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 last 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

Since the previous inspection no young people have left or moved into the home. The two young people have continued to enjoy a good period of stability with no changes to the core staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

While young people continue to make measurable progress in all aspects of their lives, staff have failed to sustain a high quality of recordings within the home. Information in some young people’s placement plans is in need of review. Placement plans are not reflecting the most current care needs of young people. This shortfall does not have a negative impact on the direct care young people receive as staff share information with each other meticulously.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff see the safety of young people as a priority. They have a very good knowledge and awareness of young people’s needs; their vulnerabilities and their potential for engaging in risk taking behaviour. However, risk assessments have not been updated after incidents. For example, a young person was found to be in possession of a mobile phone which, she stated she obtained from ‘a boy on the school bus’. Although staff were alert to the risks involved in CSE and put into action a plan for the young person to be escorted to school until this information be confirmed, they failed to update the risk assessment. The staff had reported this incident as a safeguarding concern to the relevant professionals. The lack of written risk assessments could have placed the young person at risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Similarly, staff suspected a young person of bullying behaviour towards another young person living in the home; risk management plans were not in place to address this issue. The registered manager and staff could verbalise the actions they were taking, however in the absence of paperwork this does not lend itself to good practice for continuity of care for the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the needs, risks and vulnerabilities of young people. Behaviour is managed positively by using incentives for good behaviour; however, sanctions imposed for poor behaviours are punitive. An example of this includes a sanction being imposed when a young person was ten minutes late after her agreed ‘coming in’ time. The sanction for this was the loss of horse-riding lesson. This does not fit in with the staff’s plans for ensuring this young person takes part in healthier pursuits and somewhat defeats the purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the records of sanctions did not all show a timescale. The records did not sufficiently describe the behaviour that led to the sanction, for example ‘Aggressive tones’, ‘not following direction’, ‘verbally disrespectful’, ‘confrontational’. This approach does not give clear, concise information for young people and does lend itself for evaluation of the effectiveness of the sanction.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A young person who staff identified as gaining an unhealthy amount of weight was allowed to plan menus for the week. The menus kept within the home suggest that the young people eat a diet that is in the main made up of processed foods and lacked a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables. This is not conducive to a healthy eating plan and does not demonstrate a robust plan to assist the young people make healthy choices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the shortfalls set out in this report, young people continue to make progress in all aspects of their lives. Their attendance in education is excellent. Staff celebrate young people’s achievements; this supports their learning and academic development. There is a firm routine for getting children to school on time that young people have readily accepted. Staff at the home and school staff work together to provide high levels of consistency and continuity, which has proved very effective in supporting each young person to achieve.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people welcomed all the young people who are looked after by the local authority into their home for a children in care council meeting. This level of engagement ensures that young people are fully involved in all the decisions made about the care they receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s inclusion in community life continues to be outstanding. Young people enjoy an excellent range of well-considered activities and experiences. One young person enjoys horse-riding whilst another is having piano lessons. Activities follow the interests of the young people as well as developing their self confidence in line with care planning. These activities include membership of choirs, enrolment on Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and actively involved in local cadets.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact continues to be well-promoted for all the young people. The manager and staff team have continued to develop excellent links with families and supporting professionals. They are dedicated to working in partnership to ensure young people are very well supported and continue to make good progress while living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be welcoming and homely and staff make considerable effort to provide a ‘family-like’ environment for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager agreed with the shortfalls found at this inspection and has stated that she will put an action plan in place to address all of them as a matter of urgency.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority provision provides care and accommodation for two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

20/03/2015 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 health and wellbeing standard the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (2) In particular, ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (i) achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child's relevant plans; (ii) understand the child's health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child's health and well- being, in a way that is appropriate to the child's age and understanding; (iii) take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child's health and well-being needs; This is in relation to ensuring healthy food choices are readily available for young people. 25/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure that children:

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Requirement Due date

(1) (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home; and in particular (2) (b) that arrangements are in place to— (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and (c) that each child's relevant plans are followed; 25/04/2016 35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and (b) the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(2) The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

(3) The registered person must ensure that— (a) 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— (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to

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Requirement Due date

do so ("the authorised person")— (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and (c) within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (4) Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to restraint that is planned or provided for as a matter of routine in the child's EHC plan or statement of special educational needs. 25/04/2016

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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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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