Children's Home run by Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in Wakefield

Unique reference number SC066796 Inspection date 10/10/2012 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Date of last inspection 20/06/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

p.2

Brief description of the service

The home, run by a local authority, is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.3

The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

p.3

Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

p.3

Progress

This interim inspection has focused on the progress made by the home since their last full inspection in June 2012, at which they were judged to be inadequate. There were a number of requirements and recommendations raised at that inspection.

p.3

Progress

The staff have worked extremely hard in addressing all the requirements and recommendations and no new ones have been identified at this inspection.

p.3

Progress

Young people who have left the home benefit immensely from the continued support given by staff. This ensures that these individuals have access to appropriate services.

p.3

Progress

Young people are encouraged to eat healthy and nutritious meals. They participate in meal planning, cooking and shopping; this helps them to develop independence skills to enable them to make a successful transition to adulthood.

p.3

Progress

Young people benefit from attending their education or training provision. Some individuals are doing exceptionally well despite having a history of non-school attendance. Staff were informed at the open evening that these young people's progress is outstanding. This promotes their self-esteem and well-being.

p.3

Progress

Young people's needs are identified in their placement plan which includes their individual health needs. They are safeguarded by having individual risk assessments in place that identify potential dangers; there are strategies in place to minimise the risks.

p.4

Progress

There are robust arrangements to balance the needs of potential admissions with the needs of young people placed. These include impact risk assessments and planning meetings to ensure that the home can meet their needs. There are also introductory visits; these ensure young people know what they can expect when they come to live in the home.

p.4

Progress

Young people's behaviour is promoted by staff who have received updated training on behaviour management including developing individual crisis management plans. These identify potential behaviours with strategies in place to manage these. This ensures a consistent approach is maintained.

p.4

Progress

Young people's views are sought in the running of the home. For example, they have been involved in the redecoration programme and enjoyed a trip out to purchase new furniture that they were instrumental in choosing. Some young people have been involved in the redecoration of their bedrooms; this is on-going work.

p.4

Progress

Young people enjoy accessing all areas of the home, including the pantry and the bathroom. This helps create a more homely feel to the home.

p.4

Progress

Young people generally attend education or training during the day. However, when they are around the home they are encouraged to take part in a range of activities including cooking and baking, they have access to a computer and engage in key work sessions to help them develop skills to enable them to live independently. They have also been involved in the Macmillan coffee morning during which they raised £154. They also took part in the race for life and raised £250; they also plan to take part in comic relief. This helps to engender a sense of social responsibility. Staff were very proud of the young people's efforts saying one of them had even donated their pocket money. Other activities over the summer included a holiday to an activity park.

p.4

Progress

Young people benefit from accessing a range of services to help meet their needs. For example, the looked after children’s nurse supports young people to eat healthily and in ensuring their sexual health; a drug and alcohol worker supports young people on dealing with substance misuse and also advises staff on the new drugs young people access; an advocacy service supports young people's house meetings to ensure that their voice is heard. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health service supports young people and will also attend staff handover sessions on a weekly basis to support staff as a group or individually with managing young people's behaviour.

p.4

Progress

Young people are safeguarded by the partnership working with the local police to ensure young people are safe while out in the community. The incidence of young people going missing has greatly reduced and there is good individual guidance in place advising staff what action they should take if a young person fails to return to the home when expected. Clear records are in place detailing these incidents ensuring effective monitoring can be carried out.

p.4

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.

p.6

About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011).

p.6