Children's home run by Warrington Borough Council

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 manager and staff maintain their commitment to providing an outstanding level of care for children and young people with highly complex needs and have made improvements to an already outstanding service. Children and young people enjoy visiting the home and all that it has to offer. They continue to have excellent opportunities to engage in activities that they enjoy. This supports their overall progress, development and social inclusion. An excellent example of this is the inclusion of the children and young people from the service attending the Children in Care Council meeting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Strong partnership working with parents consistently reinforces their primary responsibility for their children's educational and health needs. At the same time, staff provide parents with very effective and flexible support, particularly during times of crisis. This excellent communication and liaison extends to professional relationships with health, education and social work agencies. This ensures children and young people receive a seamless service between their family home, the short break service, school and any medical services they may require. Since the last inspection staff have persistently and effectively advocated with the council to source an accessible vehicle for the service. This means that children and young people who previously were unable to enjoy trips out are now able to join in activities in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Extremely challenging behaviour is often a feature of the highly complex needs of children and young people. Where this is the case, staff continue to exercise patience and persistence and focus on the nature of the child underneath that behaviour. The written records of incidents are extremely sensitively written with an emphasis on the presenting behaviour and not the child. The manager and staff are highly attuned to the risks that such challenging behaviour may present to others. In these situations, prompt action is taken to ensure that all children and young people are safeguarded. Children and young people are safe at the home during their short breaks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Individual risk assessments are in place for each child and young person. These are bespoke and are tailored to meet the individual needs of the children and young people. An excellent example of this includes, staff being re-trained in oxygen use for the specific needs of a young person prior to him using the service. Managers have also commissioned paediatric first aid training to enhance staff’s knowledge base and further equip them to meet the needs of the children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No child is at risk of child exploitation (CSE). Risk assessments are clear and regularly reviewed. Actions to reduce risk are consistently implemented. The nature of children and young people's complex needs requires them to be closely supervised. As a result, they do not have the opportunity to go missing from the home. Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have extended their professional expertise by self-directed learning and external courses. For example, the manager and deputy manager are in the process of devising a CSE risk assessment, specifically for children with disabilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has also been improvement in capturing children and young people's views and preferences. A DVD written, filmed and produced by a young person using the service has been created; this gives an excellent visual and audio overview of the service. The DVD will help alleviate any concerns children, young people and parents may have prior to using the short-break service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people come to stay in a high quality, stable and consistent environment. It is child-focused and stimulating with communication aids such as PECS placed in every room, a raft of sensory toys and photographs ensures that staff are able to communicate effectively with children. The service has managed to keep a very homely environment, whilst having the necessary aids required to meet the needs of the children and young people who come to stay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff get to know children, their needs and their likes and dislikes extremely well. They are attentive to the children in their care and their practice is totally child focused. Children’s complex needs are not seen as a barrier to their progress and staff ensure that children can make the best out of their short break. For example children and young people enjoy trips to the seaside, going for meals in restaurants and baking. The staff have ensured that a young person who has specific dietary needs does not miss out on ‘take-away’ nights as they order Halal food to ensure his cultural needs are met. Monitoring by the manager also ensures that the home consistently meets the high standards he sets for staff. This results in tangible benefits for children and young people during their short break visits.

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Information about this children's home

This registered children's home is run by a local authority. It offers short residential stays to a maximum of three young people with learning and physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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