Children's Home run by Courtyard Care Limited in Bolton

Unique reference number SC389823 Inspector Janine Shortman-Thomas Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Courtyard Care Limited Registered person address Caroline House 146 Audenshaw Road Audenshaw Manchester M34 5HQ Responsible individual Colin Richard Gallimore Registered manager Jenny Marie Thompson-Kavanagh Date of last inspection 17/12/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 10/03/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action taken since the last inspection.

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

At the full inspection on 17 December 2014 the home was judged to be adequate in quality of care, leadership and management, safeguarding, and outcomes for children and young people. The overall effectiveness of the home was judged to be adequate.

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This inspection

Both of the requirements from the previous inspection have been addressed appropriately. The Registered Manager now ensures that reports undertaken to monitor the matters set out in Schedule 6 are completed at least once every three months and are submitted to Ofsted. The Registered Manager has also taken the necessary action to ensure that any child protection plans that are in place are understood and implemented by all. As a result children and young people are now kept safe.

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This inspection

Suitable action has been taken to address all seven of the recommendations raised at the previous inspection. These relate to clear risk assessments; safer recruitment; training; ensuring there is a formal process in place to escalate concerns; Statement of Purpose clearly highlighting the present staff team and their qualifications; Children’s Guide identifying independent reviewing officers, social workers and independent advocate details, and improving the home environment. The work undertaken by the Registered Manager and the staff to address the shortfalls raised previously demonstrates the homes capacity to continue to improve.

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This inspection

Children and young people are making progress with in emotional wellbeing. With continued support from the staff team and specific individualised support from the in house therapist, children and young people have a better understanding of their backgrounds and histories and are gaining confidence in addressing their emotions more effectively. As a consequence self-harming behaviours for some have reduced. 3 of 7 Some children and young people have access to college courses to further their knowledge, skills and interests. However, others have yet to benefit from receiving any form of meaningful education, training or employment opportunities as they continue to refuse to engage and attend any provisions which are identified. This is despite the encouragement and support that is offered to them by staff to attend. Some children have yet to be provided with a statutory education provision suitable for their needs. As a consequence some children and young people’s education, and

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This inspection

later life opportunities are compromised, as they are not given the opportunity to learn and develop their knowledge and skills required to equip them further for adulthood.

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This inspection

Care planning and practice is individualised and children and young people are encouraged and supported to contribute to their care planning. Children and young people’s views are routinely sought through individual consultations, residents meetings and more informally through day to day discussions with managers and staff. While some children and young people confirm that they know how to complain and feel the staff would support them should they need to use this process, others have not been fully supported to access independent advocacy services. As a result children and young people cannot challenge those decisions which affect their lives.

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This inspection

Care plans identify risks and necessary risk reduction strategies. Staff are aware of factors that may trigger unsafe behaviours and are proactive in taking action to minimise these. They have a good understanding of children and young people’s needs and through positive, trusting relationships are able to encourage them to consider their actions if these are felt to be unsafe. As a result, some children and young people are developing a sense of safety and well-being and acknowledge risks associated with their behaviours. This, along with positive working relationships with partner agencies, has reduced incidents of missing from care and self-harming behaviour for some.

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This inspection

Children and young people live in a large comfortable home which is safe and clean throughout. This is because a range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and routine checks protect them. Evacuation plans are understood and practiced regularly by children, young people and staff. The home is maintained and furnished to a good standard. Work is currently underway to complete a therapy room downstairs in the home. The kitchen, dining room, two living rooms are equipped with all the necessary requirements needed to provide a comfortable and homely environment. Children and young people personalise their own bedrooms, with pictures they have made, posters and certificates they have achieved, and their rooms reflect their individual taste. These rooms are maintained to a good standard, with two rooms recently benefiting from new furniture.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager who is presently undertaking the National Vocation Qualification Level 5 qualification runs the home. She and the staff team have high aspirations for the children and young people, and the service. They continue to 4 of 7 develop the service, using the evaluation from the internal and external monitoring process and incorporate this into the working development plan which is currently under review. Reporting and recording is generally good and staff follow the policies and processes for recording, handling and safe keeping of all prescribed medication. However a shortfall has been raised in relation to the safe storage, recording and administration of non-prescribed medication. As a result children and young people are not kept safe.

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This inspection

One requirement and two recommendations have been raised to improve care practice and keep young people safe. These relate to administration and recording of medication, securing appropriate statutory education, and ensuring children and young people have access to independent advocacy services. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities and/or mental disorders, excluding learning disability.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2014 Full adequate 27/02/2014 Interim good progress 17/06/2013 Full good 08/01/2013 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

(2001) ensure there are suitable arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of any medicines received into the children's home, especially in relation to non prescribed medications. (Regulation 21 (1)) 24/04/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that staff engage and work with schools, colleges, other organisations, and the placing and hosting local authority to support 6 of 7 children and young people's education. Specifically including advocating for children and young people who may be experiencing difficulties in receiving the statutory 25 hours education that they are entitled (NMS 8.7)  ensure that all children and young people are assisted to obtain the support of an independent advocate to help them in providing their views, wishes and feelings to a statutory review. (NMS 25.7) 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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