Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

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 do enjoy living at the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people feel safe. Their safety and welfare is taken very seriously and their protection is central to how they are cared for.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The staff team provide a homely environment where young people feel unconditional warmth and belonging, enabling them to make progress from their starting points.  The strong and trusting relationships forged between young people and staff represent strong parental role models that young people respond to. This has enabled staff to protect young people‟s vulnerabilities and successfully implement personalised behaviour and risk management strategies with some improved outcomes.  Effective working together practices with a diverse range of professional services and parents support young people to get the extra help and protection necessary to develop into independent and emotionally stable young adults.

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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

The positive relationships standard 11.-(1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on-

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Requirement Due date

(a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure-

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Requirement Due date

(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child‟s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child‟s age and understanding. In particular, review the practice of switching off electricity sockets at night as a priority. 30/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard 13.-(1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered manager enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that-

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Requirement Due date

(a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to-

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Requirement Due date

(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. In particular, that the Registered Manager can fully satisfy herself that agreed actions to monitor children are robustly adhered to in practice and demonstrably eliminate further incidents; that room 30/11/2015 searches are conducted as prescribed in children‟s placement plans; that all staff supervision records are accessible to them; that written risk assessments are promptly updated as required.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if – (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 30/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

The independent person‟s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44(5)). In particular, ensure that an appropriate and effective interface between the independent visitor and Registered Manager is agreed to prevent inaccurate reporting of care practices in the home. 30/11/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people, of both genders with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The main aims are to support young people to move back home with their families or successfully move to independent living.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

Young people‟s sense of belonging, acceptance and security are enhanced by the good quality, unconditional warmth and care that they experience. An independent reviewing officer said, „(Name of the home) has been really successful in doing the “we are still going to care for you irrespective of what you do and we will continue to care for and about you”.‟ Personalised care planning integrates young people‟s wishes, their diverse needs and any risks they pose to themselves and others. This makes them feel listened to, valued and fully aware about their plans from the start of their planned placements. Young people‟s trust and confidence in the adults around them is developed within a staff team that understands their unique personalities and give them good care and attention. This includes meeting young people‟s needs arising from their cultural origins and ensuring their family ties are maintained wherever possible. A parent consulted by the home said, „I am now

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good

more confident this is the right place for her. They meet all of her basic needs and more.‟ A young person said, „I have never loved living somewhere than I have had living here.‟ Staff members represent strong, positive role models that young people recognise and can relate to as parental figures. They appreciate the effort that staff make to enhance their lives and make the best out of their time under their care and protection. Mutually good relationships and trust enable young people to discuss the most sensitive issues with staff, which safeguard their vulnerabilities. A young person said, „You can always speak to somebody.‟ The social interactions between young people have at times been unsettled, but they manage to resolve their differences with or without adult help. A young person described another young person as being „like my sister.‟ These positive interactions help young people develop in confidence, social skills and emotional resilience that make for better

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good

outcomes. The support young people receive to promote their physical, emotional and psychological health helps them to understand what constitutes healthy living. Staff and health professionals regularly speak and advise them about individual and generic health matters. A social worker said, „Staff here have always been supportive with (name of young person) especially his emotional health.‟ Young people are well informed about the dangers of self-harming, smoking substances, legal highs, drinking alcohol and sexual health issues. Some young people have been responsive to advice and they have accessed services, including smoking cessation resulting in them given up illegal substances. An independent reviewing officer said, „I am not aware of him taking cannabis since the previous incident.‟ Other young people, despite staff discouragement continue with specific behaviours that could negatively impact on their health.

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good

All young people are engaged in educational activities at school, college or alternative provisions. This is good, given that some of their previous experiences to develop their learning and skills have been poor. Some young people are retaking subjects to improve their future life chances. A young person who has 96.4% attendance said, „You get everything you need for school.‟ Another said, that staff „Support me with college. It‟s my first day there, I‟m doing plumbing.‟ There are effective partnerships between the staff and professionals from social care, youth offending and education. These link young people to the right people in the right places, enabling them to be inspired and to aspire. For some young people, this has exceeded expectations. An independent reviewing officer said, „Staff have done a really good job rehabilitating (name of young person) back into school.‟

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good

Young people have opportunities to enjoy their free time. For some, this may involve spending time indoors playing computer games, having pampering nights and watching television. Some young people prefer to spend their time with family and friends and they make use of the community facilities in the local area, such as the cinema and restaurants. Other young people‟s involvement in voluntary work with disabled children and charity work, helping to raise much needed funds instils in them a strong sense of achievement and teaches them consideration for others.

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good

Young people are satisfied that their wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on wherever possible by staff. An independent person is a frequent visitor to the home. They ensure that their views are represented and advocated for. A young person‟s position on the „Child in Care Council‟ enables them to voice their opinions and influence decisions in relation to improving wider children in care issues. This is empowering and shows young people that their views count.

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good

Young people‟s sense of belonging and identity are enhanced by the contact they have with their family, friends and significant others. A parent said, „They have always supported contact between us with the flexibility that‟s needed.‟ Staff facilitate contact as needed and they have developed some meaningful relationships with parents. Staff are conscious of the negative impact that contact may have on some young people‟s moods and behaviours. Consequently, they avail themselves by providing emotional support to help them overcome these times.

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good

Young people have developed useful independence skills, such as cooking, cleaning and learning to take responsibility for their behaviour. Some young people have travelled alone both locally and further afield, which makes them feel good. The manager said, „(Name of the young person) buzzed so much after that, I was so proud of her.‟ Some young people have used the independence flats, which enables them to get a sense of what it is like to live alone. Good working relationships between the home, parents and professional stakeholders ensure that they do not make the transition into adult services until they are absolutely ready. A staff member said, „He wants to stay here as long as humanly possible. This is his home.‟ A parent said, „We are working together to develop her post 16.‟ Young adults who have left the home years ago remain in touch with the home, which mirrors positive family life.

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good

Young people reap the benefits of living in a well-maintained and homely habitat that is decorated and furnished to a high standard. This forms a safe and comfortable environment that enables them to reflect on their histories and make progress from their starting points. A young person said, „I think it‟s an amazing house.‟

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good

Young people‟s sense of safety is endorsed by the effective multi-agency safeguarding practices that keep them at the centre of child-care practices. A consistent staff team affords young people a range of trained adults that they trust and can talk to about any worries. As a result, young people confirm they feel safe. Two young people rated their safety as „ten out of ten.‟ Other young people said, „I love it here. I feel safe‟ and feel safe „Because they (staff) look after me.‟ Social workers, independent reviewing officers and parents have confidence in the home‟s ability to protect the young people. They raise no concerns. An independent reviewing officer and social worker said, „She is safer here than anywhere else‟ and „He is definitely safe here‟ and „Staff are keeping her safe without her knowing it.‟

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good

The homes implementation of the „Signs of Safety‟ child protection model enables them to jointly safeguard young people with social workers and other professionals. The model is included in the home‟s Statement of Purpose. It states, „Practitioners report greater job satisfaction due to the clarity of the approach, the usefulness of the tools and the impact for the clients.‟ The teams‟ use of the model with some of the young people placed has helped them to explore what they are worried about, what is going well and what needs to happen. It is early days to measure the full effects of this holistic way of approaching safety issues, but the signs are encouraging.

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good

No young people currently being on the child sexual exploitation register due to the effective interventions between the home and partner agencies. Bullying behaviour is tackled and this helps young people understand that such behaviour will not be condoned. A reduction in missing from care incidents means that young people are safer because staff know where they are. On the occasions that they have gone missing, staff will actively go out searching for them. They also follow the missing from care protocol, which ensures young people‟s quick and safe return. Young people benefit from return home interviews. This provides them with an independent means to disclose the reasons for them running away.

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good

Good risk management strategies help all young people, including those with very high risk taking behaviours to reduce dangers to themselves and others. This has not been without challenge due to their significant vulnerabilities. However, the staff team continue to work hard with individual young people, their parents and professional stakeholders to help minimise risk. A social worker said, „Staff are very good at picking up on the triggers.‟

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good

Not all room searches are regularly carried out in conjunction with those young people‟s relevant plans. The Registered Manager is reviewing this practice to ensure that they comply with their own instructions and minimise risk.

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good

The staff team has been successful in helping young people to self-regulate their most challenging and extreme behaviours. This has resulted in one young person requesting help to manage their anger. Clear expectations and boundaries help young people know where they stand. Specifically, young people with complex and risk taking behaviours. They are helped by well-informed staff that have received bespoke behaviour management and health training to support behaviour management techniques. A member of staff said, „(Name of child) behaviour has progressed massively. Last year her outbursts were longer, not as long now‟ and „She knows very much where she is with us.‟ Staff member‟s strong skills of engagement with young people are recognised by professionals. An independent reviewing officer said they were, „Very impressed by how the staff manage (Name of young person) challenging behaviours‟ and „In all fairness, (Name of the home)

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good

has done fantastic with (Name of the child) due to her complex behaviours.‟

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good

Restraints are few and they are monitored to ensure their proportionality and safety. Sanctions would benefit from a reduction of financial impositions made. This is because it distracts from the restorative approach that the Registered Manager is keen to implement. She is reviewing this practice, which currently does not have a negative impact on young people‟s good progress.

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good

Checks of electric, gas safety equipment and fire prevention equipment protects everyone‟s health and safety. Judgement grade

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requires improvement

Young people benefit from a child-focussed management team that is aspirational for every one of them to succeed. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2015. Her previous post was as the deputy at this home. She has significant social care experience having worked in all of the other local authority children‟s homes. She has attained National Vocational Qualifications level 4 in Children and Young people and Leadership and Management and is currently studying towards the level 5 Diploma in management. The managers „hands on‟ leadership style makes her very approachable to young people, staff, parents and professional stakeholders. She is keen to empower young people and staff, and support staff to take on additional responsibilities. She said, „I am about empowering people development.‟ This is evident in positive staff morale and staff member‟s opportunities to develop and grow in their areas of interest.

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requires improvement

Young people are provided with nurturing care, help and protection from a very experienced and motivated manager and staff team that can demonstrate their progress. The genuine affection shown towards the young people by members of the team help them to feel like they belong. A young person said about the manager, „It‟s like having a mum when yours is not here.‟ Consequently, young people have felt sufficiently safe to disclose about a specific sensitive incident that they know is not permitted in the home. On receipt of the information, prompt action was taken by the manager in partnership with senior management, social care professionals and parents. This has promoted young people‟s welfare and serves to prevent a further incident. However, not all of the written risk assessments have been promptly updated following the incident and the recorded monitoring checks in response to the related action plan are inconsistently

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requires improvement

recorded. Although there is no negative impact on young people‟s safety and welfare; this does not enable the manager to fully satisfy herself that the agreed actions have been followed so the effectiveness can be reviewed.

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requires improvement

External monitoring of the home by the independent visitor is regularly conducted and the visitor consults with young people, parents and stakeholders. They form an opinion as to whether the young person accommodated is effectively safeguarded and their wellbeing is promoted. This satisfies the requirement raised at the previous inspection. However, there is no effective interface between the manager and the visitor to clarify any issues to ensure that the subsequent reports are an accurate reflection of the findings. This undermines the validity of the report when read in good faith by interested parties, including the regulator, Ofsted. Not all notifications have been received by Ofsted in a timely manner. This does not enable Ofsted to carry out its regulatory functions and allow for follow up on any actions with the provider.

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requires improvement

Similarly, not all of young people‟s records, such as the need for room searches in placement plans show how the actions have been followed in practice. Not all supervision records could be accessed by the manager to see how the staff who were on duty during a specific incident reflected on the issues and any lessons learned for future practice. These shortfalls do not secure a clear audit trail of staff activities that can then be measured to demonstrate young people‟s progress under these circumstances.

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requires improvement

In an attempt to motivate some young people to sleep during the night-time hours, the electricity supply has been turned off at the socket points to their bedrooms. This affects all young people irrespective of whether the issue applies to them. This is a disproportionate approach to behaviour management that has never been reviewed and the practice is not an evident feature in the home‟s statement of purpose.

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requires improvement

All of these shortfalls requires improvement to enable robust and timely service developments that are in young people‟s best interests.

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requires improvement

Good staff support, such as regular handovers, team meetings and regular supervision ensures an integrated child focus that keeps young people‟s progress on the agenda. Mandatory and specific staff training informs and develops their practice, making them credible adults to the parents of young people and professionals.

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requires improvement

The manager and staff team is well regarded by parents and professional stakeholders who feel regularly updated by the home. A social worker described the communication between them and the home as, „Brilliant.‟ A parent consulted by the home said, „Communication between staff and myself has been excellent giving my daughter the boundaries and security she needs.‟ The manager is not afraid to challenge any professional stakeholders, which ensures that young people get the services they need to continue to improve their outcomes.

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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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