Children's Home run by Halton Borough Council in Halton

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children feel welcome and are relaxed and happy at the home. They look forward to their visits and enjoy their short breaks.  The home provides children with a wide range of opportunities and experiences, including recreational, social and learning activities which help them develop self-confidence and have fun.  Children with complex health needs receive the treatment, medicines and care they need from well trained staff.  Person-centred planning is at the heart of the home. Consequently, children received individualised care that meets their needs.  Staff know children well and respond effectively to their needs and wishes. They encourage children to have a say in their day-to-day care during their short breaks and in planning future activities.  Children‟s safety and welfare are prioritised and staff follow good safeguarding procedures that protect children from harm.  The home is well-led and managed. The stable and long standing staff team

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The children's home provision is good because:

provide consistent, high quality care.  The home supports families to stay together by providing much needed respite for families with children who have complex and challenging health needs and learning disabilities. A parent explained, „My child is very happy to stay there, he recognises key staff and accepts support from them during his stay. They do their very best for him consistently and the service is a life line for the family.‟

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home. (The Guide, page 65, para 15.5)  Ensure that all children's case records are kept up to date, signed and dated by the author of each entry. In particular, ensure individual health and medicine administration records are kept up to date, contain all required information and are signed and dated by the author. (The Guide, page 62, para 14.3)

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short break care for up to four children with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. It is managed by a local authority and provides a service to children from a number of local authorities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

Children enjoy warm, friendly relationships with staff whom they trust. Staff follow detailed, person-centred placement plans that are drawn up with assistance from families and focus on children‟s individual needs. This ensures staff have the information required to provide good quality care that meets each child‟s needs very well. A parent said, „The staff attend well to her continence and medication and her personal care. She is well cared for during her stays.‟ Referrals to the home are carefully assessed and this ensures the home can meet each child‟s particular needs. Introductions are carried out at the child‟s pace, with regular review so that children stay overnight only when they are ready to do so. This reduces their anxiety about being away from home and assists them and their families to build up trust in the staff team before they stay overnight. Parents report that children look forward to visiting the home and enjoy their time

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good

there. One said: „My child is keen to attend and happy; she shows it by smiles and she says, “Ann – name of the home”.‟ Activities are well-planned to take account of the interests and abilities of the children visiting. For example, some wheelchair users enjoy new experiences such as ice skating at a specialist ice rink or imaginary „drag-racing‟ in the forest. Others enjoy visits to the shops or a walk or tandem bike ride along the canal. This enables children to have positive and enjoyable experiences, safely. Children with complex health problems enjoy time safely relaxing on beanbags in the home‟s cinema or the sensory room. The adapted bathing facilities enable children to enjoy bubble baths and water play safely. Wherever possible, visits are planned to take account of friendship groups. This further enhances children‟s enjoyment. The home sets goals and aims for each child. These are focused on supporting

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good

children to develop particular skills and are agreed with parents and placing authorities. Over time, children make small steps to develop better self-care skills and improve their self-regulation and social skills. For example, children learn about social boundaries, such as respecting each other‟s privacy. Some learn to use public transport, including how to buy tickets and to shop for personal items. Staff work closely with schools. They visit children at school and teachers visit the home. Professionals share good practice and as far as possible, use consistent behaviour management and communication strategies with children. Staff communicate with children through speech and picture symbols and some limited signing. Staff and professionals report this is sufficient to understand and be understood by children. The home conducts meetings with children each month. Many children are not interested in engaging, but some do. These

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good

meetings are used in various ways. For example, children learn about fire safety in the home and contribute to plans for activities during school holidays. In addition, staff meet with each child on their arrival for their short break and consult with them about how they wish to spend their time during the visit. Children are encouraged to and usually do participate in suggested activities so that they make the most of their visit. The home contributes to transition planning to adult services through Children in Need reviews. The quality and effectiveness of transitions is variable but the manager reports this is better when an adult social worker is appointed as soon as the child reaches 17. Where an adult provision is identified, the home shares information with the new provider and supports the young person for tea visits there, as required. The home shares information with parents and social workers, through monthly

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good

reports and through the home / school diary. For some children with communication difficulties, staff take photos of the child engaged in activities in the home so the child can share what they have been doing during their short break with parents, teachers and classmates. Parents and teachers value this method of communication. The home currently provides a respite care service to 19 children from three local authorities. It helps families to continue caring for their children at home by providing them with much needed respite. It helps children to become less dependent on their families and to enjoy time away from home in a safe and secure setting where they enjoy the company of their peers. Families very much value the respite they receive in caring for their children who have complex and challenging needs. One explained, „It‟s an invaluable lifeline. It allows a bit of normality into our lives and he loves it‟. Social workers appreciate

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good

the very high levels of expertise shown by staff. One said, „Standards in the home are excellent‟ and another explained, „They are practised and competent in what they do and how they do it.‟ Children‟s health is well supported. They receive a well-balanced, varied diet that takes account of their individual dietary needs and preferences. During the summer months, children enjoy growing vegetables in the garden and harvesting, cooking and eating them. Good medicine procedures ensure that children receive the medicines they need to maintain their health. Some minor shortfalls in children‟s health records mean that not all files are kept fully up-to-date. To date, there has been no impact of this on children‟s care and no mismanagement of medication. Judgement grade

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good

Individualised risk assessments outline the particular risks to the safety and wellbeing of each child. These help the staff team to understand and manage risks so that children are well protected. For example a parent explained, „My son is on the autistic spectrum and staff work very hard to consider compatibility with other children when he stays so they get the mix right, as his behaviour could be risky to more vulnerable young people.‟ All children who access the service need close supervision in the community. To ensure their safety, external doors to the car park are kept locked while children are present. This is clearly outlined in children‟s placement plans and in the home‟s statement of purpose. Children have free access to the garden and can move safely around the home and in the garden, as they wish. High staffing levels ensure that children are safely supported in the community. No children have gone

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good

missing from the home. The independent positive behaviour support team provides staff with guidance about how to manage the complex and challenging behaviour of some children. This ensures that staff are working consistently in partnership with parents and teachers so that children have clear boundaries and their behaviour improves. The manager and staff provide advice and guidance to families, as agreed with placing authorities. This supports them to manage children‟s behaviour more effectively and consistently at home. Staff protect children through close supervision and effective management of those who display challenging behaviour. This is achieved by positive and timely interventions, including tried and tested distraction and de-escalation techniques. Restraint is rare and there have been none since the last inspection. A social worker explained: „Staff are competent and very well aware of behaviours that

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good

might occur and how to both recognise those 'leading up to' behaviours and use redirection to minimise and manage.‟ Robust recruitment practice ensures staff working at the home are well vetted and suitable to work with children. Good routines, consistently implemented by staff, protect children receiving personal care from the risk of abuse. Staff show respect for children‟s dignity and modesty. Routine health and safety checks and good standards of cleanliness ensure the premises and specialist equipment are maintained to a high standard. Judgement grade

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good

The home is very well managed and led by an experienced and qualified registered manager who has managed the home for many years. She is ably assisted by a deputy manager. A professional summed up the views of many, saying: „I feel this is a flagship facility that could enhance the lives of so many more children in this borough.‟ Children‟s welfare and happiness is at the heart of all practice. There is a strong focus on providing a happy, welcoming and relaxed environment. The manager and staff ensure children have a positive experience and enjoy their „sleep-overs‟ at the home. A higher than usual level of sickness this year has meant that the team of ten staff have needed support from three regular relief staff in order to meet the rota. The manager has also assisted in providing care to children. This has enabled the home to provide consistent care from adults that children know well. Staffing levels are

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good

set to take account of children‟s individual needs and vary according to which children are having short breaks. This ensures the home is appropriately staffed to provide a happy and enjoyable stay. The staff team is well-established and cohesive. Staff receive good supervision, clear guidance and effective support from the manager and deputy who have open-door policies. Staff receive regular formal supervision and feel comfortable in seeking advice and guidance whenever they need it. The home provides staff with a good rolling programme of training, which is tailored to the specific needs of the children using the service. This includes training in looking after children with autism and epilepsy as well as safeguarding children and protecting those who may be at risk of sexual abuse or exploitation. Although restraint is rarely used, all staff are trained to use it safely and this training is regularly renewed.

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good

The home operates in accordance with its statement of purpose. The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home and engages staff in developing the home so they feel a sense of belonging and ownership. The home is currently focusing on increasing its availability so that more children can benefit from its service. Strong partnership working ensures that children‟s needs and wishes are central to planning and that the home has up to date information about changes in children‟s lives. Other professionals and parents comment favourably on the level of communication that promotes delivery of good quality care to children. One social worker said the home provides „excellent support for professionals and families as well as for children‟ while another said: „Management and staff are always keen to maintain excellent communication links with the young peoples' schools, which plays an important part in supporting the young peoples' development.‟

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good

The manager maintains good oversight of the operation of the home and the effectiveness of care through good management and monitoring systems. She completes monthly reports which are based on monthly summaries of each child‟s progress and an overview of the home‟s records. She knows children very well and is fully conversant with their individual needs and progress. This enables her to guide staff effectively to focus on children‟s individual targets and promote their overall happiness, growth and development. A social worker commented: „The manager of the home knows the children as well as the staff working on the “shop floor”. This for me evidences the positive work that happens from the manager down to the staff.‟ Reports of visits to the home by an independent person lack detail and do not show good consultation with children and their families. They do not always show that a rigorous assessment of the home‟s safeguarding arrangements and the

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good

promotion of children‟s welfare has taken place.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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