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 Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people experience exceptionally personalised, well-planned and sensitive care. They receive tailored support that reflects their individual needs and takes account of their preferences, wishes and opinions. This outstanding service continues to improve because the registered manager ensures young people are the focus of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager deploys a varied range of monitoring systems. These assess young people’s progress in line with their personalised targets, developmental aims and specific vulnerability. Review documents are used to effectively audit the day-to-day running of the home and the long term aims and objectives of the service as defined in the statement of purpose. This enables the registered manager to prioritise areas for improvements. As a result, the service continues to diversify as young people’s needs and complexities change. For example, as some young people’s disabilities become increasingly pronounced, the registered manager reassesses partnership working arrangement. This ensures that young people’s access to specialist services remains appropriate and reflective of their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make positive and sustainable progress in all aspects of their development. For example, since the last inspection one young person has learnt to speak, and is now able to verbalise some requests. This achievement is linked, in part, to the dedication of staff and their continued persistence and encouragement. Young people grow in confidence because the complexities of their disabilities is not viewed as a barrier that dictates or curtails their progress. Young people are enabled to participate in a range of educational and social activities. These enhance their life experience, reflect their personal interests and hobbies and support the development of their social interactions and communication skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work in partnership with schools and allocated teaching staff. Individual education targets are replicated in the home. This means that young people’s learning continues outside of school hours and this further supports their progress. Teachers are encouraged to attend specialist medical appointments with young people and staff when applicable and possible, and staff support young people in school when appropriate. As a result, young people receive seamless and integrated care and support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have extremely complex, and in some cases, life limiting medical conditions linked to their physical and learning disabilities. Staff liaise daily with specialist health professionals and support services to ensure that young people’s health needs are consistently met. Internal medication administration systems are robust. These promote young people’s safety. Since the last inspection, staff have worked with young people to help them to understand the complexities of their own health needs and the impact of these on their emotional and physical development. When young people are hospitalised, staff support them in these environments. They advocate for young people and liaise with hospital staff to ensure that they receive good quality and appropriate care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of physical restraint and the use of sanctions remains extremely rare. When young people display unacceptable behaviours, sanctions are time limited and reflective. Staff complete bespoke debrief sessions with young people, using a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to reiterate why some behaviours are unacceptable. This supports young people to take responsibility for their actions and consider the impact this has on others.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are well supported in their role. The registered manager ensures that they receive regular practice related supervision and that their performance is appropriately monitored. Staff meetings are used to review practice in the home and learn from any incidents or events that have occurred. For example, following a recent safeguarding concern, the registered manager facilitated a reflective practice session with staff. Although all appropriate actions were taken on this occasion and the event could not have been prevented, these sessions enable staff to verbalise their feelings at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership work with other agencies is a considerable strength of the service. The registered manager reviews and challenges these arrangements to ensure they meet young people’s needs. Feedback from other professionals is consistently positive and complimentary regarding the support young people receive and the profound impact this has on their personal growth and development. Young people’s views and wishes are central to the development of the home. Further improvements have been made to this area of practice since the last inspection, including the introduction of the registered managers ‘participation audit’. This ensures that young people’s requests are actioned and promotes the homes ethos of ‘do with’ rather than ‘do to’.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people with physical and/or learning disabilities. It 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

19/03/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

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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