Children's home run by Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Wirral

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

The home continues to be led and managed by a highly committed management team. They have the best interests of all the young people at the very heart of everything they do. Staff are supportive of the management team and are particularly pleased with their new staff office. This means they have much better access to electronic information and are able to effectively update and access young people’s records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service does not stand still. It has made or is in the process of making a number of changes within the recording systems. For example, combining number of documents. This has effectively streamlined the recording systems without losing valuable information. Staff said they never stop looking at ways to improve the information they record about young people. This includes the activities offered to them. ‘We want young people to get the most out of their stay with us’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people were excited to be going out to Hoylake to see the pirate ship. A young person excitedly told me about how he was nearly 18 years-old. He is sad to be leaving here, but is looking forward to his new placement and the parties for his birthday. Other young people were happily engaged in self-chosen activities. One young person invited me to join him in sorting the videos from their covers. He confidently directed me on what I needed to do to aid him in his task.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff said the new mini buses have had a massive impact on their ability to take young people out in the community. While these are still shared with family support they are primarily the homes vehicles. This means young people enjoy a wider range of trips and outings in the community to parks, beaches, and various clubs as well as further afield. Consequently, staff are more able to plan trips effectively and are not under any time restraints for returning the vehicles.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have an innate understanding of the each young person’s unique individual needs. They are respectful of parents’ wishes and consult them on all aspects of their child’s care. For example, encouraging young people to try new foods. This has successfully enabled a number of young people to extend the range of foods they can and will eat.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents said, that they feel the home is ‘incredible and that their child gets ‘very excited’ when they know they are getting ready to leave to come for their stay. They said the staff are ‘very caring and the communication is great. She is well informed of any issues which, may have arisen throughout her child stay. This means she is able to support him and the home is making any adjustments for his next stay. Social workers are equally complimentary. They said that ‘numerous families would be lost without this essential service’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Consultation with young people is excellent. They are consulted about the things they would like to do during their stay. As a result, they enjoy bespoke care packages, which are effectively tailored to their needs. This is evident in the diverse décor in their bedrooms. All bedrooms are personalised to reflect each young person’s personality during their stay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety is given the highest priority. However, staff are not risk averse. They enable young people to undertake an extensive range of activities safely, such as helping to recreate their vegetable garden. Staff are continually looking ‘outside of the box’. This means they are able to pre-empt possible issues for young people and put strategies into place to help keep them safe. For example, emergency evacuation procedures which include a range of scenarios, including alternative accommodation should the house be inhabitable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The introduction of the ‘battle box’ is an example of their forward thinking which, effectively supports young people’s health wellbeing and safety. This contains numerous items that may be beneficial to young people should they need to evacuate the building in an emergency such as gloves, emergency blankets, contact numbers, and first aid boxes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the home by the Registered Manager and independent person is robust and helps drive forward continuous improvement. This is because the Registered Manager uses this information to identify shortfalls and the action she needs to take to make improvements such as the recent installation of security lighting around the perimeter of the home.

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Information about this children's home

This service provides short-term breaks for eight young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, physical disabilities, and learning disabilities. In addition, one child is able to live at the home. 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

24/03/2015 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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