Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Inspection date 16/12/2015

Previous inspection judgement Sustained effectiveness.

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home are

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:

 Care planning and practice is highly personalised to meet the specific needs of young people who make good progress across all aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development.  Young people enjoy exceptionally good relationships with staff and benefit from continuity of care so they have consistency and stability in their lives. Staff promote contact for young people so they sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them.  Young people have exceptionally good attendance at school or alternative educational provision. The home supports their learning and works in close partnership with the providers of their education to promote their educational achievement.  Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the families of young people, social workers, schools and independent reviewing officers to meet their specific needs. As a result, young people benefit from the best possible

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The children's home provision is good because:

help and support from all professional agencies.  The home provides young people with a warm, comfortable, homely, physically safe and appropriately secure environment. Their independence is encouraged and they are allowed to take appropriate risks to promote their growth and natural development.  Young people make good progress and benefit from positive experiences. The home can demonstrate the positive difference it has made to the lives of young people and their families.  Young people benefit from effective support, help and protection. They are protected from abuse and all other forms of significant harm. Allegations of abuse are investigated quickly and professionally to promote the safety of young people.  As a result of this inspection, there is one requirement and three recommendations made. These relate to staff training on epilepsy, the inclusion of whistle blowing in staff supervision, reviewing the home‟s

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The children's home provision is good because:

behaviour management practices with staff and ensuring external monitoring visits are undertaken, consistently, by a person who is completely independent of the home.

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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 an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a) (b)) 20/04/2016

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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 supervision of staff practice ensures that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

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Recommendations

 ensure staff can access appropriate training facilities and resources. This relates specifically to training on epilepsy. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 ensure the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff, and kept under review and revised where appropriate. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 5 young people who may have emotional or behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities and physical disabilities.  The home is owned and managed by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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people living in the home are

Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across all aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. They benefit from continuity of care so they have stability and consistency in their lives. Young people enjoy exceptionally good relationships with the adults, who support them, and make a positive difference to their lives. They benefit from well planned, highly personalised care that effectively meets their needs.

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people living in the home are

A social worker reports, „It‟s brilliant. It‟s really, really supportive, they‟re very understanding of her needs. They develop her capacity, are very accommodating and for me, it‟s been really positive. It‟s definitely the right placement for her.‟

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people living in the home are

Staff enjoy good relationships with the young people and have formed effective partnerships with their families. They promote contact for young people so they can sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Staff work closely with young people‟s families to ensure that contact is a safe and pleasant experience for everyone.

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people living in the home are

A social worker reports, „Staff have very good relationships with family and maintain regular contact with them. The family I work with speak very highly of the support they receive and are very happy with the care they provide to their daughter.‟

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people living in the home are

Staff know young people well and they address their needs effectively. They ensure young people have access to the services they need to promote their physical health and emotional well-being. The home maintains effective partnerships with health professionals, to meet the specific health needs of young people.

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people living in the home are

A parent reports, „The staff are all very friendly, approachable and seem to have a good understanding of my child and her complex needs.‟

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people living in the home are

Staff provide young people with good support on key health issues. They show them how to lead and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Staff assist young people who need additional support with eating and personal care, if necessary. Consequently, young people benefit from effective support when they need help and encouragement to maintain their own independence. A social worker reports, „Physically she is always well presented and has good relationships with staff.‟ There are safe arrangements for the storage, administration, handling and keeping of young people‟s medication. Medical consent is in place and staff are clear about what health decisions and responsibilities are delegated to them. Staff benefit from specialist training that enables them to understand and meet the specific needs of the young people they care for. Staff are trained in autism, first aid, safe handling of medication and most are trained in epilepsy and seizure management. The

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people living in the home are

home uses specialist health workers to provide in house training, guidance and support for staff.

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people living in the home are

A social worker reports, „Staff are very good advocates for young people and are committed and dedicated in their work. Staff are confident in liaising with a wide range of professionals in the interests of children and young people.‟

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people living in the home are

Young people are supported to attend school or alternative educational provision. Their educational attendance is exceptionally good and they make good progress in education. The home supports their learning and maintains effective partnerships with their schools to maximise their educational achievement. Social workers report, „The home has excellent relationships with schools and colleges.‟

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people living in the home are

Young people benefit from positive activities both at home and in the wider community. They enjoy watching DVD's, baking, visiting parks, shopping, holidays, theatre and eating out with staff. As a result, they develop confidence and improve their social skills and interactions with others. A social worker reports, „She scored 10 for her needs being met there and 10 for being happy. It‟s absolutely the right placement for her.‟

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people are helped and protected

Young people know how to make a complaint and their complaints are addressed effectively. Staff are trained in child protection and know how to deal with allegations and report suspected abuse. Allegations of abuse are dealt with quickly and professionally and positive partnerships are maintained with social workers and other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety of young people. Young people are protected from abuse, bullying and all other forms of significant harm.

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people are helped and protected

Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities charged with a duty to protect young people. This ensures they benefit from effective support, help and protection. Staff have a good understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of the young people and take appropriate action to address them. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly to promote the safety of young people. Staff know young people well, they anticipate issues and triggers for difficult or challenging behaviour. They understand how their feelings and emotions can sometimes be communicated through negative or disruptive behaviour. They provide young people with self-support strategies, such as taking time out or creating a safe space in which to calm down and feel safe.

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people are helped and protected

Social workers report, „My young person talks about feeling safe at the home and says that staff know how to help her safe when she is frustrated and angry… young person has a history of displaying inappropriate behaviour in public and this has lessened overtime. She is now engaging in more community activities.‟

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people are helped and protected

The use of restraint is exceptionally rare. It is only ever used as a last resort to protect young people from harm. The use of sanctions are kept to an absolute minimum, with only the one recorded measure, since the last inspection. Staff generally manage the behaviours of young people‟s safely and effectively. However, they have not always been consistent in their approach, in addressing, some young people‟s presenting behaviours, in accordance with their relevant plans. At the time of this inspection an internal investigation had already been launched to look into concerns raised by a member of staff regarding the practice of a colleague. The local authority will update Ofsted throughout the investigation process and share the outcome of their investigation.

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people are helped and protected

The home no longer experiences any issues with young people going missing from care. Should they do, there are effective procedures for staff to follow to promote their safe return. There was a temporary increase in missing from care episodes previously, but these have now reduced considerably, as a result of improved decision making and risk impact assessment.

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people are helped and protected

Young people benefit from a homely, comfortable, physically safe and appropriately secure environment. The home is a spacious property which is well resourced and equipped. Specialist equipment, such as hoists, lifts, soft play area and sensory equipment is available to meet the needs of young people. Health and safety matters are addressed effectively to promote a safe environment for young people.

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leaders and managers

The home has met all but one of the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. Young people‟s risk assessments are now reviewed and updated on a regular basis. This enables staff to promote their safety and review risks accordingly. Complaints records now include the outcome and the action taken to resolve complaints. This shows that all complaints are taken seriously, by staff.

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leaders and managers

Notifications are sent to the appropriate authorities so serious incidents can be monitored to ensure young people are supported and protected. Consultation with young people and those significant to them has improved and this enables the person who monitors the performance of the home to form a more accurate opinion about the standard and quality of young people‟s care. However, these visits are not consistently undertaken by a person who is completely independent of the authority. Consequently, a requirement is raised in respect of this issue.

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leaders and managers

The home meets the aims and objectives, as set out, in its Statement of Purpose in delivering a good quality service for young people and their families. The home is able to evidence positive change and improvement in the lives of young people and show the progress they have made, as a result. The home maintains close relationships with the families of young people, schools and social workers to meet young people‟s needs and improve their outcomes.

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leaders and managers

The home employs a suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager, who has been in post since March 2015. Additionally, senior staff members are also employed to support the manager and deputise in her absence, if needed. The home employs sufficient numbers of well trained, suitably qualified and experienced staff and is staffed in such way that meets the specific needs and numbers of young people. A social worker reports, „The staff team is very stable and they are experienced in working with children and young people who have disabilities. My young person has close relationships with many of the staff team but especially with her keyworker. Her face lights up when she comes in the room and she is excited when she knows she will be on duty.‟

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leaders and managers

Staff benefit from effective support, regular supervision and appraisal that is focused on their performance and ability to meet the diverse needs of the young people. Whistle blowing is to be added to the revised agenda for staff supervision to ensure any concerns, failures or wrongdoings with staff practice are exposed, and staff feel able to share information safely. By enabling staff to share their concerns in a supported environment, action can be taken quickly to address, and resolve, any practice or performance related issues that could have a negative impact on young people.

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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

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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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