Children's home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children and young people undeniably prosper from their short break stays. They thrive as a result of the excellent role modelling, help, care and protection that is diligently delivered by the experienced and skilled staff team.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children and young people benefit from the excellent safeguarding practices that significantly protect their vulnerabilities. Consequently, parents and professionals have confidence in the staff team’s ability to keep their children safe.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children and young people thoroughly enjoy a range of thoughtfully structured and fun activities that are tailored to meet their diverse needs, interests and aspirations. This widens and challenges their life experiences and boosts their confidence.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children and young people reside in a secure and well-resourced environment, which makes for a pleasant and comfortable stay.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Excellent leadership and management is highly child-focussed, proactive and aspirational for all children and young people to progress. It also supports the firmly established staff team, who champion a child-focussed, nurturing and learning environment that serves children and young people very well.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with: each child; the home’s staff; each child’s family/carers where appropriate; and professionals involved in the care and protection of each child including their social worker, Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), teachers, clinicians and other health professionals etc. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, Page 54, paragraph 10.23). Specifically consult with professionals to inform the management review of service improvements.

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Information about this children's home

This service is run by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children and young people at any one time, of either gender, with learning disabilities. Some children and young people also have physical disabilities and complex health needs. This service provides a short break and outreach service. The domiciliary care service was launched in October 2015 and is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The service currently supports 42 children and young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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outstanding

This service provides high quality care and support to disabled children and young people through planned residential short breaks, outreach and domiciliary care. A parent said that the service, ‘Is vital to our survival as a family.’ Meticulous planning, careful introductions and good matching result in sustained and successful short breaks. This permits many children and young people to indulge in fun and exciting activities. A parent who was initially reluctant for their child to have short breaks said, ‘I am glad I’ve taken the plunge.’ Another said, ‘It’s such a wonderful place. It’s completely provided us with everything she needs.’ A social worker said that the service, ‘Goes above and beyond what they need to do.’

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outstanding

Excellent care planning takes full account of the children and young people’s diverse and holistic needs, including those arising from their disability and cultural heritage. A staff member said, ‘Every child has something unique.’ A parent said that the staff team, ‘Meet all his needs’ and ‘His dietary needs are always met.’ Individual care plans provide a coherent measure of children and young people’s development and progress. The manager said, ‘It’s lovely to see their achievements are linked to their goals.’

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outstanding

Experienced, skilled and creative staff act as excellent role models. They adorn the children and young people with good nurture and affection, which value them and enable them to thrive. The time taken by the staff to get to know the children and young people and develop strong and trusting relationships is noticeable in their stability and progress. A parent said, ‘She seems to really like the staff there, they all know her.’ A social worker said, ‘They do get to know the young people well. The young people enjoy going, there is no doubt about that, even if they are not feeling well.’

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outstanding

Children and young people’s communication is familiar to staff, enabling their wishes and feelings to be sensitively listened to and acted on. This includes those young people who benefit from the use of ‘feelings cards’ when, according to the manager, ‘Words get in the way.’ A parent said, ‘She makes her feelings known if unhappy.’ An improvement noted in one young person who now uses verbal communication instead of nipping people is positively acknowledged. A member of staff said about this development, ‘That makes me feel good.’ Other forums, such as reviews, key work and bespoke group sessions stimulate their awareness, social integration and reinforce good values. A newsletter sent to all children and young people informs and updates them about the views of their peers. This empowers children and young people to shape the delivery of the service, which endorses their sense of belonging and boosts their confidence.

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outstanding

Children and young people’s social, sensory needs and life skills are fully promoted and celebrated during their short breaks. They thoroughly enjoy a range of thoughtfully structured and fun activities and these are tailored to meet their diverse interests and aspirations. Included are those young people who successfully completed the components of the silver ‘Duke of Edinburgh Award’, which incorporated an expedition in the Yorkshire Dales. This significantly enhances opportunities for their continued growth. A parent said, ‘He is loving every minute of it.’

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outstanding

As a short break service, parents remain responsible for their children’s education. In spite of this, the effective working relationships between the service and education providers fully support children and young people’s progress in school and college. The positive relationships have enabled the manager to appropriately challenge an issue that has since been resolved. Children and young people benefit from a staff team that has access to relevant information related to their educational needs, goals and rewards. Their engagement in fun learning experiences during their stays enable children and young people to develop new skills and improve their learning outcomes.

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outstanding

Although children and young people’s health is overseen by their parents, the staff team play a pivotal role in supporting their holistic health needs. Well-integrated working practices with parents and a range of health professionals meet specific areas of need. For example working with young people and raising their awareness with respect to sexual health, relationships and privacy and dignity issues. Changes made to the medication recording system makes for improved systems. Lessons learned from two medication errors have resulted in changes to the medication policy. Additional safeguards that protect children and young people emerge from these decisive interventions.

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outstanding

The staff team’s active support and encouragement towards developing children and young people’s independence improves their confidence. A parent said, ‘He is very independent minded. He is going to be heartbroken when he leaves’. Older young people making the transition into adult services benefit from excellent support. This enables them to continue the next chapter of their life journeys. The manager’s feedback from parents of a young adult who made the transition into adult services states, ‘They came to tell us how he is now doing in his adult provision and to thank us for helping him to learn how to socialise with others. They are now able to objectively think about his future and their lives as a couple. Very successful outcome.’

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outstanding

Children and young people prosper during their short break in a pleasant, comfortable, secure and well-resourced environment. The rooms used by them during their stays suit their individuality and preferences. A professional said, ‘It’s a good place to be.’ Judgement grade

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outstanding

Children and young people benefit from the excellent safeguarding practices that significantly protect their vulnerabilities. Consequently, professionals and parents are confident that their children are safe during their short breaks. A social worker said, ‘It’s brilliant. I pop in unannounced. They are always welcoming and the children are always happy’ and ‘I have no safeguarding concerns.’ A parent said, ‘If there are any concerns, they will get in touch straight away, day or night. I have no concerns.’ Another said, ‘It’s nice to know your child is safe.’ Exceptionally good staff vigilance ensures that any potential welfare concerns are promptly shared with social workers. There are no current safeguarding concerns or complaints that relate to this service.

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outstanding

The ‘Signs of Safety’ model recently introduced to the home promotes reliable, research based practice that underpins the childcare plans. The team find that by talking about what they are worried out, what’s working well and what needs to happen provides a clearer focus. This keeps children and young people safer. Children and young people are monitored by the high levels of staff vigilance and supervision. This keeps them safe from leaving the home undetected and significantly reduces opportunities for them to go missing. A parent said, ‘The staff are always there to keep an eye on her.’

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outstanding

Robust risk management systems tune into children and young people’s needs and activities, which safeguard them during their stays. They are kept under review and include strategies that minimise potential risk. A professional said, ‘A risk assessment is in place. They are encouraged to do as much as they can do for themselves; they go into the kitchen together to make a drink. The risk assessment is updated straight away.’

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outstanding

Children and young people’s challenging behaviours are effectively and diligently well managed. Trained and skilled staff who are familiar with individual children and young people’s behaviours use good distraction and nurturing techniques that reduce conflict and incidents. This is reinforced by their mutually positive relationships bonded in trust that enables children and young people to have access to individual support that target specific issues. For example, helping young people who present with anger and aggression. Clear trigger points and counter strategies inform how staff respond when children and young people experience times of anxiety, anger and stress. A parent said, ‘They want the best for her despite her behavioural problems.’ As a result, physical intervention is used as a last resort. On the rare occasion that a physical intervention has taken place, a young person was afforded the time and support to reflect on their behaviour,

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outstanding

which helped them to positively move on. In addition, the manager’s de-brief with the staff involved in the intervention enabled them to reflect on the event and approve their actions. Prompt information sharing with parents and professionals provide an open and transparent safeguarding culture that prioritises children and young people’s best interests.

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outstanding

Strong health and safety practices, such as regular checks on the fire and health and safety equipment protect everyone in the event of a fire or systems malfunction.

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outstanding

The manager has over 30 years’ experience and she has held the status of registered manager since March 2007. She holds relevant social work and management qualifications. The manager leads by example. She is highly child- focussed, ambitious and aspirational for all children and young people to prosper. This motivational attitude is threaded through the excellent support delivered by the deputy managers and staff team. The manager said, ‘I am really proud of our staff team. They get them (the children and young people). We can talk for hours and hours about our young people.’ The teams’ expectations for children and young people are realistically high and needs led. Consistently looking for new ways to improve children and young people’s experiences and outcomes is integral to the team culture, which maintains a strong momentum. The team’s ‘can do attitude’ consistently pushes boundaries and showcases an effective service that supports families and keeps children and

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outstanding

young people at the heart of their work. The development of the domiciliary care service since the last inspection has been registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the existing outreach provision is well established. Care planning has integrated the quality standards into the process. These, amongst many other service developments support disabled children, young people and their families within a clear regulatory framework. A firmly established, proactive and resilient staff team champions a child-focussed, nurturing and learning environment. This includes effective daily handovers, regular team meetings and informal discussions within a ‘no blame’ culture. Regular staff supervision introduces reflective practice under the newly introduced safeguarding model. This promotes safe care practices and continuity of care. A staff member said, ‘There are no barriers, you can say what you want for the right

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outstanding

reasons.’ Newly recruited staff are familiar with the service. They are welcomed into the staff team and have integrated well into the team dynamics. The existing staff feel valued and supported. They share new ideas and take on additional responsibilities. For example, taking the lead in medication, booking overnight stays for children and young people and leading on projects, which hold them to account and binds the team together. One staff member said in the recent management review, ‘This place is so welcoming and generally a happy place to work. Our team is strong and the majority of the staff team have been here a long time and been through a lot together. Our newer staff members fit in lovely.’ The staff team’s continuous learning and development informs their practice. Most of the staff have attained an approved childcare qualification and two staff have started this training. The staff team has benefited from other training, such as

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outstanding

child sexual exploitation, workshops on individual crisis management plans, social stories, medication and basic life support. Behaviour management training is regularly updated. Parents also benefit from this training, which supports their parenting and stimulates consistent care. Effective external monitoring systems helpfully contribute to checking the quality of care and confirm that children and young people are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the service promotes their well-being. The manager’s comprehensive and reflective internal monitoring system makes it evident that she understands the strengths, weaknesses and progress that children and young people make. Clear and decisive action planning drives forward continuous improvement, but the views of professionals are not featured in the monitoring review report. This does not pose a negative impact on children and young people’s progressive outcomes, but would show how their views inform further

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outstanding

developments. The manager is not averse to challenging other professionals who fall short on their duty of care. Consequently, their challenge has influenced a positive child-focussed resolution. Excellent partnership working and communication between the service and an array of professionals and families ensure the best possible outcomes for children and young people. A parent said, ‘They always communicate with me about everything I need to know’ and a professional said, ‘They are very quick to let me know if (Name of child) is anxious or distressed; there is a generally good relationship between us all.’ The statement of purpose sets out the services that children and young people can expect to receive. It has been reviewed to include the newly launched domiciliary care service and includes the outreach facility. An aspect of the service ethos is intended to provide, ‘Parents and carers and other family members with the

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outstanding

opportunity for a break from the responsibilities of care, with the assurance that their child is being provided with high quality care in a safe and positive environment.’ This is evident in children and young people’s experience and progress.

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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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