Children's Home run by Young Alliance Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC381531 1 SC381531

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Young Alliance Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to five children or young people who may have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since December 2018.

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This monitoring visit

A visit took place following a whistle-blowing complaint. Concerns were raised regarding medication storage, including children missing their prescribed medication, lack of training to use specialist equipment, such as hoists, and falsification of records.

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This monitoring visit

The visit took place using on-site activity and a series of virtual meetings. All children were in education at the time of the inspector’s visit.

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This monitoring visit

The home operates a paper system of recording the administration of medication. All medication is securely locked away in each child’s locker. A photograph of a child against their records would help to identify the individual child and reduce the likelihood of medication errors. The manager acknowledges that there is room for improvement in the overall system. There is a plan to move towards an updated computerised system in the coming months.

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This monitoring visit

Medication administration is countersigned by two members of staff and a senior staff member on duty. Any damaged tablets are accounted for, secured safely in a sealed envelope and placed in a lockable cabinet. These tablets are then taken to the local pharmacy for disposal at the earliest opportunity. Viscosity of liquid medication effects the ability to accurately calculate any remaining medication. The Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC381531 2 manager has discussed alternatives with the pharmacy. A requirement has been made to address this matter.

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This monitoring visit

The employment of suitably qualified and experienced staff has been an ongoing issue for this home. The location of the home has meant it has, on occasion, been difficult to find staff with the correct skills. Staff have been dismissed and/or left prior to completing their probationary period. When necessary, the manager has reported any staff-related incidents to the local area designated officer for further investigation. Senior managers have completed internal investigations following receipt of staff complaints.

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This monitoring visit

Not all staff have completed their own written account on children’s case records. Consequently, there is potential for falsification of records by any member of staff. A recommendation has been made to address this matter to ensure accurate recording of information.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have up-to-date training. Moving-and-handling training covers a wide range of techniques to safely manoeuvre those children that require additional help. The manager promotes an ethos to respect the wishes and feelings of those children who want to be as independent and mobile as their physical disabilities will allow. Specialist equipment is used when required. A recommendation has been made to ensure that staff continue to receive training when new equipment is in use.

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This monitoring visit

Children who require specialist hair-care products to care for their hair is met by the home. This ensures that the cultural identity of children from different ethnic groups is maintained. Those children who do not like to visit hair salons may benefit from a visit by a hairdresser to assist with hair maintenance to boost their confidence.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/05/2019 Full Good 09/01/2019 Full Good 25/10/2017 Full Outstanding 22/02/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC381531 3

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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 within the given timescales.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

Paragraph (2) does not apply to medicine which—

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Requirement Due date

is stored by the child for whom it is provided in such a way that other persons are prevented from using it; and

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Requirement Due date

may be safely self-administered by that child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 23 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c) (3)(a)(b)) 30 January 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. Staff should be provided with up-to-date training on manual handling, including specialist equipment, such as using hoists to move children and young people safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC381531 4  The registered person should ensure that case records are kept up to date and that they are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Alliance Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 60 School Lane, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QE

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC381531 5 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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