Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

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:

 The home provides young people with a safe, caring, supportive and nurturing environment that contributes to their safety, protection and well-being.  Young people enjoy good relationships with staff that are positive role models for young people.  Staff actively listen to the views of young people who are routinely involved in the running of the home and have a sense of belonging.  The home maintains effective partnerships with other professional agencies to meet the needs of young people.  Young people benefit from effective support, help and protection. Young people feel safe and are kept safe from harm.  Where sanctions are used as a consequence for unacceptable behaviour the recording of the measure could be improved, to include, the views of young people and the reasons for the use of the measure.  Young people do not currently have routine access to a personal computer to complete school work, study or homework.

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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

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards. This relates specifically, to the removal of unwanted household furniture located to the rear of the home. (Regulation 12. (1) (d)). 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):  ensure children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (The Guide 5.19)

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Recommendations

 ensure positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged; and poor behaviour should be challenged and discussed. This relates specifically to ensuring young people are able to communicate their views about the fairness of any consequences used. Where consequences are used the reasons for the measure should be made clear. (The Guide 8.11)

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Information about this children's home

This section should outline:  the home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 4 children and young people of either sex  The home is run and managed by the local authority  the range of needs for whom the home intends to provide care include, young people who go missing from care, have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, require help and support to return home to live with their families, or foster families, if appropriate.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

p.5

good

The home makes a positive difference to the lives of young people. They make positive and measurable progress, across all aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. Young people benefit from highly individualised, well-planned care, they enjoy living at the home and feel a strong sense of safety living there.

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good

Young people benefit from continuity of care that provides them with stability and consistency in their lives. They enjoy exceptionally good relationships with staff and sustain their positive attachments. Staff invest in meaningful relationships with young people who report, ‘You can talk to them about anything. They are always there for me and I appreciate everything they do. I love them all so much…it’s great.’

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good

Staff are positive role models for young people. Young people enjoy good relationships with adults that they look up to and learn from. Young people know how to make a complaint and the complaints policy is accessible to them. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people’s views and opinions are actively sought and they are routinely involved in key decisions and contribute to the running of the home. Young people are involved in all aspects of their care and this contributes to their participation and sense of belonging.

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good

Young people report, ‘Staff are really nice and they talk to you. When I first came here I struggled. Now they take me out and they talk to me about how I’m feeling. I feel safe here because I’m not worried about anyone…Even though I am not living at home it still feels like a home. It doesn’t feel strange here.’

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good

Young people are engaged in education and they receive good support to attend school or alternative educational provision. Those who have struggled to attend school previously, show improvements with their educational attendance. Staff work closely with the providers of young people’s education to promote their educational achievement. Staff help young people with any difficulties at school and they arrange school meetings and attend parents’ evenings, where necessary. Staff have high expectations for young people and they show a genuine interest their education.

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good

A social worker reports, ‘The young person I have in placement is supported with her education. So much so, she has progressed and achieved beyond expectations.’ Young people do not currently have access to a personal computer, although one has been recently purchased for them. This is currently having software installed to enable young people to use the internet safely. Young people are involved in a diverse range of positive activities to promote their interests and hobbies. As a result, they have positive opportunities to improve their social skills, interests and self-confidence.

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good

Young people receive good support to have regular contact with their friends and families. As a result, they maintain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Young people are taught life skills, such as cooking, shopping and budgeting to promote their readiness for independence. Young people are allowed to take appropriate risks to develop their independence in accordance with their needs and levels of maturity.

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good

Young people enjoy good health and live in a healthy environment where they have access to the services they need to promote their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Staff provide good advice on key health issues, for example, drug use and sexual health. As a result, young people receive the support they need to lead a healthy lifestyle and they receive information to improve their own health. Young people who require additional support have access to specialist services to promote their physical and emotional well-being. Good links are maintained with health professionals and this promotes young people’s positive health.

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good

Staff are consistent in placing the safety of young people at the centre of their practice. As a result they benefit from effective support, help and protection. Staff anticipate issues and have a good understanding of young people’s vulnerabilities taking appropriate action to address them. Young people are kept safe because of the actions staff take to support and protect them.

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good

A social worker reports, ‘I feel that the staff do their utmost to ensure the safety of young people, such as involving wider services, following policies and procedures and thinking creatively when working with young people.’

p.7

good

Staff are trained in child protection, e-safety and child sexual exploitation and as a result of this young people are protected from abuse and all other forms of significant harm. Staff know how to deal with allegations that may be made by young people and report suspected abuse. They ensure significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities charged with a duty to protect young people. Consequently, young people benefit from effective support and protection. Staff employed to care for young people are selected and vetted carefully to protect young people from unsuitable people.

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good

The home maintains effective partnerships with the police and the missing from care team to promote the safety of young people. Most young people at the home do not go missing from care, and those that do, receive a well-coordinated response to promote their safe return. As a result, the frequency with which young people go missing has reduced, considerably. Risks associated with young people are all well-known and understood by staff and plans are in place to minimise risks.

p.8

good

Consistent boundaries are implemented by staff contributing to the personal safety and well-being of young people. They adopt a caring, supportive and non-punitive approach that encourages and recognises young people’s positive behaviour. Young people report, ‘When I first came here I was kicking off every day. They told me I could go on holiday and this helped me change my behaviour. I still have little tantrums but not bad ones.’

p.8

good

The use of restraint is exceptionally rare and it is only ever used to protect young people from harm. The use of sanctions is also rare. However, where they are used, the records are not always written clearly to rationale the use of the measure. Additionally, the views of young people are not routinely recorded, or creatively ascertained.

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good

Young people benefit from effective support to help them manage their own feelings and behaviour. Staff understand their triggers and recognise how their feelings and emotions can manifest in negative and difficult behaviour. A social worker reports, ‘The staff are aware that sometimes difficult behaviour is borne out of frustration not always malice. They are able to support young people when they most need that support.’

p.8

good

Young people benefit from a warm, comfortable and homely environment. The location of the home provides young people with good access to shops, public transport and local amenities. Consequently, young people are able to access places of particular interest to them. Health and safety matters are generally managed effectively. However, unwanted items of furniture located at the rear of the home, pose a potential fire hazard that could compromise the home’s safety. Consequently, a requirement is raised in respect of this issue.

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good

The home employs a well-qualified, trained and experienced Registered Manager who has been in post since 2004. The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2007. They hold a recognised qualification in leadership and management that is relevant to their role. The home also employs a competent deputy manager to promote the smooth operations of the home. There were no requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection.

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good

A strong, stable and competent staff team is employed at the home. Young people benefit from the care provided to them and they make good progress in relation to their starting points. The home is well managed, resourced and staffed to meet the needs of young people. Staff are enthusiastic about their roles and they strive to achieve the best outcomes possible for young people.

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good

Leaders and managers routinely monitor the performance of the home in order to improve the standard and quality of young people’s care. They have a good understating of the progress young people make and where improvements need to be made. Leaders and managers lead the staff team by example. They prioritise the needs of young people and are very much hands on their approach. They routinely review the progress young people make and can show how their life chances and outcomes have been improved as a result of their time there. A parent reports, ‘He's doing well, the staff are great and they have helped him mature into a great young lad, I'm dead proud of him.’

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good

The home meets the aims and objectives of its Statement of Purpose and delivers a high quality service for young people and their families. The home works positively and pro-actively with all professional agencies to meet the needs of young people. This includes challenging other professionals, who fail to deliver the services and support that young people need. Staff will actively advocate on behalf young people to promote their rights, needs and entitlements. They act in the best interests of young people.

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good

A social worker reports, ‘I have built a strong working relationship with the staff at Whittle Street. We speak almost daily, more so, if we have concerns about a child and we discuss a workable plan of action…Staff are always welcoming and show genuine care and affection for the young people. I think this is an excellent children's home.’

p.9

good

Staff benefit from good support from leaders and managers to meet the specific needs of young people. They receive regular supervision to support them in their roles. The arrangements for staff development and training are identified and met. Staff have sufficient skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience to work with the most vulnerable young people, they work flexibly and are consistent in their nurturing approach.

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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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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