Children's home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.2

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people make exceptional progress in relation to their starting points. They are able to access the local community, make friends and develop their independence skills. They are very happy with their experience at the home.  Young people trust the staff who care for them. Through thoughtful and considerate responses from staff, they build positive relationships and the confidence to accept support. Staff spend time with young people. Their welfare and protection are at the heart of practice within the home. They experience safety, stability and security.   This is a very settled home in which young people trust the staff to care and make good decisions with them. Staff are impressively consistent in their approach, so expectations of behaviour are clear, and positive attitudes and conduct are rewarded.  Young people excel in education and make progress, particularly in comparison to their starting point at the home. Their physical, psychological and emotional

p.3

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

well-being is well supported and enhanced.  Young people feel comfortable to explore openly and express their identity. Staff embrace difference. As a result, young people are consulted and listened to and are thoughtful to each other and accept individuality.  Young people embrace their day-to-day living experiences and develop skills that will help to prepare them for adulthood.  This is a safe home. The robust procedures and risk management practice, the extensive skills and maturity of the staff team, open communication and close partnerships with other professionals protect young people’s welfare and ensure consistently good safeguarding practice.  Placement stability is achieved. Young people are comfortable and at ease living in the home. Their behaviour is excellent and they trust staff. They feel safe and cared for.  Leaders and managers are around the home to support staff and young people

p.3

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

alike. They closely monitor the operation of the home. They are focused on child-centred practice and show an excellent understanding of each young person’s needs and knowledge of the progress that they make.  The management team and the staff are reflective in their practice and continually learn and develop to provide young people with the optimal quality of care.

p.3

Information about this children's home

 The home is registered for five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The home is operated by a local authority.  The home provides a high level of individual care for each young person. It seeks to promote well-being and self-esteem by building positive relationships based on respect and understanding, as written in the home's statement of purpose.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

21 March 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

4 March 2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.4

Outstanding

Young people at the home receive exceptional care that adds considerably to their experiences, progress and development. Young people are extremely happy in the home. They feel valued and recognise the enormous progress that they have made from their own starting point. The home provides a very stable environment for the young people who live there. The manager and staff team have clear expectations of the young people and have faith in their success. Young people benefit from this ethos by developing a belief in themselves and what they would like to achieve in the future.

p.5

Outstanding

Relationships between staff and young people are excellent. Young people feel respected and valued, and have a real sense of belonging. They are consulted and feel listened to, and are able to contribute to many day-to-day decisions. In a calm and relaxed environment, young people settle and, in relatively short periods of time, they make significant progress. Collectively, young people agree that the support from staff has put them on the right path, provided them with responsibilities and allowed them to mature.

p.5

Outstanding

Young people said, ‘I never want to leave here, it’s my home’, ‘I will always come back and visit the staff, just like the other girls do’, and ‘I enjoy living here. I have everything I need and I get on with everyone in the home’. A young person who previously lived at the home said, ‘staff took me to places and gave me advice on how to be a better person. I was able to sit down and always discuss my views with staff.’

p.5

Outstanding

A social worker, commenting on a young person, said, ‘she loves it so much there that she does not want to move. I feel that they strike the right balance between caring, support and preparation for independence.’ A social work practice manager said, ‘I feel the home does a very good job and plays a key role in young people’s future.’

p.5

Outstanding

Excellent arrangements are in place that ensure that the health, social and psychological needs of the young people are met, and that this is achieved to a high degree. Professional links built over a considerable period of time with external services provide young people with the support that they need to support their individual needs. Examples are local support groups that support diversity, psychological services which provide emotional and mental health support, smoking cessation classes, drug and alcohol support services, and sexual health services. These arrangements allow young people to access a wide range of support services to meet any individual need.

p.5

Outstanding

Thorough planning and support for young people’s education allow them to make excellent progress. Young people with a history of disruptive education have, over time, re-engaged in learning. This has been achieved by supporting their emotional needs and building up their resilience. Three young people have revised, studied and completed all their exams. Future careers are made possible due to the staff team’s aspirations for the young people and their consistent messages to young people on attaining a good education. Three young people have successfully secured college placements for September 2016 and are actively seeking part-time jobs over the summer holidays. All attendances reached 100% and remain at this level for those currently attending school.

p.6

Outstanding

Staff have an excellent understanding of the importance of ensuring that young people are listened to. They have a good skill and knowledge base in this regard, and use it to inform and underpin key-worker sessions. Collectively, young people say that they feel listened to and are involved in the home. There is an openness to accept individuality, and young people are thoughtful and respect each other’s identity. Young people are involved in their plans, and consulted when changes in the home take place, for example when there are proposals to move a new young person in.

p.6

Outstanding

Careful consideration is given to new placements, ensuring that any impact on the current group of young people is minimised. This provides a stable environment and ensures that young people are compatible with each other. Thorough planning for admissions takes place, with visits and information about the home being provided to young people who are considered compatible with the young people living in the home.

p.6

Outstanding

Effective care planning arrangements show that how staff respond promptly to the changing emotional and social needs of young people. All young people’s plans are up to date and tell the journey of their progress made at the home. Young people contribute and sign their names for agreement in their measuring outcomes record, and their placement and care plans. Staff complete direct work sheets which feed into the key-worker sessions, which then inform the placement plan. This is an efficient process, and improves the work carried out with young people and ensures consistency for them.

p.6

Outstanding

‘Next step’ workers comment positively on how responsive the staff are to the individual needs of young people over 16 years of age. They praise the quality of the support that the staff provide to young people who are preparing for, or are involved in, the home’s independent living programme and the world of work.

p.6

Outstanding

For young people who move on, a detailed, well-presented record of their journey in the home is presented to them, including photographs, achievements and comments from staff. Regular visits are made to the home by young people who have moved on. Staff and young people welcome them back and are pleased to see them.

p.6

Outstanding

Young people’s contact with their family and friends is encouraged, and they arrange this themselves. They know that, should any support be needed from staff, they will receive it.

p.7

Outstanding

Young people have enjoyed holidays abroad, arranged overseas trips to visit family and had weekends away. Young people are afforded the same opportunities and activities as their peers although, more often than not, they choose to be out with their friends in the local area.

p.7

Outstanding

Young people benefit from living in a home that is furnished and decorated well, and provides them with a homely environment. Consequently, young people call this ‘their home’, feel safe and treat their living environment with respect.

p.7

Outstanding

The risk management of young people’s individual and group care arrangements is highly effective. Extremely well developed and broad-ranging risk assessments support the effective management of potential risks presented by young people. Staff use written risk management strategies as working documents which inform all aspects of day-to-day care. Young people now rarely go missing from the home and they no longer engage in any risk-taking behaviours in the community. For some young people, this is a significant improvement from their starting point in the home. This demonstrates that they have become safer since moving to this home.

p.7

Outstanding

Young people living in the home are safe, and say that they feel safe and protected. The management team and staff are sufficiently trained and skilled to support young people to take age- and ability-appropriate risks.

p.7

Outstanding

A police community support officer who knows the young people well and visits the home each week said, ‘this home is one of the better homes. Rarely, if at all, are there any issues, and the young people are settled and happy here. I am always welcomed into the home by the young people and staff, and I have no concerns about any of the young people in this home.’

p.7

Outstanding

Safeguarding practice is professional. Polices are clear, robust and based on research. Studies undertaken by national bodies and the government, in relation to child sexual exploitation, online grooming, radicalisation and criminalisation, are key areas that the management team and staff have focused on and discussed. As a result, staff understand current safeguarding issues and the procedures necessary to ensure that young people are protected. This has had a very positive impact on significantly reducing the young people’s risks in these areas, from high to low. In addition, staff demonstrate the importance of working together with other professionals and agencies, and ‘whistle blowing’ to keep young people safe.

p.7

Outstanding

The staff accept that young people’s behaviour is their choice and do not judge them for that. They engage young people in meaningful conversations to assist them to recognise and encourage them to reflect on their behaviour so that they do not have any negative impact on other young people. This approach has enabled young people to change their ways significantly, and become responsible and mature. This is so much so that restraint has not been used in the home since 2014, sanctions are low, and incentive and rewards are the preferred method of behaviour management. Young people respond well to this.

p.8

Outstanding

There are thorough vetting and recruitment checks on all staff, and there is a high level of vigilance about young people’s whereabouts and contact with adults who come to the home or who they may meet in the community. Young people have a good understanding of their responsibility to keep in touch with the staff when they are away from the home, knowing that staff care and worry about them. All have mobile devices, and they are more than familiar with the dangers of online bullying, grooming and how to be safe when using social media sites.

p.8

Outstanding

Young people have strong attachments to staff and feel that they are able to talk to them about any concerns. Young people know how to complain, and have information about independent organisations and advocacy services. They feel secure in the home and have a real sense of belonging. They can invite family members and friends to visit. They enjoy conversations with the staff, all of which are around current affairs, education and fun.

p.8

Outstanding

Young people live in a very safe and well-maintained environment. Management oversight is robust, ensuring that young people are safe within the home. A high priority is afforded to environmental health and safety. For example, fire safety procedures are explained at the point of signing into the home and fire drills are undertaken each time a new member of staff or young person comes to the home. Young people are not left unsupervised with visitors in the home. These arrangements protect young people, staff and visitors.

p.8

Outstanding

This is a really well managed home. The registered manager is very experienced and suitably qualified. She is committed to providing highly personalised and nurturing care that mimics as closely as possible childhood experiences in a family home. Staff have respect for the manager and feel that she provides strong leadership and leads by example.

p.8

Outstanding

The registered manager uses research to inform practice and explores new ways to maximise young people’s experiences and outcomes. She fully involves her staff team in any decision making about new care practices. She delegates key responsibilities to staff, which provides ownership and a sense of doing the job well. All staff are qualified to level 3 or above and are sufficient in number to meet the needs of the young people living at the home.

p.9

Outstanding

Staff have the opportunity through supervision, annual appraisals and debriefings to reflect on practice issues and identify specific training opportunities. Collectively, staff said that ‘they really enjoy working with the young people and that staff morale is excellent.’

p.9

Outstanding

Young people experience consistency and stability. This facilitates a shift in their mood and attitudes towards others and themselves. A more positive mindset and more constructive engagement enable them to achieve excellent progress across different areas of their lives.

p.9

Outstanding

The aims and objectives of the home are clearly and accurately described in its statement of purpose. All staff fully understand the ethos of the home and are consistent in their approach, providing young people with an experience as close to family life as possible. Young people are provided with information about the home and their care in a children’s guide. Both of these documents are comprehensive in content, and are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff go through the children’s guide with individual young people upon admission. This ensures that they fully understand what their rights and entitlements are.

p.9

Outstanding

The arrangements for monitoring the quality of care and the development of the home are effective. Visits are carried out by a person independent of the home, and provide a good level of scrutiny of all aspects of the care for young people and how the home protects them. The manager’s oversight of the administration systems in the home is robust. These monitoring activities reflect the areas for development over the next six months. There is a clear and detailed development plan that is focused on driving improvements and tackling weaknesses.

p.9

Outstanding

The registered manager and staff work effectively in partnership with other professionals to ensure that young people’s needs are met. They are able to provide constructive challenge to find solutions when dealing with services that they consider are not meeting young people’s needs or are being discriminatory against them, for example challenging schools and teachers when a request is made to pick up a young person who may be displaying minimal challenging behaviour. This ensures that young people are treated as are their peers and that their education is not unnecessary disrupted.

p.9

Outstanding

No requirements or recommendations are made at this inspection.

p.9

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’. 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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.10

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

p.11

Information about this inspection

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 .

p.11

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, work- based 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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

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

p.12