Children's home run by Blackpool Borough Council in Blackpool

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:

 Introductions to the home are planned well giving young people an opportunity to visit, meet staff, young people, and ask questions about what to expect. They have a say in whether the proposed move is the right one for them.  Staff are strong advocates for education, they work creatively and closely with education professionals to help young people overcome difficulties.  Young people’s physical and emotional health needs are well met.  Young people’s individuality is respected, and they enjoy positive experiences based on their interests.  Staff work well to engage birth families and support young people to maintain contact with people who are important to them.  Young people are developing positive relationships with some staff; this provides a platform from which they are able to make progress in other aspects of their lives.  Managers and staff work collaboratively with partner agencies who

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The children's home provision is good because:

report high levels of satisfaction with the service. This means young people receive a multi-agency approach to their care which promotes their welfare, and keeps them safe.  Staff demonstrate resilience in supporting young people with complex needs through challenging times. Unsafe behaviour such as self- harm, missing, and anti-social conduct is well managed and reduces as young people journey through the home.  Managers and staff respond promptly to safeguarding concerns ensuring young people’s safety and welfare is promoted.  Internal and external monitoring takes place consistently. Strengths and areas to be addressed are reflected in reports produced, and inform development plans.  Young people live in an environment which is homely and well maintained, they are comfortable here and feel able to bring their friends home. To continue to improve the home needs to:  Ensure all staff participate in fire evacuation drills so they know and

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The children's home provision is good because:

have practiced how to exit the building and lead young people to safety in an emergency.  Take steps to include all known risks about young people into their individual risk assessments, together with the strategies in place to manage these. This will then reflect the work already being done to safeguard them.  Address shortfalls to ensure a consistent approach is adopted in respect of night time staffing arrangements.

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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

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure— (2)(a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 23/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must – (2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child, specifically in relation to waking night staff. 23/11/2015

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Requirement Due date

25: Fire precautions Ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire (Regulation 25(1)(d)). 23/11/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home can accommodate up to six young people. It is owned and operated by a local authority and provides medium to long-term care placements for 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

10/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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good

Staff respond sensitively to the individual needs of young people. They experience consistency and stability enabling them to develop their own identity. Young people are not marginalised, and difference and diversity is respected. Young people are developing positive and trusted relationships with some staff. Keyworkers play a particularly important role in this process, and some are described by an independent reviewing officer as ‘particularly gifted’ at getting alongside young people. As a result, young people come to understand that staff care for them, and they learn reciprocity. Young people new to the home are welcomed and their introductions are carefully planned. A series of visits enables them to meet with staff, other young people who live there, and ask questions about what the home is like. A social worker describes introductions as ‘positive and well thought out, providing X the opportunity to work through queries, and they were reassured’. Young people are

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good

consulted about what they think about the home, and whether a move there is right for them. Consequently, they are involved in important decisions about their lives. Young people are registered with relevant health professionals and attend routine and specialist appointments. Staff are persistent when young people initially refuse appointments, and are successful in helping them overcome their difficulties. Where young people have complex emotional needs they seek specialist advice. As a result, young people’s physical and psychological well-being is promoted, and their needs are well met. Managers and staff place great value on education and advocate strongly on behalf of young people. This ensures that arrangements in place meet individual need, and when young people experience difficulties they work creatively, and with others to find solutions. For most young people this has reaped rewards. For example, one young person has recommenced college after missing the start of

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good

term, and another is now fully reintegrated in mainstream school. A focus on education helps young people to make progress, and this improves their life chances. Staff support and encourage young people to develop new skills in line with their age and development. This includes them helping around the home, travelling independently, and being able to cook simple meals for themselves. A social worker commented positively on how staff are allowing a young person to develop. She said: ‘Staff provide him with opportunities to learn independence skills and he is thriving.’ Consequently, young people grow in confidence and are being prepared for their next steps. Young people’s care is directed through detailed placement plans which are monitored and reviewed. Young people are included in such reviews providing them with opportunities to contribute to or comment on their care, and how this is delivered. Staff are proactive and confident in their dealings with young people’s families.

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good

Young people benefit from seeing staff and their birth families working together. This inclusive approach means that contact arrangements are well supported, and young people are able to maintain relationships with people important to them. Young people enjoy access to a range of social and recreational opportunities. Examples include social groups, visiting local attractions, cycling, music concerts, and camping trips. Most young people have friendships within the local community, and enjoy spending time with their peers. They bring their friends home, and this reflects how comfortable they are within their home environment.

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good

The overall arrangements to protect and safeguard young people are good. Young people are safe, and say they are cared for. Staff are trained and clear about their role and responsibility in keeping young people safe from harm. As a result, any safeguarding concerns are promptly responded to. Young people are clear about how to make a complaint, and can identify trusted adults who they can speak to about any worries they may have. Young people have a voice in this home and action is taken to ensure they are listened to. For example, arrangements are made for young people to meet with an independent visitor, providing clear opportunities to discuss and address their concerns. This practice helps to protect young people. Young people living in this home all have histories of putting themselves at risk through their actions and unsafe lifestyles. For example, some come to the home with high levels of missing, and can present anti-social behaviour. Solid working

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good

relationships created between the home and other professionals helps to minimise risks and keep young people safe. As a result, they learn to manage safely in the community, and are no longer involved in incidents of anti-social behaviour. Clear plans are in place to respond to young people who go missing. Professionals report staff are proactive, and records indicate they take action to search the area, and contact family and friends to try and locate young people and ensure their safe return. Consistency, boundaries, negotiation, and developing positive relationships with staff help to engender change, and missing episodes for some young people have reduced. Staff understand the risks that use of the internet and social media may pose for young people, and they talk with them about this. Strategies are in place to keep young people safe on-line, and some staff attend specific training courses so they

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good

can lead e-safety arrangements within the home. Being alert to the risks means when issues do arise they are addressed so that young people are appropriately protected. Young people are helped to manage their behaviour through support and understanding. Appropriate incentive schemes which reward good behaviour are in place. All areas of behaviour management, which includes physical intervention, are well managed and monitored. Records are up to date, and appropriately kept. These are monitored and evaluated to ensure such practice is safe. The home has developed a culture of working through the most difficult of times, when placements have become fragile due to the behaviour patterns being exhibited at that time. This is recognised by others, and the commitment shown to young people is described as ‘commendable’. By sticking with young people, they learn that staff care and have their best interests at heart. This in turn helps them

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good

to build up their own resilience, and develop different coping mechanisms to manage at times of stress and challenge. Risks presented by young people are known and understood by staff. They take action to ensure these are minimised and managed. Individual risk assessments are in place, but they are short on detail and do not accurately reflect levels of risk, or the strategies in place to respond to these. This means that all risks are not clearly assessed and recorded. This has not directly impacted on the safety of young people to date but does have the potential to compromise their welfare. Consequently, this is an area identified for improvement. Health and safety checks are carried out routinely creating a safe physical environment. The home is well maintained and repairs are carried out quickly, protecting young people from avoidable hazards. Young people are supported to understand what to do in the event of a fire, and all have participated in a fire drill.

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good

Two staff have not done the same, including a night worker. Therefore, not all staff are practiced in what to do in the event of such an emergency. This was a recommendation set at the last inspection, and is now raised as a requirement. Judgement grade

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good

The home is managed by an experienced manager who has been registered with Ofsted since 2010. He is appropriately qualified holding a Level 4 Registered Manager’s award. Managers and staff are child focused, and passionate about delivering and maintaining good standards of care. Where partners fall short in their delivery of services to young people the Registered Manager challenges this. As a result, concerns are escalated to ensure young people receive the support they need. For example, the manager raised concerns about a delay in PEP meetings taking place, and highlighted outstanding return home interviews when young people had been missing from care. Both issues have now been addressed. As a result, the manager champion’s the needs of young people ensuring their welfare is promoted. Staff are given areas of responsibility which they respond to positively. Staff receive regular supervision and say they feel supported by their individual line

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good

managers. Appraisals take place meaning that staff performance is reviewed, and this supports their development. Records reflect the views of staff that they are given regular opportunities to attend training events. All core training is kept up to date, and additional training is available. For example, e-safety, a diploma in child and adolescent mental health, and for team leaders a Level 5 leadership course. As a result, training and development activities are effective; staff refresh old skills as well as develop new ones. This allows them to understand and address the changing needs of young people in their care. Internal and external monitoring of the home takes place consistently and it is to a good standard. Reports reach Ofsted in a timely manner. The manager uses monitoring to identify and address shortfalls. Furthermore, systems in place contain some evaluation which informs future planning. This means there is a

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good

commitment to learning from practice, and to improving the quality of care afforded to young people. Young people are cared for by a stable, and dedicated staff team, consisting of people who have worked at the home for a number of years. The long-term absence of two waking night staff, means residential care workers undertake additional sleep-in duties as an alternative. This is appropriately risk assessed, and is not deemed to be unsafe. However, resources are clearly stretched and the good will of staff is diminishing. Moreover, the arrangement is not providing a consistent approach for young people at night, particularly to those who seek reassurance and assistance from waking night staff. Measures have been put in place to address three of the four recommendations made at the last inspection. One recommendation is raised to a requirement to ensure all staff understand and practice fire evacuation procedures, and two

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good

further requirements are made to secure improvements where necessary.

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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

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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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