work at the home and this provides young people with continuity and stability of care. Staff said they have opportunities to attend a range of training courses as well as undertake suitable childcare qualifications.

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Progress

To improve the home environment, the first floor of the house has recently been significantly altered. There is now an extra bedroom and a staff office. It has also been redecorated. The home is comfortably furnished and is generally well maintained. However, a cracked and broken floor tile in the young people's bathroom is a hazard and compromises young people's safety.

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Progress

The manager has a good overview of how the home is running and uses various internal and external monitoring systems to assist her in this aspect of her work. This helps to ensure ongoing high standards of care. One recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection which relates to the maintenance of the property.

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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 provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. This relates specifically to the need to replace the broken floor tile in the bathroom. (NMS 10.3)

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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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