Children's Home run by Warrington Borough Council in Warrington

Unique reference number SC442779 Inspection date 26/02/2014 Inspector Pamela Nuckley Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 14/08/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority provision provides care and accommodation for two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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.

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Progress

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

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Progress

At the last inspection in August 2013, the overall effectiveness rating of the home was good. One requirement was set to improve practice and this has been met. The home has made good progress since the last inspection.

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Progress

The home was asked to ensure that any consequence given for unacceptable behaviour was effectively monitored. The manager discusses all consequences within a staff team meeting to ensure that it was appropriate, time limited and relative to the behaviour. They have been able to recognise when some consequences are not impacting on behaviour and which do. In addition to this, young people say that consequences are discussed with them and although they do not always agree with them, that they are fair. Therefore, young people say they are fully consulted and they are learning that there is consequences for their actions.

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Progress

The staff work in a determined manner to ensure that appropriate education placements are sourced quickly; as a result, young people's education is disrupted as little as possible in order that they can continue to attend classes and achieve. Staff support young people in education planning meetings or represent their views if they choose not to attend. Contact between the home and school is frequent and effective. A notable area of strength is staff’s close communication and support of other professionals working in education to sustain and increase the young people's time in the provision. One young person said ‘if I continue to improve, I am going to mainstream school in September. I am really looking forward to this. I want to get good grades so I can go to college’. As a result of these excellent working partnerships, young people have ambitions for their future.

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Progress

Young people are cared for in line with their individual placement plans. The plans are regularly updated to make sure that they are up to date and continue to meet individual young people's needs. Regular key work sessions ensure young people are involved in decisions about their care. Young people meetings have evolved into having guest speakers attending. The fire service has done a presentation on fire safety and the Warrington Wolves Foundation came to discuss their charitable work. As a result of this, one young person helped in preparing Christmas dinner for the elderly people in the community. This shows that young people are engaged within the community and can influence or direct the way they have their meetings, so they are purposeful rather than routine.

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Progress

Young people say that this is a good home, that they are happy and safe. One young person was extremely complimentary about how the home has enabled them to do things with their friends. They said ‘I have to have an injection at certain times of the day, which usually restricts me from doing certain things. However, I go to football practice three times a week and play on Saturdays and I have been on an overnight residential holiday. It was fantastic.’ Young people are afforded the same opportunities as their peers because there is excellent liaison with health professionals and robust risk assessments in place. This coupled with staffs and the young person’s knowledge of their condition ensures that they can safely undertake these hobbies.

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Progress

Although some young people are doing exceptionally well in their placement, other young people are struggling to engage with staff, professionals and their placement. Therefore, they are placing themselves at risk by being missing from home. However, the home is working closely with the missing from home coordinator of the police and with independent services that address issues of safety with young people. The police visit the young person on their return. Young people also have a return interview to see if there are any underlying issues of why they went missing. This ensures that young people are able to express their reasons, that risk assessments are fully updated and that any concerns or issues raised can be fully addressed. In addition to this, the home has ensured that placement plan meetings take place regularly to look at strategy’s to reduce the risk. Staff demonstrated that they were fully aware of the ‘missing from home’ protocol for the area. Staff say that

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Progress

their priority is to ensure that young people are safe and well.

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Progress

Good monitoring systems review the quality of care and identify areas where outcomes for young people can be improved. Young people, professionals and parents are consulted as part of this process. Monitoring of the home is effective and reports of monitoring are completed in a timely manner. No requirements or recommendations were set as a result of this inspection.

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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 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.

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