Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last inspection in January found that the service continued to operate at a good standard and the current inspection finds that this is still the case. The manager has addressed the three requirements and three recommendations. Consequently, staff pay closer attention to the matching of new children with existing ones. This contributes to making children’s stays as successful as possible. Children and staff now have more information about the legal rights that children have. This helps them understand the policies and procedures in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staffing arrangements continue to provide children with a good standard of continuity. There have been very few changes since the last inspection and effective training has sustained the competency of team members. As a result, there is a pleasant and positive atmosphere in the home. External professionals are impressed with the service delivered to children and themselves. One social worker recently said that she ‘would not hesitate to place another child here’. Another confirmed that children are happy in the home. The presentation of the property itself is of a high standard both inside and out. Planning is underway to make better use of the rear garden as the weather improves.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff liaise well with other professionals, especially when there are concerns about children’s safety. Staff also protect children by verifying the identity of visitors, including contractors who sometimes do not have identification. The manager has addressed the high risks posed by children going missing in a systematic and child- friendly way. She and the staff engage children in rigorous discussions to educate them about the implications of ongoing negative behaviour. Since the last inspection, such risks have led to two children moving to more suitable, rural, placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Routine checks and maintenance occur of fire safety and other equipment. However, a shortfall in the security of the office resulted in the theft of money. This exposed a child to unnecessary risks and staff addressed it promptly. Nevertheless, this inspection finds that office security remains a shortfall with keys left unsecured. This poses potential risks to children if they gain unsupervised access to vehicles, medication, or money.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s circumstances sometimes prevail against planned admissions and discharges. However, the recent improvements reported above, protect current and new children against unnecessary turnover, wherever possible. On admission, children receive a thorough induction into the home and sign to indicate their understanding. This process helps them settle and establish relationships with staff. The home meets the religious and dietary needs of children from different cultural backgrounds, too.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The current residents have only lived here a few months. However, they are comfortable in the home and have established regular routines in their education and recreation. Children feel that the boundaries set by staff are ‘firm but fair’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager knows the service thoroughly and is developing the skills of her team well. However, the independent person’s monitoring reports for the home show duplication of comments between reports, are occasionally speculative, and sometimes record the policy rather than commenting on the facts. This does not help the service improve and creates doubt about the veracity of the reports. Also, the reports do not always clearly indicate what the visitor’s opinion is with regard to the welfare and safeguarding of children. This omission is especially significant when children’s behaviours are particularly difficult, as has occurred recently. Staff and the manager receive regular professional supervision but not copies of the minutes, as required.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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 protection of children standard to ensure that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe, the registered provider must ensure-

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. This is with regard to keeping the office and items in it secure. 25/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

The independent person produces a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. This is with regard to these conclusions being clearly recorded. (Regulation 44(4)) 25/04/2016

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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 actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. This is with regard to ensuring the regulation 44 monitoring reports provide sufficiently detailed information. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 Keep a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions and ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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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