Children's home run by Family Care Associates Limited in Preston

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improved partnership working with health and education services is securing better outcomes for all young people living in the home. This is particularly evident for a young person whose needs cannot be met in a school setting. Alternative arrangements were made for him to be educated at home by a tutor and staff. At the last inspection this young person had been without any formal education for a full school term. This was because the allocated tutor went on long-term leave and was not replaced. Another tutor has since been appointed and their hours have been increased from 12 to 15 hours per week. In addition to this, staff are supporting him to achieve an ASDAN award in life skills, which in the long-term, will support his move to adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Better partnership working with specialist health services, in particular the dietician, is helping young people to lose weight and adopt a healthier life style. The dietician now visits the home every month to monitor a young person’s weight and provide guidance to staff on how to best support him. Consequently, he is now on a calorie controlled diet, which staff monitor daily, and is encouraged to make healthier food choices. This joint working with appropriate professionals is improving his physical health by supporting him to achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been working effectively with schools, social workers and parents to support a young person’s move to adult services. His key worker, alongside his mother, has worked diligently with adult social care to ensure that his new carers are fully aware of his needs and interests. This effective collaborative working is easing transitions to other services and making young people’s journey to adulthood a positive experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Measures have been taken to improve young people’s safety, such as, increased staffing levels and additional staff training on safeguarding and e-safety. Although risk assessments are now more personalised and reflect individual need; they do not provide sufficient detail of the intended intervention to manage all assessed risk. For example, risk assessments identify young people needing support with sexual health and relationships. However, they do not state how or when this will be addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care planning can improve. The home’s placement plans do not provide a clear overview of young people’s full range of needs or consistently detail how they will be met. For example, a young person’s health plan did not include the input from the dietician or indicate how the home intends to support this work. Furthermore, some young people do not have individual education plans in place. In particular, a clear plan or timetable in place for the young person being educated by staff within the home. This does not demonstrate effectively planned, clearly guided or outcome driven care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be managed by a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager. He has demonstrated commitment and capacity for continued improvement. In a relatively short period of time, he has appropriately addressed all of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. The shortfalls in care planning and risk assessments raised at this inspection demonstrate that monitoring of the service is not yet completely effective as it has not picked up on the shortfalls raised.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home providing care and accommodation for up to three children with learning disabilities. It operates under a contractual agreement with a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 18/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children-

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Requirement Due date

(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 18/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure to continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, paragraph 9.5, page 42)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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