Children's home run by Oldham Children’s Social Care in Oldham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has commenced providing support to children and young people from a neighbouring authority under a planned agreement. The transition plans included staff from both homes meeting and sharing practice, visits to the home to meet children and young people who receive a short-break service and children, and young people with their families, visiting the short-break service. Staff from one local authority transferred to work for this authority under agreed protocols. The management of the home has ensured that staff from both services are working together on a planned basis, thereby ensuring continuity of support from staff and minimising anxieties that young people may experience. However, the care plans for the two services are on different formats and this is causing some confusion for the staff supporting the young people. This is in relation to the recording rather than the actual care provided. Not all care plans

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have been reviewed, and the manager is aware that this needs to be undertaken. This has been raised by the independent visitor as part of the monthly monitoring of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The transition planning for the move for young people commencing placement at the home has been detailed. However, the transition of young people into adult care services is still not consistent. This means that some young people and their families are unclear about the level of support that they may receive in the future. This was a requirement at the previous inspection, and the local authority has commenced a review of these arrangements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy their short break at the home and have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities and experiences to enhance their overall experiences further. They take part in activities in the community, for example using local shops, parks and recreation facilities. In addition, the home has access to transport, to enable them to have trips out to leisure facilities and places of interest. This further widens their opportunities to take part in leisure facilities with their peers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents and carers speak positively about the home. They feel that the transition arrangements work well, including the opportunity to visit the home and meet staff prior to their child commencing their stay. Parents of children who have received a short-break service from the home for a number of years also spoke positively about their child’s experience. One parent said, ‘My child enjoys his stay here. It gives him the opportunity to socialise with his friends and experience a range of activities. He is always excited to attend and, when he returns home, shows he is happy through his communication and my observation of how he is.’ Another parent said, ‘The staff communicate well with us and fully involve us in our child’s care.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Through observation, staff demonstrate a good understanding of the needs of the young people and engage them well during their visit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Many of the young people have prescribed medication. A review of the medication policy and procedure is ongoing with a pharmacist. An interim policy is in place. However, some staff are unsure about the new policy and do not feel confident in being involved in administering medication until they receive further medication training. This is planned, and only staff who have medication training administer medication. Controlled medication is currently not stored as required by regulations. This shortfall has been identified through the medication audit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home rarely uses physical intervention, but supports young people with individual behaviour management plans. However, some interventions that are mechanical have not been recognised or recorded, for example, when there is a mechanical restriction through the use of equipment. If there is a need for this to promote safety and well-being, clear and detailed assessments by an appropriately qualified professional should be in place, and equipment used as agreed to safeguard young people from risk of harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no significant notifications, complaints or concerns. The manager is aware of the procedures to follow in such cases.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has submitted a major variation to increase the number of beds from six to seven. In addition, the home, in recognition of the joining of the two services, is currently reviewing its name, to ensure that the new service is represented by a new name. A shortlist has been compiled, and the updated name will be forwarded to form part of the overall variation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff say that the transition of the service has gone better than they had expected. They remain positive about the service and continue to work together to promote a single service which takes the best of each of the previous services, to form a new resource to meet the needs of young people with complex needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As a result of this inspection, three requirements and a recommendation have been raised. These are in relation to medication, care plans and transition to adult services. The recommendation is in relation to equipment being assessed for the individual person by a suitably qualified and experienced practitioner.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority children’s home providing short breaks for children and young people with complex needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children have a positive experience of arriving or moving on from the home. This is with reference to ensuring that transitions from the home to adult services are planned and supported effectively in the best interest of the young person. 30/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary. This is in relation to ensuring that placement plans follow a consistent and clear format (Regulation 18(7)). 31/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home. This is in particular reference to the implementation of the revised policy and the storage of controlled medication (Regulation 23(1)). 31/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  In some extreme cases where children have very complex care needs, a child may need to be restrained by mechanical or chemical means. Any use of such restraint should follow a rigorous assessment process and, as with any restraint, be necessary and proportionate. Wherever such restraint is planned, it should be identified within a broad-ranging, robust behaviour management plan which aims to bring about the circumstances where continued use of such restraint will no longer be required (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.45).

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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 that 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 whom 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

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