Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

Unique reference number SC390576 Inspector Matthew Hedges Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Care Today (Children's Services) Ltd Registered person address Care Today Children's Services, Lansdowne House 85 Buxton Road STOCKPORT Cheshire SK2 6LR Responsible individual Vivien Anne Snape Registered manager Samantha Alison Cookson Date of last inspection 12/11/2014 2 of 8 Inspection date 06/01/2015

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Previous inspection inadequate Enforcement action since last inspection Following an inspection on 12 November 2014, Ofsted issued a compliance notice in respect of Regulation 11. A restriction of accommodation notice was in place from 02 December 2014 to 11 December 2014.

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2014 Full inadequate 11/03/2014 Interim good progress 03/10/2013 Full good 19/02/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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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 children are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, in a way that is appropriate to their age and abilities (NMS 3.6)  ensure that avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel (NMS 10.3)  ensure that there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with and have practiced so they know what to do in an emergency. (NMS 10.9) 4 of 8

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people’s progress during their time at the home was mixed. Some young people achieved good outcomes in key areas of their life. This included improved attendance at school. This developed young people’s self-esteem and improved their educational attainment. One head teacher confirmed this stating that the young person’s attendance was, ‘excellent’.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Other young people have moved from the home quickly. For some young people this was due to the danger that their behaviour placed them in. This included risk of harm to themselves. This has limited the progress that they can achieve.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Feedback was received from professionals and young people after leaving the home. This indicates that young people had the confidence to share their views and feelings about the care they received. This helped young people to influence their care and inform their future support.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people were able to see their friends and family regularly. This ensured that young people were supported to see the people closest to them. This helped them to understand their background.

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Quality of care good

Feedback was gathered by staff from young people who had left the home. Their comments included the home was, ‘like a home…we all got along’. Professionals also talked positively about the home, one social worker rating the home as, ‘good’.

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Quality of care good

The format of young people’s behaviour management plans have been updated. The opportunity for young people’s views to be included is now available. This helps future young people to have more control of the care they receive and reinforces that their views are valued. In addition, this will support staff to use individualised positive behaviour strategies to support young people. Young people previously expressed mixed views regarding the use of, ‘sanctions’ for negative behaviour. Some sanctions used by the home do not encourage young people to take responsibility for their own behaviour relative to their age or understanding. In addition, they create an institutional feel. The impact of this was reduced by the discussions with young people evident in their behaviour management plans. Positive behaviour is highlighted and rewarded. This helps young people to understand the benefit of positive behaviour and feel proud of their achievements.

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Quality of care good

Good systems are in place to ensure young people’s views are sought through young 5 of 8 people’s meetings and keywork sessions. These views are then discussed in team meetings and influence the running of the home. This show’s that young people’s opinions are valued.

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Quality of care good

Procedures are in place that ensure young people know how to complain. The home has learnt from complaints that have been made by young people. In some cases, this has been part of the decision for young people to move to other placements.

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Quality of care good

Staff have positively addressed barriers to young people’s education. Education providers speak positively about the home in this regard. As a result, some young people’s education attendance had significantly improved prior to leaving the home. One head teacher commented that staff always ensured the young person, ‘was appropriately prepared for school’ and that they were, ‘always supportive with homework…ensuring that the young person was up to date with their studies’. A social worker also commented that the home had been, ‘hugely instrumental’ helping a young person to engage in school.

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Quality of care good

The arrangements for the recording, storage, and monitoring of medication are robust due to the improvements made since the last inspection. This ensures that young people’s health needs can be safely met.

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Quality of care good

The home has been redecorated in several areas. This has improved the environment considerably. The home is clean and well maintained. It is pleasant and welcoming for both staff and any new young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has updated the format of young people’s behaviour management plans. They identify risks and protective factors and can be regularly reviewed with young people. This enhances the support that can be offered to young people. It also ensures staff are clear regarding the actions they should take. Staff show a good awareness of the risks present when young people are missing. Actions taken by staff show young people’s welfare is safeguarded.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has developed improved relationships with the local police. Police now visit the home regularly. Staff are clear about how to contact key officers if required. This helps to enhance the protection young people can receive.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There have been three physical restraints since the last inspection. These restraints were appropriate and used to keep staff and young people safe. Records of these incidents are very detailed and comprehensive. Records clearly show the build-up, triggers, and the various techniques staff used to try to defuse the incident. There is good oversight from the Registered Manager. This helps improve practice and ensures young people’s rights are respected. 6 of 8 Staff recruitment is robust. Allegations against staff are well handled by the Registered Manager. Staff and young people are aware of the home’s whistleblowing policy. These measures help to protect young people from unsafe adults.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Health and safety checks are regularly undertaken by staff and are robust. This includes fire safety. The home liaises with the local fire officer and up to date fire risk assessments are in place. Prompt action is taken to address any shortfalls identified. This ensures that staff and young people are protected. Staff understand the actions to take in response to fire. Fire drills are carried out regularly; it is not common practice to undertake these during the hours of darkness. This may cause uncertainty for staff and young people should a fire occur at night.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Physical changes have been made to the home in several areas which help to remove hazards. For example, young people would now be unable to climb out of their windows. This significantly reduces the risk posed to some young people.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2009. She is well qualified and experienced. The Registered Manager keeps up to date with changes to legislation and uses this to support improvement.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager reviews the effectiveness of the home. She is aware of the strengths and weaknesses and has taken action to secure improvements. This is underpinned by the home’s action plan and a development plan.

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Leadership and management good

All eight requirements and four recommendations from the last inspection have been addressed. The Registered Manager, assistant manager, and staff team have reflected on the shortfalls and have taken robust action to address them. In some cases, young people have moved from the home to promote their safety and ensure they are appropriately supported.

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Leadership and management good

In addition, improvements have been made to the home’s Statement of Purpose. This clearly sets out the services offered by the home ensuring that young people, families and placing social workers are clear about what they can expect.

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Leadership and management good

Some young people’s records were also improved. A new format implemented by the Registered Manager allows for greater identification of risks, strategies to manage this, patterns and trends and young people’s views. This ensures that staff are more confident and young people can be better supported. Other records including the recording of physical restraint are also much improved. In addition, medication arrangements are more robust and are monitored effectively. Physical hazards in the home have also been addressed and physical restrictions removed. These improvements promote young people’s physical well-being. 7 of 8 Staff training and development has also improved. The home’s training programme has been reviewed. As a result staff have received training in key areas including, self-harm and the use of ligatures. Staff have also been trained in the use of ligature cutters. Further training is planned by the Registered Manager to ensure that staff

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Leadership and management good

are confident and competent in other areas including child sexual exploitation. Staff receive regular supervisions and appraisals of a good quality. Staff speak positively about their supervisions and the support they receive in general. This includes the Registered Manager who receives regular support from the home’s Responsible Individual.

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Leadership and management good

Finally, the Registered Manager has improved the home’s impact assessment and is using these effectively to assess young people referred to the home. This has resulted in a better fit between the skills of the staff team and the young people the home will accommodate.

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Leadership and management good

The result of these changes is an improved home that is able to offer a better service to young people. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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