Children's home run by Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council in Walsall

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was last inspected in July 2015. At that time, Ofsted raised four requirements and two recommendations. The home has declined in effectiveness because two requirements remain outstanding. A further requirement and a recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people fully understand the internal complaints procedures. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed, revised and simplified the young people’s guide to complaints. This comprehensive documents enable young people to follow the process of making a complaint. It clarifies how and when they can expect their concerns to be addressed and what to do if they are unhappy with the outcome. In addition, substantial work has been done to address bullying in the home. The countering-bullying policy and associated procedure has been reviewed and amended. This alerts staff to the signs and symptoms of bullying and intimidation, and details the actions to be taken to address this behaviour. A comprehensive logging system is in place to record any bullying events. These significant practice improvements are support by young people’s meetings. This ensures that young people are fully aware that bullying is unacceptable and is not

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

tolerated in the home. This transparency promotes their safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home and one young person has been admitted. Transitions are well planned and supported. Admission processes enable young people to visit the home and spend time with staff and other young people. When young people are ready to leave the home, staff ensure that a suitable assessment of their skills and abilities is completed. Effective planning means young people experience a smooth transition that supports their continued progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people continue to make measurable and sustainable progress in relation to their education, health, well-being and personal development. For these young people, their experience of the home is positive. For other young people, there has been a significant deterioration in behaviour, progress and positive outcomes. Staff use physical restraint when young people’s behaviour poses an immediate risk of harm and behaviour management programmes include the use of sanctions. Amendments to restraint and sanction log books mean that these records allow for the recording of necessary information. However, all sections are not consistently completed. In some case, information is added to these records and later removed. This questions the integrity of these records and compromises young people’s safety. Furthermore, this means that the registered manager is unable to adequately review the use of these measures of control or the impact of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of aggressive and unacceptable behaviours have increased. These include young people stealing property from each other, causing damage to the home and assaulting staff. Staff do not consistently challenge young people regarding this behaviour. Case files do not demonstrate that staff work with young people to reiterate and define what are socially acceptable behaviours. They are not supported to develop the necessary social skills to enable them to appropriately resolve conflicts with others. These shortfalls means that young people are not encouraged to take responsibility for their actions or to consider the consequences of these. This is detrimental to their development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Access to some areas of the home, such as the kitchen, remain restricted. Although this is risk assessed as necessary for some young people due to increasing levels of unsettled behaviours, this action unfairly impacts on other young people in the home. For example, young people are unable to enter the kitchen to make a drink or collect a snack without staff. This detracts from the homely nature of the environment and means that young are overly reliant on staff to complete basic tasks for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people rarely go missing from the home although there has been a marked increase in them being away from the home without permission. There is no clear recording systems in place to monitor these events. For example, if young people respond to welfare phone calls from staff, these absences are not consistently logged, regardless of duration young people have been away for the home. This hinders the registered manager’s ability to monitor, address and reduce these risk taking behaviours. This negatively impacts on young people’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The appointment of a maintenance person means that any necessary repairs or redecoration requirements are addressed in a timely manner. This has improved the aesthetics of the environment and provides young people with a warm and welcoming home.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and residential accommodation for up to four young people with emotional and / or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/01/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure that staff — (2)(a)

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Requirement Due date

(ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

(iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

(iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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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. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises is necessary and proportionate; and is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21(b)(c)(ii)(iii)) 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all information as required by the regulation. Regulation 35(3)(a)(i-viii)) 31/03/2016

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is away from the home without permission. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45 paragraph 9.28)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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