Children's Home run by Inspire Children’s Services Limited in Wigan

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are able to manage their behaviours well and physical interventions are rarely required.  Young people are able to maintain contact with family and friends.  Young people are involved in a wide range of activities in the community.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are tolerant of each other and enjoy positive relationships.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff support young people to make the most of their educational opportunities.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Positive relationships are evident between staff and young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff work in partnership with other agencies and communication is good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Management monitoring is effective at identifying patterns and trends.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are safe and express confidence in staff taking action if they raise any concerns.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Area for improvement include the consistency of staffing; staff training and timely updates to young people’s risk assessments.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person should ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(2)(e)) 29/06/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure that staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child's needs; specifically that young people’s risk assessments are updated in a timely fashion (The Guide para. 9.7)

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Recommendations

 ensure that staff have access to the appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. (The Guide para. 10.11)

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Information about this children's home

The home is one of a number owned and managed by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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good

Young people make good progress following their admission to the home. One social worker commented, ‘This is one of the best homes that I have been involved in.’ Another social care professional remarked on the positive changes observed in the young person that they were working with saying, ‘Staff have been brilliant. Their care for the young person has been spot on.’

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good

Young people have made significant progress with addressing their health needs. Because staff have successfully motivated young people to effect change and access medical support, one young person who had been reluctant to attend any health appointments for some time has now attended for a health assessment, as well as sight and dental check-ups. The dentist for another young person has also commented on the improvements to a young person’s dental hygiene since his admission to the home.

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good

As a result of staff using imaginative ways to develop young people’s tastes in a range of healthy foods, their diets have also improved since living in the home. Those reluctant to eat fruit and vegetables have now introduced these to their diet. They also motivate young people to engage in physical exercise and many activities are jointly undertaken by staff and young people. Currently, young people enjoy riding their bicycles, ice skating and rock climbing. They talk positively about these opportunities and their health and fitness is improving as a result.

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good

Young people attend a variety of educational settings dependent on their needs and abilities. Staff are also pro-active in sourcing educational opportunities for young people struggling to engage in formal education. Staff will offer support to young people within their educational setting, in order for them to best utilise this learning opportunity. This helps to maximise their achievement.

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good

Staff support young people to learn new skills and contribute to daily life within the home. One young person recently attended a bicycle maintenance course so that he will be able to ensure that his bicycle is safe and well maintained. The small size of the home allows for staff to consult with young people on a daily basis about routine decisions, but also allows for some flexibility to arrangements. For example, staff will make changes to the menu at the request of the young person.

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good

Planning for new admissions to the home is good and impact risk assessments ensure that the needs of the young people already living in the home are given due consideration. One young person told the inspector about being able to visit the home prior to placement. He stated that being able to meet staff and other young people had made the move less daunting.

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good

Staff ensure that young people are able to maintain contact with their family and friends. Staff will facilitate contact, regularly providing transport, so that these important connections are maintained. Staff also support young people’s friendships in the local community, appreciating the significance of such contacts when young people move on from the home.

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good

Positive and respectful relationships were observed between staff and young people during the inspection. Young people said, ‘I like it here. It is a good home and I like the staff.’ Young people are responding well to the reasonable boundaries and expectations within the home and are learning about socially acceptable behaviours as a result.

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Good

Young people report feeling safe living in the home. They express confidence in staff doing their best to keep them safe at all times. Young people receive information outlining how to make a complaint on their admission to the home. They also have details about other agencies that they can contact for support if they need to. However, young people spoken to said they would be happy talking to a staff member if they had any concerns or complaints. They were confident that staff would take their concerns seriously. One young person had raised an issue with staff previously and the issue was satisfactorily resolved.

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Good

Staff recruitment processes are thorough. The completion of a range of pre- employment checks ensures that only those who are suitable commence work in the home. Managers consult appropriately with other agencies with a safeguarding role, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

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Good

Staff understand and implement missing from care protocols. They work in partnership with the police and other agencies to locate and protect young people. Young people do go missing on occasions. Sometimes as a result of high staffing levels that mean that young people feel they need some time on their own, and sometimes as a result of young people wishing to spend time with friends outside of the home. Staff maintain good quality records of these incidents. They also maintain telephone contact with young people; try to locate the young people themselves; speak to friends and family; and update young people’s risk assessments with details of where they have been located. Thus, informing future missing episodes. The Registered Manager ensures that strategy meetings take place in line with the regional protocol and that young people receive a return home interview. An involved professional commented, ‘Our interactions with the

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Good

home are positive, they work well in partnership with us.’ Staff also complete individual work with young people about keeping themselves safe and monitor incidents that do occur in order to identify any recurring patterns. Hence, trying to implement protective factors and minimise future incidents.

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Good

Young people benefit from consistent behaviour management strategies. The ethos of the home is to reward good behaviour and each young person has an individualised incentive plan. There is minimal use of sanctions in the home. Similarly, physical intervention is rarely required as staff are able to de-escalate the majority of situations.

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Good

Personalised risk assessments help inform staff about the issues pertinent to each young person and ensure that staff understand the most appropriate strategy to deal with specific issues when they do occur. However, these are not always updated in a timely fashion when there has been an escalation of behaviours. Consequently, the Registered Manager cannot be assured that all staff are aware of the increased prevalence of certain behaviours for young people and the additional safeguards required to minimise risk to the young person, themselves, or others. In addition, suggested control measures to reduce risk have not always been implemented. Hence, the level of risk has not been minimised as suggested or as perceived by young people’s social workers.

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good

The Registered Manager has been in post since the home opened in November 2014. She has the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to manage the home. She also has management responsibility for another home in the organisation. A deputy manager is in place to support her. They demonstrate a good understanding of the needs of the young people and the strengths of the staff team.

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good

Young people have been living in the home since December 2014. While some staff who were working in the home at that time remain here, there has been a vacant post for some time. These shifts have been covered by a number of different staff who work in other homes in the organisation. Hence, this has affected the consistency of staffing, as a large number of different adults are caring for the young people. The Registered Manager is unable to give assurances that all these individuals are aware of the current issues for young people living in the home, as she is struggling to ensure that they remain up-to-date.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisal. Staff undertaking this task have the required skills to complete this. This provides staff with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and decision making. The Registered Manager monitors the learning and development needs of staff. All permanent staff members either have a minimum of a Level three qualification or are imminently due to complete their course. But action has not always been taken to ensure that staff receive updated training, or specific training to meet the needs of young people living at the home. For example, attachment difficulties and drug and alcohol use. An increased understanding of these factors is likely to have a positive impact on the ability of staff to address these issues with young people.

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good

The home’s Statement of Purpose has been recently revised and reflects the aims and objectives of the home. The home is warm and welcoming and well maintained. Young people have ample space to engage in communal activities but also opportunities for privacy. Young people receive encouragement to personalise their bedrooms and make this space their own. The home is located in a quiet residential area, in a semi-rural location and is indistinguishable from other residential properties.

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good

The Registered Manager and deputy manager work together to monitor the progress that young people are making. Young people’s case records reflect the plans for each young person and the progress that they have made since moving into the home. Good records are maintained and staff produce good quality reports outlining young people’s progress. Social workers report that communication with the home is excellent and that any requests they make are actioned. They appreciate staff keeping them up-to-date. One professional involved with the home commented, ‘The communication is great. The care team work really hard to engage the young person. They are a very pro-active team.’ There is also an effective relationship with the local community police, who staff liaise with informally for advice and guidance, in order to support young people.

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good

The Registered Manager has a development plan for the home. This reflects the aims and objectives for the home and is subject to regular review. Social workers confirm that their views are taken into account as part of this. Managers demonstrate an awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and acknowledge where improvements are required.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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