Children's home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people who receive short breaks at this service thrive. This is a result of the good-quality care, support and protection that are delivered by a dedicated and well-managed staff team. A social worker said, ‘(Name of the child) is really enjoying it. Staff have been really great with (name of the child).’ A parent said, ‘She is part of the (name of the service) family.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people make good progress in a number of ways. These include: improved sleeping patterns; calmer and settled behaviour; responding to the boundaries; improved health; less self-harm; making positive food choices; and eating better. A parent said about her child’s progress, ‘She was reserved at first and used to sit alone. She now sits with anyone.’ An older young person is making a positive transition into his adult placement. A social worker expressed positive regard for the staff team’s contribution to ensuring a smooth changeover, describing the process as, ‘Relatively seamless’. Children’s and young people’s safe care and protection are enshrined in a strong safeguarding culture. High staffing levels with close supervision and secure premises prevent missing events and the risk of child sexual exploitation. There are no current safeguarding concerns or allegations against staff. Social workers and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

parents express confidence that children and young people are safe and protected during their stays. A social worker said, ‘She is always well supervised. She is safe. I have no issues.’ Effective partnerships between the staff team and education providers support families to encourage children’s and young people’s good attendance and progress. Similarly, the strong relationships that the team shares with health professionals ensure that children’s and young people’s complex and diverse physical, emotional and behavioural needs are promptly attended to. A social worker said, ‘They attend his (child’s) children and adolescent mental health service and children looked after reviews. I think the staff have worked well with multi-agencies.’ Most children’s and young people’s holistic health and behavioural needs have reduced as a result of these proactive interventions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s and young people’s enduring positive engagement in a range of activities provides them with hours of fun, sensory stimulation and opportunities to socialise with their friends. A young person explained how much of a good time they had at the swimming pool and the techniques they used when there. A parent said, ‘Where I can’t do anything, they do things with her.’ The staff team continues to capture the memories in photographs, which contribute towards life story books. Team members have attended life story training in recognition of the importance of this work and the need for it to be developed. This intends to provide an accurate and meaningful reflection of the child’s journey.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Independent advocates regularly visit children and young people, and consult with them. In addition, children’s and young people’s interaction with staff through their preferred method of communication is responsive to their wishes and feelings. One young person’s attendance and contributions at his education and health and care plan meeting are a good example of how young people are empowered to have their voice heard and to influence their plans. Physical interventions are infrequent and used only as a protective measure. Debriefings with young people, where possible, and with the staff involved ensure fair and proportionate practice. Positive relationships forged between children, young people and staff support the implemented behaviour management strategies. This helps staff to foresee any potential incidents or to act on any violent outburst in a safe and caring manner. A social worker said, ‘Staff have been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

on (name of the behaviour management technique) training.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A staff development day has helped the team to review and reflect on the Children’s Homes Regulations, quality standards and other pertinent practice issues. This provides a good opportunity for staff to discuss their roles and responsibilities, and to determine how they move forward with management priorities and developments. A social worker said, ‘Staff are on top of things.’ An extensive decoration programme that is due to commence throughout the home in the near future should freshen up the environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement regarding internal monitoring is carried over to the next inspection, because its submission to Ofsted is not yet due. The recommendation made to improve risk assessments and recruitment information is work in progress. Although risk assessments have been updated, more evaluative detail would make clearer any new risks, to inform risk management strategies. At the time of the inspection, the recruitment information for new staff had not yet been concluded. This will be examined at the next inspection.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority service is registered to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of seven children and young people of either gender at any one time. Ages range from eight to 17 years, and individuals have a range of learning disabilities, complex healthcare needs and associated physical disabilities. Children and young people attend on a shared care basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/03/2015 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 complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating – the quality of care provided for children. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(5)) 31/03/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s): Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (The Guide to Quality Standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4). Specifically, that each young person's risk assessments are evaluative and make clear any new risks to inform risk management strategies and information in application forms that relate to the ending of employment correlates with employment references.

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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 ‘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 0300 123 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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