Children's Home run by CareTech Community Services Limited in Dudley

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

The registered manager has worked with external managers within the organisation to push forward required service improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The team now benefits from the addition of a permanent deputy manager, providing an improved management structure since the last inspection. Shift planning has been strengthened to ensure that a senior member of staff is always on duty. These changes, alongside the experience gained by staff since the home opened means that staff are confident and understand their roles and responsibilities. Progress has been made with staff training. The registered manager and deputy manager are both appropriately qualified. While care staff have not yet achieved the required level 3 qualification, several are expected to complete this imminently. The broad range of appropriate short course training provided to staff ensures that they understand how best to care for children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management oversight of complaints and notifiable events has improved in response to requirements set on the last inspection. Strengthened management monitoring has resulted in improvements to individual files. The staff team have reviewed each file and have taken action to obtain previously missing documents. This means that information necessary to inform effective care planning is available. The registered manager has taken additional steps to obtain required documentation when initial requests to placing teams were not responded to. This shows that the registered manager understands her responsibilities to ensure that regulatory requirements are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are protected by the improvements made to the medication administration system. A health professional has undertaken an audit and worked with the registered manager to strengthen the arrangements to store and administer medication. Staff have attended additional training and the records kept in relation to medication are improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Involved professionals and parents hold a positive view of the service. Comments from parents include, ‘They have been brilliant, they are meeting all of his (young person) needs, I am very happy’. Comments also confirm that children and young people look forward to their short break stay. Professionals reflect confidence in the leadership and management. Comments confirm that joint working is effective and note ‘staff are competent and understand individual needs’. Independence, personal progress and new opportunities are each promoted. The introduction of behavioural targets and goals for independence structures focused work to support individual needs. The registered manager is planning to evaluate the effectiveness of the work undertaken with each child. This additional step helps to identify necessary adjustments to care in order to ensure that each child reaches their potential and concerning behaviours reduce. In discussion a parent

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

reflects on the positive progress her child has made. ‘He has become a lot more independent and feeds himself more, he is also much more involved in his personal routines’. A range of interesting and personalised activities are promoted. For example, a young person’s interest in visiting the cinema is supported. Another young person particularly enjoys swimming. Parents value the routine of staff contacting them prior to each short break to discuss and plan possible activities. No requirements against regulation or recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned short break service is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/07/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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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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