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

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:

 Children and young people make significant progress from their starting points in education, social well-being and emotional health.  All children and young people stated that the home is a safe and comfy environment. One young person said, ’I am looked after and well-cared for.’  Specialist help is made available to meet the individual needs of young people.  There is a vast range of activities, social clubs, weekends away on city breaks and holidays that enable children and young people to develop their social interaction with their peers.  Areas that require improvement include the need to strengthen recruitment procedures, the role of the independent visitor, supervision records, and review of the Statement of Purpose.

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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

ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32(3)(d)) 31/07/2015

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Requirement Due date

ensure that if the registered person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest in relation to the independent person before or during the independent person visiting the home the registered person must; make arrangements to cancel the visit without delay; and appoint a different independent person to visit the home (Regulation 43(7)(a)(b)) 31/07/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 keep under review the home's Statement of Purpose (Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations 3.5)

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Recommendations

 staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them (Guide to the children's homes Regulations 9.5)

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Recommendations

 a record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b) (Guide to the children's homes Regulations 13.5)

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Recommendations

 where the independent person is an employee of those carrying on the children's home, they must be employed solely for the purpose of quality assurance with the home (Guide to the children's homes Regulations 15.7)

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Information about this children's home

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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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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good

Young people develop a strong and positive sense of self over time supported by the staff team. They display a clear understanding of their individual backgrounds and make significant progress in relation to anti-social behaviours, education and emotional well-being. One young person commented, ‘We get help for the future like cooking, shopping, money saving etc. Also, when I am around the home I am looked after and well-cared for which makes the home a safe and comfy environment. Another thing is that when I ask if I would like to do something or go somewhere it is made to fit in somewhere if possible. Basically the care home is a good and safe environment and is the best place that I have stayed in and the home has very high standards.’

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good

Young people understand the need to ensure that their physical, emotional and psychological health needs are met at all times. Staff support and provide them with information about agencies that can assist them. The manager of the home has vigorously advocated on behalf of young people to get them the right level of support. One young person stated that they know there is help available and that staff have encouraged them to engage with specialist mental health services and receive therapeutic support. This has enabled them to better understand their backgrounds and to develop more effective coping strategies. One young person stated,’ This children's home is a very good one and I love it because all the staff care for the children in the home and it is the right place for me’.

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good

Young people can express their wishes and feelings to staff about all aspects of their care, know how to make a complaint and report confidence in doing so. Young people's engagement in education has improved significantly. They have goals and aspirations for their futures and these are encouraged and supported by staff. Staff also support them to identify further education courses and some have achieved qualifications such as environmental health. A school liaison teacher recently reported back to the home about a young person who had recently attended a special commemorative service in London in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, ‘He was actually our star pupil in so many ways he is an absolute credit to you both and it really shows what a great job you’ve done.’ She further stated how pleased she was that another young person had settled so well into high school education.

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good

Young people are gaining confidence and are able to engage in social activities in the local community and develop independence appropriate to their individual needs. The Registered Manager recognises this is an important area to develop further. One young person said, ‘I Like the people I live with, and the activities that I join in with.’

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good

Young people report feeling well supported by staff in this home and that they try to keep them safe at all times. A young person said, ‘Basically I like the place that I am staying in and I always feel safe around the home.’ Most young people are very involved in the Local Authority’s Children Council facilitated by a national charity, this results in young people having a voice on a panel that links with Local Authority policy development.

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good

Staff work hard to ensure that young people have educational provision in place. Where some young people have not engaged in formal education consistently for some time, staff have been proactive in securing the support of the school. This has resulted in all young people in the home now having full time education in place and their attendance is at 100%. This is a significant improvement from their starting points.

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good

Agencies say that they are satisfied with the level of engagement and focus on the young people's needs by staff who support young people to read and comment on their records. This has included them considering their placement plans, risk assessments and monthly reports. Young people report a clear understanding of their plans and risk assessments and how staff will support them to meet their holistic needs.

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good

Staff display a clear understanding of the diverse needs of each young person and how these needs will be met. Agencies report clear communication and engagement by the staff team. One social worker commented: The youngster I have placed at (home) has made significant strides in controlling his behaviour and his interactions with peers and adults. He still has progress to make but the support given by the placement staff is excellent and he can now share his difficulties with them as they arise’.

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requires improvement

Recruitment and selection of staff alongside the consideration of safeguarding investigations on the suitability of staff is not sufficiently robust. This is highlighted by a recent incident where the independent visitor for the home was allowed to continue monitoring the home while suspended from their employment with another organisation pending investigation. Following the conclusion of this investigation the individual was dismissed by their employer. The Registered Manager of this home did not undertake sufficient enquires with regards to this matter, nor did they explore this issue sufficiently when the individual was subsequently employed as a permanent member of staff at the home. In addition, the Registered Manager and the Responsible Individual did not follow their organisation’s policy and as a result potentially placed young people in their care at risk of harm. Young people report feeling safe living in this home and that staff do their best to

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requires improvement

keep them safe at all times. They have all been provided with information on how to make a complaint and about other agencies they can contact for support. Young people also have regular contact with the children's advocacy service, who they can discuss any issues or concerns with. One parent commented,’ All of the staff at (home) are caring and compassionate. They implement boundaries well and I know my child is extremely well looked after. My child experiences a wide range of activities in a safe and caring environment.’

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requires improvement

Regular meetings and reviews take place to consider behaviour management and other strategies for supporting the young people. Staff demonstrate an awareness of the complex needs of each young person and work closely with relevant agencies to ensure consistency of care at all times. Comments from external monitoring reports included comments from a specialist mental health worker who praised the staff team for following advice given about behaviour management strategies for young people and a therapist who praised the staff for their commitment to ensuring consistency of care for young people at all times.

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requires improvement

There has been no reported use of restraint since the last inspection and very few prior to that. Recording of any restraints used is detailed and comprehensive and includes the views of young people. There is also clear management oversight of any restraints used. Any concerns relating to alleged bullying are responded to promptly by the Registered Manager to ensure that all young people feel safe and supported at all times. Young people have not been missing from the home and the police commented ‘There are no issues whatsoever with (home). I do have regular contact with them even though calls to the Police are non-existent. I am always made welcome, the children are polite and it is extremely homely’. The home is physically safe and appropriately secure. The staff ensure that all visitors to the home sign in and are supervised during visits. Young people know and understand the security arrangements in relation to the home and follow these.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager has been in post since the home was registered in 2008 and has the necessary qualifications, skills and experience to perform his duties. At the last inspection no requirements or recommendations were made.

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requires improvement

Prior to this inspection, the Registered Manager employed a member of staff, who was previously been the homes Regulation 33 visitor, knowing that she had been suspended and subsequently dismissed from her previous employment in a children’s home for gross misconduct. The recruitment of this staff member was weak and did not rigorously ensure the individual was suitable to work at the home. While there have been no detrimental effects on the young people living at the home, the decision by the Registered Manager was poor and demonstrated ineffective leadership skills. The Registered Manager and the Responsible Individual are marital partners and live and work full time together at the home. There is one additional full time care staff member and bank staff covering any shortfalls due to sickness, holidays or days off.

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requires improvement

Placement plans have been reviewed and updated and clearly reflect the needs of young people and how these will be met. Results of all statutory reviews have been placed on each young person's file. Risk assessments in the majority of cases, reflect the needs of all young people and receive regular review and update. One known risk had not been subjected to a full risk assessment but staff were aware of the potential risks from the vigorous planning involved before the young person was admitted into the home.

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requires improvement

The Statement of Purpose had not been reviewed or updated since August 2014 and didn’t reflect on the quality standards or other changes in the home. This had also been identified in the April visit of the Regulation 44 visitor and highlighted as a recommendation in their report. Records relating to young people have been updated and signed by staff and young people.

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requires improvement

The Regulation 44 visitor currently offers supervision to the Registered Manager and the Responsible Individual and also provides training to staff and a consultancy service to the home. As a result they are not employed solely for the purpose of quality assurance and therefore cannot offer a full independent service.

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requires improvement

Staff learning and development records accurately reflect training and development opportunities undertaken over the past year. There are regular meetings to consider the needs of each young person. Monthly health and placement plans reports are forwarded onto the placing social workers who complement the thoroughness of their content.

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requires improvement

Staff receive regular supervision, however text from one supervision is copied over to the next month’s supervision record leaving a twelve month account almost identical. The Registered Manager acknowledged this as a weakness and advice was given to address this area.

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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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