Children's Home run by Woodside House Care Ltd in Blackburn with Darwen

Unique reference number SC357455 Inspection date 21/08/2012 Inspector Graham Robinson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/03/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is a private children's home owned and managed by a family partnership. It is registered to provide accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

Earlier this year and prior to the previous inspection, staff and young people experienced a tragedy within the home which has left everyone feeling very sad. Circumstances surrounding the incident have been and continue to be investigated, however the professional capability of the organisation has not been brought into question and the home continues to provide an outstanding service to vulnerable young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The ethos, culture and purpose of the home is to create a family based environment where vulnerable young people can settle and grow. This works well due to the strong and trusting relationships developed between staff and young people. The current outcomes for a group of young people in long-term placements are outstanding.

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Overall effectiveness

All young people are benefitting from stable, long-term placements, allowing areas of need to be identified and addressed. Strong relationships between staff and young people, coupled with clear, consistent boundaries, provide young people with a sense of security and a feeling of belonging. One young person describes the home as outstanding stating, 'I am cared for and supported well here. I feel like this is a normal home and not a children's home. I have never been cared for this good before. I have a good relationship with the staff and they are like family. They help and advise me like I was their child.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people understand and are comfortable with the boundaries in place and are accepting of them. They recognise them as fair and are there to promote their best interests. Personalised plans, strategies and areas of risk are designed to meet individual needs and promote greater independence. They are revised and updated regularly to keep them current and reflect progress. The home works collaboratively and cohesively with other relevant stakeholders to ensure young people's needs are met.

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Overall effectiveness

Serious behaviour management issues are extremely rare. Young people are happy and settled in their placements where they feel safe and well cared for. Staff work proactively to keep young people safe, whilst continuing to promote and encourage them towards more appropriate decision making as they grow and mature. As a result, young people's welfare is promoted positively in an environment where staff work alongside external agencies to keep them safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Excellent monitoring and evaluation allows the home to move forward and develop its practice further, based on the needs of the young people in their care. The home is owned by a family consortium, with the proprietors taking an active role in managing and running the home. A small dedicated band of staff are fully committed to the family model of care created, providing an outstanding consistency of care for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

This inspection has not raised any major areas of concern, although two areas for future development have been identified. The first is for evidence to be held on site which reflects the procedures taking place during staff recruitment, to confirm the right to work in the United Kingdom. In addition, the evidence should also reflect if any further checks were considered for those people who have lived outside the United Kingdom. The second area links to ensuring staff appraisals take place within the required timescale.

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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 that evidence is available on site which reflects the procedures taking place to confirm the right to work in the United Kingdom and if any further checks were considered for those people who have lived outside the United Kingdom (NMS 16.3)  ensure staff appraisals take place within the required timescale. (NMS 19.6)

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from living in an environment based on the family model and they are achieving outstanding outcomes in all areas of their lives. Stable, long-term placements coupled with the high levels of support received, allows them to settle into an environment where they feel safe and secure. As a result, young people are prospering socially and educationally.

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Outcomes for children and young people

This is supported by a range of external professional stakeholders contacted to provide views about the home. For example one states, 'The home has an extremely nurturing family atmosphere, which is run with obvious affection for the children there. It is very much a family environment.' Another says, `I visit children's homes throughout the north-west. This is one of the best I have seen.'

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Outcomes for children and young people

The culture, ethos and working practices of the home support and encourage young people towards setting and achieving personal goals. Their individual needs are identified and any difficulties or challenges presented are dealt with sensitively and supportively. This allows young people to grow in confidence and develop strong relationships, which enhances their ability to form attachments and develop greater resilience.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from contact with family, friends and other appropriate adults. Although contact arrangements can be complex, young people confirm they feel well supported by a staff team that encourages and facilitates appropriate contact. As a result, young people’s needs are well met.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Based on their starting points, young people's educational outcomes are outstanding. All young people are fully engaged with their education or further education, with high attendance levels noted. Strong links with local colleges ensure young people have appropriate arrangements to further their education. Young people are fully committed to this as it provides them with a wider perspective of what can be achieved educationally, and helps them to decide future career paths and extends their social network.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy good health and their health needs are positively promoted. Updated health plans form part of the planning package in place for each young person, which helps to ensure individual needs are assessed and met. All young people are registered with community-based health services to access day-to-day health support. The home has excellent links to more specialised services, which can be accessed if required to meet individual needs and provide added support.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are not indulging in cultures that may affect their health such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol. They are encouraged to improve their lifestyles through diet and exercise and as a result, enjoy improvements to their general health and fitness levels.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The home is well established within the community and actively encourages young people to take full advantage of the resources available, as well as making a contribution to the wider community they live in. For example, through active involvement in children's rights and raising money for charity. The home is festooned with photographs reflecting the activities enjoyed by young people and staff as well as celebrating individual achievement. Planning for transition and independence commences early with young people's participation in the home’s own independence training programme. Staff promote young people's independence. For example, by developing practical skills such as cooking and learning to become confident in the use of public transport. Individual plans and strategies reflect the areas where young people are encouraged to take more responsibility for themselves. This develops self-esteem and gives them

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Outcomes for children and young people

practical skills and experiences in preparation of what to expect once they move on.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

The quality of care afforded to young people is outstanding. Staff excel at developing and maintaining positive relationships with young people. The strong relationships and bond formed between staff and young people are used positively as a tool to reduce tension, upset and develop trust. This contributes significantly to ensuring serious behaviour management incidents in the home are extremely rare.

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Quality of care

The excellent relationships and high levels of daily, on-going communication between young people and staff helps young people to recognise boundaries and why it is not always possible to act upon their demands and wishes. This encourages them to understand other people's needs as well as their own, giving them a broader perspective and a sense of reality. This helps them to take more informed decisions about themselves and others.

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Quality of care

Appropriate information about the complaints procedure and their rights is readily available to young people, who understand how they can make a complaint if they wish to do so. However, young people feel confident taking any issues or concerns they may have to staff. This is confirmed by one young person who says, `I would speak to any member of staff and I could use the suggestion box to write a complaint.'

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Quality of care

Young people say they are consulted on a daily basis about all aspects of the homes operation. They are more comfortable with this on-going process, preferring it to the formality of young people's meetings, which do take place. They also recognise the regular key workers sessions which take place as forums for consultation. For example, one young person states, `I know I can always speak to my keyworker as well as other staff. I have a good relationship with him and all the staff. Me and my keyworker spend a lot of time together and it was my suggestion to have the (young people's) meetings less often as I know I can confront my keyworker anytime with any issues.'

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Quality of care

Young people's individual needs are clearly identified in care plans, strategies and assessments of risk. This includes identity, religious and cultural needs. Monthly reviews and updates ensure young people’s needs are current and well met. Young people have a good insight into the plans in place for them, confirming they have input into these. This gives them a sense of direction, along with agreed and achievable targets to aim for.

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Quality of care

Staff are proactive and imaginative in finding ways to support young people and help them express their views. For example, one young person described how he used a power point presentation at his recent review to illustrate his views and thoughts for the future. Based on the positive feedback received from the independent reviewing officer, the presentation had a profound effect on everyone in attendance.

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Quality of care

Young people and staff actively enjoy being in each other’s company. The well-being of young people is central to the homes daily functioning and working practices. This enhances the excellent levels of daily communication and encourages young people towards making appropriate relationships with others, allowing them to grow in confidence and enjoy improved self-esteem.

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Quality of care

Young people thrive from living in a home that is welcoming, warm and homely. Young people make it clear they like the home and are comfortable in their environment. There is a calm, relaxed atmosphere, giving a good impression of the home and the people living in it. It is well kept, with high standards of repair, equipment, fixtures, furnishings and décor. Young people have their own bedrooms, which are personalised to suit the tastes and interests of the occupant. Photographs and mementos on display reflect young people’s positive experiences.

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Quality of care

Staff promote healthy lifestyles in a variety of ways. Young people actively engage in a wide range of shared activities with staff, as well as pursuing individual interests of their own. For example, the home encourages young people to participate in a variety of activities, such as swimming and attending a local gymnasium. In addition, young people are encouraged to develop and follow their own interests and leisure pursuits, within the community. This allows young people to form friendships with others in the community, helping them to become more integrated and accepted locally.

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Quality of care

The home also ensures activities are purposeful and at times educational with regular trips to other parts of the country and even abroad. Visits and trips are arranged to introduce young people to experiences they may not have had before such as theatre trips and visits to places of historical interest. This gives young people new experiences and a wider perception of what the world around them has to offer. This is recognised and appreciated by young people, with one stating, `We usually go abroad once a year and the experience has been amazing. The activities in the home are not cheap and we do a lot of them which is highly appreciated by all the young people in the home.'

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from healthy meals and take an active role in shopping, planning menus and food preparation. They are encouraged to try unfamiliar foods, appreciate different cultures and try international cuisine. Festivals and religious events are regularly celebrated.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm they feel safe and that the home is a safe place to live. Although there have been no safeguarding issues affecting the home since the previous inspection, strong links are maintained with external agencies. They report excellent levels of communication along with collaborative and cohesive working practices between themselves and the home. Staff work proactively to reduce risk and they understand their responsibilities and duties in promoting young people's welfare. Individual knowledge of young people's needs, underpinned with the strong links to external agencies, provide a sound mechanism for responding to young people's changing needs for safety and protection.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people say that bullying is not an area for concern and confirm staff quickly challenge and intervene should an incident occur. This gives young people a feeling of security and general safety.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Close links and excellent working practices have been developed with the police missing from home co-ordinator, and these ensure staff would respond appropriately to any incidents should they occur. This multi-agency response to missing young people minimises situations where they can become vulnerable or put themselves at risk. As a result, the home has not had any recent incidents of young people going missing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Serious behaviour management incidents within the home are extremely rare and this is reflected in the fact that no sanctions have been imposed since the previous inspection. The ethos and culture of the home is to work through challenges and difficulties, positively rather than punitively. Young people feel staff are fair and recognise they are rewarded for good behaviour. Staff are clear that physical intervention is used only as a last resort, with few incidents having taken place since the previous inspection. The monitoring of incidents ensures young people’s individual strategies are kept under review and adapted as required. As a result, serious behaviour management incidents, while rare, are safely managed.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A small, dedicated staff team have worked together for some years giving the home stability and consistency. No new staff appointments have been made since the previous inspection, although appropriate recruitment and clearance procedures are in place to ensure that any new staff are suitably cleared prior to taking up their posts. Longer-serving staff are being re-checked at regular intervals. This ensures that only suitably checked people have contact with young people. However, evidence is not available on site which reflects the procedures taking place to confirm the right to work in the United Kingdom and if any further checks were considered for those people who have lived outside the United Kingdom.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are protected through a range of risk assessments identifying hazards in and away from the home. They participate in regular fire drills and can safely exit the home if needed. Safety checks to maintain a safe environment are regularly undertaken. Individual risk assessments, coupled with coping strategies, promote a safe environment for all young people. Individual strategies are updated in light of reviews of young people’s risks and progress.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The home is highly organised and very well managed. Young people benefit from a practical, child-focused management team, who have a clear vision on how the home should function and develop. The small staff team bond well and are fully committed to the culture, ethos, aims and working practices developed by the home. They understand their role and responsibilities and work with the support of managers to address young people’s needs positively.

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Leadership and management

The staff team receive good support and regular supervision, which helps to improve their knowledge and working practices. The annual appraisal of staff has stalled and is not taking place with the frequency suggested in the standards. However, there is no evidence to suggest this has had a negative impact on young people's outcomes. All staff have gained or about to gain an appropriate professional qualification. They regularly update their core training to revise their knowledge and skills. This ensures they possess the competences and skills to effectively meet young people’s diverse needs.

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Leadership and management

Both the internal and external monitoring of the home is systematic, with comprehensive monitoring reports being completed regularly. Reports are detailed and evaluative, drawing up information from monitoring exercises and evaluating impact. They contain elements of quality assurance and ensure practice is accountable. Young people contribute to monitoring and can discuss their views. The management team demonstrates an understanding of the strengths of the home and areas in need of improvement, which is reflected in the home's written development plan.

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Leadership and management

The home has an excellent record of compliance with no requirements or recommendations carried over from the previous inspection. Since then the home has continued to move forward and progress, with a number of new initiatives being introduced since the previous inspection. For example, introducing independent advocacy for young people and arranging and financing individual tutoring for one young person.

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Leadership and management

Young people live in a home that goes as far as possible to create a family environment. They are looked after by an enthusiastic and fully committed staff team that demonstrates a genuine desire and commitment to improve young people's outcomes and prepare them for transition into adult life. As a result, young people thrive and develop socially, emotionally and educationally. They re-integrate into society and form socially acceptable views of life, which are reflected in their plans and aspirations for the future.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The 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 relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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