Children's Home run by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in Dudley

Unique reference number SC039897 Inspector Andrew Hewston Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Registered person address Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council 3 St. James's Road DUDLEY West Midlands DY1 1HZ Responsible individual Nicola Jane Prashar Registered manager Melanie Hollman-Dryden Date of last inspection 28/08/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 19/02/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

Some young people are making progress in most aspects of their life as a result of the care and support provided by the staff at this home. Progress in some areas, such as education attendance and missing from the home has declined as a result of young people's challenging behaviour. This has been appropriately addressed by the staff and interagency meetings have been called to assess the continuing risk of young people going missing.

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This inspection

Some young people have left the home since the last inspection. These were positive moves. They return to the home to visit staff. This shows the positive effect on these young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager and staff team understand the needs of the young people and how to respond to them . This is due to effective communication within the staff team and relationships that are continually developing between the staff and young people. Care practice is guided through placement planning, although some Looked After Children documentation plans require updating and have not been fully completed by the placing social worker.

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This inspection

Monthly monitoring is completed by an external person and the staff team swiftly respond to areas of development . Although the reports of these visits are available within the home, these have not been consistently sent to Ofsted, with the last visit report being received regarding the July 2014 visit.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager completes a quarterly assessment of the home. This is detailed and shows that the staff team are highly knowledgeable about young people's situations and are working to support them. A development plan is in place to develop the home. 3 of 6 Two recommendations were made at the last inspection to develop the care practice in the home. Both of these have been responded to fully. Following incidents of young people going missing a discussion is now held with the young person to understand their reasoning for the absence in an attempt to decrease concerns regarding future absences. These are centrally held and form part of the absence recording. Complaint records now show that young people are involved with the resolution process to a greater degree, although only one complaint has been received within the home since the last inspection.

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This inspection

Young people are kept safe within the home through having a staff team that are fully trained to respond to safeguarding issues. They are aware of the importance of detailed recordings being completed quickly. Where safeguarding concerns have been raised these are forwarded to the relevant agencies swiftly. The home is seen to work well within strategy meetings and is proactive in its relationship with the local police.

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This inspection

All staff are trained in the use of restraint. Such incidents are infrequent, with only five since the last inspection. Some records of restraints require development, with additional clarity needed regarding the time that events have taken place and the behaviours leading up to the restraint.

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This inspection

Partnership working is good. There are regular meetings with differing educational provisions when there are concerns. Likewise, appropriate and timely inter-agency meetings are held to discuss the safety of young people when they go missing. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority owned children's home can accommodate up to four young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/08/2014 Full good 18/03/2014 Interim good progress 11/10/2013 Full good 20/03/2013 Interim good progress

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, discipline or restraint in a children’s home, a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose which shall include; details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure and the date, time and location of, the use of the measure (Regulation 17 B (b)(d)) 27/03/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the registered provider shall supply a copy of the report required to HMCI. (Regulation 33 (5)(a)) 27/03/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): 5 of 6  ensure each child’s placement plan is monitored by a key worker within the home who ensures that the requirements of the plan are implemented in the day-to-day care of that child. (NMS 25.2) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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