Children's home in Walsall

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:

 There is a creative and innovative approach taken by the manager and the team. They encourage respect between all who live and work in the home, with particular reference to the additional work around bullying.  Leaders and managers work in effective partnership with external professionals. They challenge where necessary.  Education progress is effectively monitored by an efficient education coordinator. Young people make significant progress.  Positive engagement provides young people with opportunities to explore different ways of succeeding, this improves respect and behaviour.  Young people learn how to keep themselves safe. They reduce risk-taking behaviour over time and recognise the progress that they have made.  Staff are dedicated, committed and passionate. They go the extra mile in providing a child-centred approach.  Young people make significant progress in their education from their

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The children’s home provision is good because:

starting points.  Relationships between staff and young people are positive, trusting and healthy.  Some areas require improvement. In particular, in relation to the garden, records, monitoring and surveillance and young people’s bathrooms.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard: In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to the en-suite shower room, the registered provider must ensure that staff— (2)(b)(vii) provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 30 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

12. The protection of children standard: In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the maintenance of the garden, the registered provider must ensure— (2)(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 30 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(b)) 30 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. In particular, in relation to the young people’s register (Regulation 37 (2)(a), Schedule 4 (1)(c)(d) (3)). 30 June 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home is privately owned.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21 October 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Staff are dedicated, committed and passionate. They go the extra mile in providing a child-centred approach. As a result, young people have positive experiences and make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Young people make significant progress in their education from their start points. Education progress is effectively monitored by an efficient education coordinator. Progress is tracked and monitored well, through the use of pie charts and graphs. A staff member said, ‘She refused education at first, but has made significant progress. She is now preparing for her exams.’ Another young person flourished when he moved school. His potential was recognised and he was moved to a mainstream school. He is now achieving higher grades. School staff are able to support his needs well due to the good communication between education and home. This means that young people continue to get the education support that

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Good

they need. Young people are in good health. They benefit from a healthy diet, regular exercise and attend routine health appointments. Young people have access to a variety of additional services that ensure their emotional, psychological and physical well- being are cared for. For example, drug and alcohol support workers provide young people with resources and counselling to raise their awareness. They work in close partnership with the home staff and young people to reduce addiction. As a result, young people make positive choices to disengage from drug and alcohol use. This significantly increases their health and well-being. A young person said, ‘It has helped me being here. It is not a bad place. I am fit and well. I have free time and show respect to staff.’ Another young person said, ‘I have stopped taking drugs and alcohol. My health is better. I can really see the difference in the way I look.’

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Good

Relationships between staff and young people are positive, trusting and healthy. Young people engage well with staff and each other. Where difficulties arise between peers, staff are quick to engage them in mediation. This helps to resolve conflict and strengthens relationships. Young people know that the staff care for them and have their best interest at heart. They feel confident in speaking to staff about personal matters and know that they will be treated with respect. Young people meet regularly to discuss the home and share their views and opinions. A young person said, ‘My view is taken in meetings twice weekly. I feel I’m heard.’ Where it is difficult to arrange group discussions, key workers gather individual views and share them with the manager. The manager feeds back to the young people and tries to meet reasonable requests. As a result, young people feel valued and listened to. Young people remain in contact with friends and family that are important to them.

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Good

A young person said, ‘My social worker visits and I see mom and dad every Sunday. I keep in touch with my friends.’ This ensures that young people develop positive relationships and strengthen bonds. Young people know the plans for their care. They actively take part in their reviews and discuss their views in key work meetings. Reports for the review are provided in advance by the key worker. This informs everyone of the progress being made. This ensures that young people remain central to the care that they receive. Young people benefit from a variety of activities that enhance their social experiences and meet their diverse needs. Young people enjoy their free time and make informed choices about how to use it. A young person said, ‘I have lots of free time. I go out and see my friends.’ Where young people show a particular interest in a sport or activity, staff ensure that they provide young people with the

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Good

resources to access them. As a result, young people become more confident in their skills and abilities and their social skills improve. Staff support young people to prepare for independence. Pathway plans are provided to map the future towards leaving care. This helps young people to understand their future plans and enables them to develop the necessary life skills. A young person said, ‘I cook for myself and manage my money well.’ The home is well presented, warm and welcoming and suitably furnished. There is plenty of space for young people to relax. The floor in a young person’s bathroom is in need of repair. Although this had not been reported prior to the inspection, the manager requested an immediate repair to the maintenance team.

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Good

Young people feel safe and are safe in the home. Adequate staffing ensures that young people are protected and supported to keep themselves safe. Risk assessments are in place for each young person. They are detailed and informative. Staff review risk assessments regularly, updating when risks and behaviours change. This ensures that young people receive the appropriate support that is individual to their needs. The manager completes regular health and safety monitoring of the home. However, uneven paving steps in the garden have gone unreported. This presents as a tripping hazard and has the potential to place young people at risk of injury. Routine fire drills, alarm tests and visual equipment checks are completed to ensure that the home is protected against the risk of fire. Staff and young people take part in regular fire drills. This ensures that everyone living, working and visiting the home know how to respond in the event of a fire. This keeps everyone

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Good

safe. Bullying in the home is not tolerated. Where issues of bullying manifest, the manager takes immediate action to stamp it out. For example, following bullying incidents, an external company was invited into the home to complete a workshop with staff and young people. This provided young people with positive engagement that enabled them to explore the subject in depth and learn how to tackle it and change behaviour while responding to peer pressure. Additionally, the manager and staff set up the ‘Respect Project’. This creative and innovative approach encouraged respect between all who live and work in the home, with particular reference to the additional work around bullying. Young people have gained more respect for each other and the home environment. A young person said, ‘I was involved in the Respect Project. We are more respectful to each other.’ Since the programme began, bullying has reduced. This keeps young people safe.

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Good

Young people learn how to keep themselves safe. They reduce risk-taking behaviour over time and recognise the progress that they have made. A young person said, ‘I used to scream, shout and get angry. My attitude and aggression is better. Staff sit and talk to you and help find ways to deal with stuff.’ Another young person recognised her progress and said, ‘I control my anger more. I can walk away more now. This is a big thing for me.’ Young people make significant progress in reducing episodes of going missing from care. They feel safe in the home and no longer feel the need to run away. A young person said, ‘I’m doing really well. I have been here for three months due to my absconding. I have only gone missing once. Staff see my progress.’ Staff take appropriate action when young people go missing. They work closely with the police to ensure a safe return. Interviews are completed to gather information that

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Good

may help to reduce future episodes. This helps to protect young people from the risk of sexual exploitation, harm or abuse. Staff manage behaviour well. A staff member said, ‘We work in line with their plan to support and provide consistency. We review risk regularly and engage them in activities of their choice. This keeps them busy and on track. We talk through difficulties.’ Staff are trained in the use of physical intervention and de-escalation. The use of physical intervention is only used as a last resort by trained staff. Sanctions are fair and proportionate. A young person said, ‘I have only received three [sanctions]. It depends on what you did. They are usually a car ban, no activity or free time.’ Young people are protected against online abuse when using the internet. The measures in place restrict access to certain sites. This keeps young people safe. Allegations against staff are managed well in accordance with the safeguarding

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Good

procedures. All staff are trained in safeguarding and child protection. This ensures that young people are protected and given the appropriate support in the event of an allegation. Young people feel confident in making a complaint and do so. The manager addresses all complaints and responds accordingly. This ensures that young people are taken seriously and listened to. Some areas of the home are monitored by video surveillance/CCTV. Not all young people have consents authorising the use from their placing authority. This does not guarantee the privacy of young people who may not require the use of the measure. The manager has safely recruited staff. All potential candidates are vetted to check their suitability prior to starting work. This protects young people from unsuitable candidates having access to them.

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Good

The registered manager has been in post for five years. She has an appropriate leadership qualification. The registered manager is supported by a new deputy manager and project manager. The project manager will eventually take full management responsibility once he has applied and becomes registered with Ofsted. Most staff are qualified. Those who are unqualified are within regulatory timescales at present to obtain their qualification within two years of starting work. There is a robust quality assurance process in place to improve the care that young people receive. The registered manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the service. The registered manager provides a home development plan that outlines the future objectives for the home. This ensures that the service continues to improve the quality of care. The registered manager provides effective supervision, training and appraisal to all staff. This enhances their personal development while providing them with

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Good

opportunities to progress. Staff speak highly of the registered manager and the company in general. They work in effective partnership with external agencies such as the local police, education providers and health services and challenge practice where necessary. For example, where young people are at risk of child sexual exploitation, the manager and staff have robust joint protocols, with the police that ensure young people are safe and protected. The police are well informed by the manager of young people who are at risk, this ensures everyone works together to safeguard young people. Neighbours such as local farmers, also have good relationships with the home. When new neighbours have moved in young people have welcomed them with gifts. This ensures that the needs of young people are known, understood and met and community relationships continue to grow. The young people’s register does not hold in full the required information in

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Good

regards to regulation. For example, the addresses that the young people came from prior to their admission to the home and the addresses upon leaving are not recorded. The actual hours worked by the registered manager are not recorded on the roster. This makes it difficult to ascertain the time that the manager actually spends in the home. Leaders and managers prioritise the needs of young people well. For example, the video presentation about respect was an innovative piece of work completed in partnership with young people to encourage better relationships and how to respect each other. The video captured how much each young person enjoyed taking part and how they felt. It has helped them to change their attitudes. This demonstrates the capacity the service has to make improvement and change to the lives of vulnerable young people.

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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 that 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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