Children's home run by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council in Wigan

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to receive an excellent quality of care and support from an experienced, consistent and dedicated staff team. Staff have high aspirations for all young people enjoying and accessing short breaks at the home. This is regardless of the complexity of their needs, their disability and the challenges they may present. Without exception, parents and professionals are very complementary about the positive impact the service has on the lives of young people and the individual progress they have made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to benefit from robust risk assessments. Plans are individualised, detailed and identify all aspects of risk. They outline intervention strategies to ensure young people are protected. Staff are knowledgeable about young people’s particular vulnerabilities, which enables them to predict risk and take quick action to reduce harm. They have a strong awareness of how to safeguard young people, using the homes own procedures and working in partnership with all child protection professionals. Staff respond immediately to any safeguarding concerns and inform all professionals of necessary details. Recently the missing from care procedures have been updated and all staff are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities. They now notify the emergency services immediately, due to the complexities of young people’s needs. Although staff have not had to use this they have all attended meetings were the changes have been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

discussed in detail. This ensures that young people are safeguarded.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff show resilience and have a good balanced approach to safeguarding and supporting young people. They are alert to potential dangers, but encourage exploration and taking appropriate risks in a safe environment. For example, young people have high levels of supervision and all activities are carefully risk assessed, ensuring appropriate safety measures are in place. This enables the young people to experiment, enjoy and discover new experiences in a less restricted environment. Throughout the home, there are photographs of young people trying new activities for the first time, this includes days out to places of interest, baking and helping to prepare meals. Staff have also introduced ‘memory lane’ books, which clearly illustrate young people engaging and enjoying a wide range of fun and exciting activities throughout their stay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to use a range of methods to ensure that young people have a voice and remain at the centre of their plans. As well as using suitable communication aids, such as pictures, symbols and simple sign language, staff are receptive to young people’s changing needs through their non-verbal clues, such as their body language. This ensures that staff can respond to young people appropriately, especially during times of heightened anxiety. Staff continue to increase their knowledge base and recently attended further training on communicating with young people, using ‘talking mats’. This has proved a success. Young people ‘have a voice’ and this encourages them independently to express their wishes and feelings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, five new young people have started to enjoy overnight stays at the home. The Registered Manager completed a detailed and comprehensive assessment, before devising their individual transition plans. This ensures that young people’s needs are carefully considered, when they first came to visit. Staff are therefore able to respond to their needs appropriately.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to the overnight stays, the manager and staff met with the young person and their families and explained about the nature of the service. This provides an opportunity for any questions to be considered and fears alleviated. Young people also had the opportunity to visit, meet other young people and staff, prior to staying overnight. Consequently, young people and their families benefit from a smooth and effective transition process. However, some young people who now have ‘looked after status’ are still attending the short breaks service, for ‘children in need.’ This is outside of the homes own Statement of Purpose. The Registered Manager was aware of the impact on her service. She was in discussions with senior managers about how they could continue to support young people who had moved into care, for a targeted period of time. A revised Statement of Purpose was also being considered, to ensure the ethos and vision for the home is clear.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have continued to develop effective working relationships with parents, carers, and other agencies such as: social workers; schools; adult services; and health professionals, such as speech and language therapists. These positive working relationships ensure that young people continue to benefit from continuity of care, and receive comprehensive and consistent health and social care packages, whether this be at the family home, within the short breaks service or at school. This child focused care practice and multi-agency support ensures that all young people continue to make progress with their health, education, social and emotional development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people stay in a suitably designed and recently decorated home. The building is currently being adapted and furnished to meet the needs of all young people. The lay out of the house enables young people with a full range of mobility needs to get around easily. It is very well maintained, clean, warm and suitably decorated. Bathrooms are adapted and equipped to meet the young people’s personal care and mobility needs. Young people were consulted about the changes in the home, including a new kitchen, new colour schemes throughout and the development of the garden areas. During the inspection young people with non- verbal communication were also observed to be happy, smiling, laughing and enjoying spending time with individual staff, who responded appropriately to their gestures and signs. Young people said ‘I love to come and stay here’; ‘I like the staff’ and ‘they (staff) play games with me and make my tea.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership and management arrangements remain effective. Staff are positive about the support they receive from their managers. They confirm that they receive regular supervision, attend team meetings and have many opportunities to attend bespoke and mandatory training. This has included Autism, Epilepsy and advanced medication training. Staff confirmed ‘the managers are really good ’, ‘the training makes sure we understand and can respond to individual needs of young people’ and ‘team meetings make sure we are consistent in our approach’. The managers continue to have high expectations for all young people and expect staff to consistently deliver an excellent standard of care.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority short breaks service for young people with complex needs and learning difficulties. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim sustained 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

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 22/04/2016

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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 . 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 .

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Information about this inspection

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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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