Children's home run by Quarriers in Inverclyde

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This children’s home which offers a short breaks service continues to operate effectively. The staff team are skilled and practice in a creative, child focused manner. A high standard of care is provided to young people. The Registered Manger has very recently commenced a period of extended leave. The Acting Manager is a well-qualified professional with relevant experience in management. As a result management oversight offers clear direction, which continues a caring ethos and well-structured systems to support care giving.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The four requirements and one of the two recommendations made at the previous inspection have been addressed. There still remains an excessive number of fire extinguishers and fire signage in the home. Other aspects of the home also require further attention to maintain its homeliness. These include redecoration of two main bedrooms, refurbishment of the main bathroom and replacement of dated and damaged items of bedroom furniture. Light switch pull cords in the bathrooms and bedrooms also require securing to prevent these from being a risk to children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team show a good understanding of young people’s individual care needs. Care is provided in line with the individual’s care plan which is set out well, in easy to follow documents. Young people present with a range of barriers to communication. The staff, using the individual’s preferred communication style or medium, communicate effectively with them. The care given is good and is based upon offering choice in all aspects of daily living. The promotion of independence for each young person is clearly understood within the boundaries of each young person’s abilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The relationships between young people and staff were observed to be nurturing and positive. Staff work on a 1:1 basis with each young person or where assessed as necessary, with greater staffing ratios. The diverse and complex needs of the young people when together in the home are managed well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no safeguarding concerns raised since the previous inspection. This includes no reports of episodes of children or young people going missing or absent from the home. The behaviour management plans are individualised and provide clear information and direction for staff about what interventions are required and effective. Sanctions are rarely used. Restraint is used at a minimal level within the home and only when absolutely necessary. There have only been two occasions since the previous inspection when this has been so. Records of restraint are well kept. However, it has been identified that when these do happen the offer of medical assistance is not recorded. Neither are the de-escalation strategies used to prevent the need for such intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well managed, the acting manager has had a two week handover period working alongside the Registered Manger to familiarise herself with the children and parents and carers. Internal and external monitoring is robust and used effectively to ensure continuous improvement. Links with the Local Authority social workers and commissioner are good. Recent formal consultations and feedback from parent’s carers, children and young people and placing local authorities has all been good. Managers view day to day feedback from parents and professionals as beneficial. The management team and the wider organisation have a clear ability to continue to improve this service.

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Information about this children's home

This service offers short breaks for up to five children and young people who have a learning disability and/or physical disability with associated sensory impairment and complex medical needs. This service is delivered and managed by a charitable organisation that operates other services in England and Scotland.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/01/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

15/01/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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 home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of the children. They will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. This is in relation to the excessive fire extinguishers and fire signage. The need for repainting in bathrooms and bedrooms. The need to develop a system for the personalisation of sleeping accommodation for young people. (Guide to the Quality Standards page P15 3.9)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff record and share information about when medicine was administered. (This is in relation to sections of the medication records not dually signed) (Guide to the Quality Standards page 36 7.20)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that records of restraint review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge (This is in relation to there being no section on the record for staff to record that an offer of medical aid has been made to the child or young person after interventions and no record of de-escalation methods used to prevent intervention. (Guide to the Quality Standards page p49 9.59)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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