Children's Home run by Bright Futures Care Limited in Warrington

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 receive an excellent standard of care from a committed staff team.  Staff are very knowledgeable about the individual needs of every child and young person, this is reflected in the progress they continue to make.  Children and young people benefit from a highly nurturing and child-centred environment that provides them with long term stability.  Staff have high aspirations for each child and young person, they work effectively with parents, placing social workers and key professionals to supports each individual’s social and emotional development.  Children and young people benefit from the excellent support they receive from a range of specialist services.  Children and young people have access to a wide range of activities that increase their learning opportunities.  The safety and well-being of each child and young person is at the centre of staff practice.  High staffing ratios ensure that children and young people can engage

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The children's home provision is good because:

safely in their local community.  Some children access tablet devices, but it is unclear what work has been done in helping them to understand how to use these safely.  There is a lack of robust oversight and analysis of physical interventions by managers.

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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 within 48 hours of the use of a measure of restraint, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate.(Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)) 04/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  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 to the Quality Standards, page 29 paragraph 5.19)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulation 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learnt and sustaining good practice.( The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55 paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties, learning disabilities or sensory impairment. It is owned by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/03/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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good

Staff provide children and young people with a stable, warm and nurturing environment. They benefit from a staff team who have an excellent understanding of their individual needs. They have formed strong attachments to key members of staff, which ensure they are happy and settled. A placing social worker said, ‘If I could bottle their care I would!’ A parent also said, ‘we feel the staff have helped so much, his self-help skills and communication have come on so much…we are really happy.′ A grandparent commented, ‘the progress is incredible…at the Christmas dinner he wasn’t fazed by it…it is the most incredible service, they are child-centred, focused on his needs… the staff are lovely…I cannot think of a better place for him.’

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good

All children and young people attend the organisation’s own school and are making considerable achievements in their learning. For example, one child’s reading and comprehension skills have improved and he has exceeded his learning targets. Others have significantly improved in their communication skills and are now using a range of communication methods through words, I-Pads and Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) devices. This has increased their interactions, participation and ability to make choices. Staff from the home support children and young people in school throughout their school day. This ensures consistency of care for each child and young person. A parent said, ‘the staff have a lot of input during the school day so have a really good understanding of his needs and are able to provide continuity… it’s wrap around care.′ All children and young people attended a school prom at the end of the summer term to celebrate their achievements.

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good

Children and young people are in good health and they have access to local health services when they need them. They enjoy a number of activities that promote their physical health, including cycling, swimming and rebound therapy. Staff are highly committed to providing the best possible care to children and young people. They work meticulously with specialist health professionals to promote their welfare. They follow programmes of care that are tailor made to the individual needs of children and young people. They also receive additional training to meet specific needs, including Autism, Communication and Sensory Awareness. This ensures that they are skilled and competent to work with complex and vulnerable children and young people.

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good

Staff ensure that children and young people are given the opportunity to express their wishes and contribute to their future plans. For example, one of the children has recently requested to change bedrooms or move to another house. Managers have listened to his request and are considering which of these would be in his best interests. This improves young people’s confidence and feelings of self-worth.

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good

Children and young people have appropriate, carefully assessed and well supported contact with their family and other people who are important to them. Staff recognise the importance of contact, in helping children and young people maintain a sense of identity. The organisation recently held a big Christmas party for all the children and their families. On another occasion staff drove down to Devon so that one of the boys could attend his grandmother’s 70th birthday party. A parent said, ‘they really care about the kids and go out of their way to help us.’

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good

Staff provide children and young people with a wide range of stimulating activities that increases their social interactions and helps them to gain a better understanding of the world around them. They enjoy attending Lego club, meals out, cinema trips, watching a rugby game, visiting the safari park, as well as going on holiday. They are supported to go shopping for personal items and snacks, which helps to increase their levels of independence. A family member said, ‘it’s just like a home, I know he is happy there.′ A placing social worker said, ‘it’s a home environment in a residential setting…there is a sense of family.’

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good

Children and young people live in a safe and secure environment. Robust care practices ensure that vulnerable children and young people are kept safe. Staff knowledge and practice is underpinned by comprehensive policies and procedures. This ensures they have a clear understanding about their safeguarding responsibilities. A social worker said,‘ since we spoke a year ago they have worked hard with us following up safety precautions. The staff are consistent and able to understand all his needs.′ A parent said, ‘I think they are second to none.’

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good

There are no incidents of children and young people going missing from the home. Staff understand the missing from care procedures, and the high levels of supervision ensure children and young people receive the support and attention required. Detailed risk assessments clearly identify all risks and how these should be managed. Risk management does not overly restrict the opportunity for children and young people to continue to develop and grow.

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good

Children and young people feel secure living at the home and receive very good help and support to manage their behaviour. Overall, positive and proactive behaviour management strategies are consistently applied. Behaviour management plans are sensitive to each child and young person’s individual needs. Staff are skilled at recognising when a child or young person is becoming upset and can often use re-direction or reassurance to prevent the behaviour from escalating. However, there are times when their behaviour becomes a risk to themselves or others and staff use physical intervention to prevent harm. Although the records provide an overview of all incidents, it is evident there has been a lack of robust oversight and monitoring of these records by managers. This inconsistency means that no-one is checking to see if the home’s physical intervention policy and procedures are suitably applied.

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good

Children and young people regularly use personal laptops and tablet devices. In the main, staff provide good levels of supervision when they are using these, but it is unclear what work has been done in helping them to understand how to use these safely.

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requires improvement

The experienced and suitably qualified Registered Manager has taken up a new role within the organisation and his deputy is now managing the home. The company have nominated the deputy as designate Registered Manager and he has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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requires improvement

The managers are highly motivated and ambitious. They are influential in changing the lives of children and young people with very complex needs. However, it is evident that during the transition between home managers, personnel lost sight of who was providing oversight of the home. Furthermore, weaknesses in the monitoring of the home mean that the shortfalls in the physical intervention records, have not been picked up and addressed. Consequently, the monitoring processes do not fully support the development and improvement of the home.

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requires improvement

Parents and professionals say without exception that the home provides an excellent quality of care. They confirm they effectively challenge professionals to ensure children and young people get the right help and support. Feedback includes, ‘they will say if something is not good and they will challenge me’… ‘Highlight of the home is the relationships the children have with the staff ′… ‘Outstanding! Outstanding! ′…‘they are stimulating the kids all the time.′

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requires improvement

The home is well resourced and is achieving its aims and objectives as set out in the Statement of Purpose. There have been some changes to the staff team since the last inspection, the home remains well staffed and any gaps in the rota are covered with staff from within the organisation. This provides children and young people with a stable staff team that they know well.

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requires improvement

Children and young people are cared for by staff that are well trained and receive regular supervision. This provides them with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and development.

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requires improvement

Children and young people benefit from a home that is very well maintained. There are lots of photographs around the home showing them enjoying their various activities. Staff are also compiling memory books, that tell the story of their time living at the home and provide them with long-lasting memories.

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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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