Children's home run by Warrington Borough Council

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.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children stay in a welcoming and supportive home where they are fully valued and respected. A strong feature of the home is the warm and affectionate relationships between staff and children.  Parents, carers and professionals view the service as exceptional, and value the care given to the children by staff.  Staff ensure that children are given every opportunity to experience activities that may not otherwise be available to them. They are extremely dedicated to their role and show great commitment to ensuring that vulnerable children are enabled to live life to the full.  The team is skilled at balancing and encouraging appropriate levels of engagement. Detailed risk assessments and behaviour support plans enable children to safely engage in community activities, which develop their social skills and confidence.  Staff are highly effective in managing children’s complex and challenging behaviour. They are consistent in their response to negative behaviour and

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

have been successful in their efforts to help children manage their frustrations and anxieties, which are often brought about by their disability.  The home has strong and robust partnerships with other professionals. The service has worked with partners from within the local authority, police and Catch 22 to produce a risk assessment and training for staff on child sexual exploitation, specifically for children with disabilities.  Leaders and managers are able to communicate their vision to provide a progressive service and they involve stakeholders appropriately in development plans for the home. The manager and deputy manager are aspirational and provide clear direction and support to the team.  The home is exceptionally well maintained and attractive. It provides an environment of high quality, which clearly conveys to children that they are valued and deserve the best.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication are in place. In particular, ensure that all recordings of movement of medication to and from the home are clearly documented (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15).  Ensure that children and relevant others are involved wherever practical in behaviour management. In particular, ensure that parents are fully aware of the restraint policy and have had sight of and agree to individual children's plans (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.53).

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Information about this children's home

This registered children's home is run by a local authority. It offers short residential stays to a maximum of three young people with learning and physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Outstanding

Children are making excellent progress as a result of their short break at this home. They look forward to coming and thoroughly enjoy their stay. Parents are exceptionally positive about the service provided and the staff’s overall commitment to children. Comments included, ‘He goes in with a smile and leaves with a smile’, ‘It is a fantastic service with absolutely dedicated and caring staff’, ‘I couldn’t fault them.’ Professionals are equally positive. A social worker stated: ‘They (staff) do an amazing job and make a huge impact in the lives of so many children and their families.’

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Outstanding

Staff are particularly skilled in observing and understanding the complex needs and vulnerabilities of children, and ensure that they receive an excellent quality of personalised care. They understand the full range of children’s individual needs, including how they communicate and the support needed to encourage them to reach their full potential. An example of this includes a child who initially required full staff assistance at mealtimes. Staff implemented a target-focused plan around mealtimes. This included a clear emphasis on the reduction of staff support over a specific time frame. The target was achieved and the young person is now able to enjoy their mealtimes without staff support. A parent commented, ‘It amazes me the work they do. They persevere and have taken things at his pace. He can now eat a yogurt with a spoon himself; this is a huge step forward.’ Managers and staff have an excellent understanding of each child’s tolerance levels and are skilled at

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Outstanding

recognising potentially stressful situations. A staff member commented, ‘We don’t focus on the disability but the ability of each individual child.’

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Outstanding

Managers and staff make excellent use of all the resources available to them, such as negotiating the use of a sensory room in the community for exclusive use for the children using this service. This has helped develop their sensory needs and supports access to local community resources. It has also further strengthened the positive trusting relationships that staff have established with children who clearly enjoy coming to stay at the home and feel comfortable in the safe, friendly and supportive environment.

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Outstanding

Staff place children’s well-being at the centre of their practice. Plans are comprehensive and are consistent with the local authority’s care plans. However, some of the records require signatures from parents, such as the behaviour support plan, specifically in regards to the agreed use of physical restraint. Medication records also need to be clearer about the prescribed dosage, including how many tablets need to be provided to young people at what time. Although this was noted in some records, not all details were included in all records. However, these are administrative errors and have not impacted negatively on the well-being of children. That said, the manager acknowledged the shortfalls and is in the process of ensuring that all records are clear and up to date. Staff spoken with during the inspection demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of children’s plans. This ensures that good-quality care is provided, in accordance with individual needs.

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Outstanding

Staff also continue to consult on a regular basis with families and placing social workers to gain a detailed and comprehensive understanding of all children’s complex needs.

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Outstanding

The team is creative and resourceful in supporting children’s communication and language. For example, the use of iPads has encouraged children to communicate more effectively with both staff and their parents. The consistent approach at the home, the child’s family setting and their education placements has improved some children’s use of simple words and symbols. One child, who had initially used a symbol system to communicate, has recently started to use simple words. Staff talked proudly to the inspectors about the progression of all the children and in particular said, ‘This is such a fantastic achievement for (name).’ Staff are particularly skilled at interpreting signs and behaviours, and respond to them appropriately. They use a wide range of methods to communicate and make good use of sensory toys, music, sign language and pictures to help children make purposeful choices. One staff member commented, ‘We see each child as an

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Outstanding

individual and as such they have individual ways of communicating; it’s up to us to make sure we are equipped to follow their lead in this.’

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Outstanding

Staff effectively challenge barriers to the participation of children with disabilities. They are effective advocates and promote the rights of children to express their views and make choices about their lives. An example of this includes a very effective challenge by the manager to ensure that a child was able to access the residential school of his and his parents’ choice. A parent commented, ‘They have helped me find a residential school which can support him and they are always so good at helping me get the best for my son.’ This high level of support and championing the rights of children with disabilities ensures that they are provided with ongoing opportunities to grow, develop and be nurtured in safe environments that can meet their needs. Children have access to a wide range of opportunities to explore the world, build their confidence and increase their social skills. They have participated in a variety

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Outstanding

of leisure and community activities including trips out to local beaches, parks and swimming. The home also arranged a garden party to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. These experiences, captured in photographs, are included in children’s daily care records, which clearly document their progress and experiences. They are proudly displayed around the home, with copies given to parents and carers at the end of the children’s short break stay. Records show that the children gain a great deal of enjoyment through these stimulating activities.

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Outstanding

Staff have a good understanding of children’s specific health needs. They work in partnership with children’s families, who retain primary responsibility for the health of their children. Parents are encouraged to be completely involved in all planning documents in relation to their child’s stay at the service. This ensures that staff are up to date and fully conversant with children’s current health needs. Children are well supported to access healthcare services that may be required as a result of an illness or accident. Immediate action is taken by staff to ensure that emerging health needs are consistently met. Records are checked daily and medication stock is audited by a named individual. Consequently, any discrepancies are identified and rectified immediately.

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Outstanding

Staff fully support all children to attend school following a short break stay. They have forged excellent links to all the schools involved. An example of this is the continued use of ‘two-way diaries’. This ensures that all relevant information regarding the individual children’s needs continue to be met, at both school and home. In addition, staff provide opportunities for children to learn and develop their skills and achieve new things. A headteacher commented, ‘Staff communicate well with class staff to ensure that they give and seek key information about young people. I am impressed with the proactive and professional conduct of staff from this home.’

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Outstanding

Complaints are rare. However, children and parents are aware of the complaints procedure and are confident that issues will be dealt with professionally and in a timely manner. For example, a child had made a complaint in regards to the limited internet access available in parts of the home, which impacted on his ability to use his internet-enabled device in all communal areas. The manager dealt with this immediately and provided regular updates to the child involved. The outcome was a much improved internet availability for all children throughout the home. This is an excellent example of how children are listened to and changes made as a result of their requests. Complaints records are clear and provide a thorough overview of the action taken and any lessons learned. The environment is a homely, safe and stimulating place where children can maximise their potential. The premises are well designed and fully equipped to

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Outstanding

meet their full range of mobility needs, including a large garden and outdoor space where children can play and have fun in a secure environment. Children’s bedrooms are well designed and furnished to promote their privacy, and staff make every effort to ensure that children can stay in the same room for each visit, surrounded by items that are personal to the individual child, including bedding, toys and photographs. This has helped children to settle during their short breaks and has alleviated their anxieties.

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Outstanding

Children are protected from harm and are safe during their visits to the service. Parents and professionals confirm that they have every confidence in the home’s ability to keep children safe during their stay. Staff are well supported and receive effective and specific training to meet the needs of the children. For example, all staff have undergone paediatric first aid training to enhance their mandatory first aid course, and ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to care for all children. Staff fully understand children’s needs and are confident in delivering highly personalised care. High staffing ratios ensure close support, supervision and monitoring of children. Children’s strengths, vulnerabilities and triggers are highlighted within detailed plans and risk assessments. These plans are understood by the staff who implement them in their daily practice. Risk assessments are reviewed and updated, and information is shared and reviewed with parents,

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Outstanding

health and education staff, and social workers. This ensures that children’s needs are met holistically.

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Outstanding

Staff are highly effective in managing children’s complex and challenging behaviour. They are consistent in their responses to negative behaviour and have been successful in their efforts to help children manage their frustrations and anxieties. Staff have a very good understanding of the times and factors that contribute to children becoming upset. Staff have worked closely with schools and parents to develop consistent and well thought out behaviour management strategies. These strategies are fully implemented in practice and have proved effective in reducing children’s distress. A parent said, ‘They (staff) are excellent at making sure they are consistent. This has really helped at home too as I will then use the same approaches as them. It has helped me in dealing with what used to be very challenging situations, much quicker and calmer.’

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Outstanding

Managers and staff demonstrated a thorough understanding of the risks to individual children’s safety, including the risks associated with their disability, level of understanding and communication. They are well trained in safeguarding, able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect, and aware of the children’s vulnerability to sexual exploitation resulting from their disabilities. They take suitable action when they have concerns about children’s welfare, reporting all concerns in a safe and timely manner to all relevant safeguarding professionals. This ensures that children are kept safe. Furthermore, the managers from the home have been instrumental in developing a child sexual exploitation risk assessment and training programme for all professionals. This specifically outlines the risks posed to children with disabilities and examines the importance of how their individual needs and vulnerabilities are considered. The managers have

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Outstanding

arranged meetings with other professionals, including those from local authorities, police and education providers, to promote the importance of this training programme in increasing the knowledge base and skills of all adults who work directly with children who have disabilities and complex needs. Furthermore, this demonstrates that the home continues to give children’s safety and protection optimum priority.

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Outstanding

The referral systems and planning for children’s care are extremely thorough. Excellent inter-agency working ensures that the short break arrangement is an integrated part of the care planning for each child. For example, staff from the service attend children in need meetings where they assess each individual referral and determine whether they can meet the needs of the children. From these meetings, highly individualised care plans are developed and reviewed to ensure that children settle well into the home. A social worker said, ‘The staff have helped to prepare him for his visits by involving him in making choices about the activities he would like to engage with, sharing the children’s guide and linking him up with another young man who wrote him a letter of welcome. This helped alleviate the very high anxieties of this young man.’

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Outstanding

Children are protected from hazards by a wide range of health and safety procedures, risk assessments and checks. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks, including fire drills, to ensure that the premises are safe and children know what to do in case of an emergency. There are suitable systems in place to ensure that visitors to the home are suitably checked and supervised to protect children.

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Outstanding

All staff have been appropriately checked and vetted. Children have also been involved in the recruitment and selection process, taking an active role by attending the planned interviews and asking their own relevant questions. This has ensured that they have a say in choosing new staff who come to work within the home.

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Outstanding

The registered manager provides strong leadership. She also ensures that children who access the service, and their families, receive a high-quality service that priorities their welfare and safety and promotes their continued development. The registered manager has an inclusive, open management style, which staff value, and this is reflected in their practice with children. She is appropriately experienced and has been registered with Ofsted since 2011. She has a social work qualification and has completed her level 5 in leadership and management. An experienced and committed deputy manager supports her in her management role. All the staff working at the home are trained to the minimum professional level or are in the process of working towards this.

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Outstanding

The registered manager is enthusiastic, committed and a passionate leader who places the welfare and safety of children at the heart of her practice. Excellent leadership and management ensure that the team is resourceful in developing its practice, and motivated to drive the service forward and achieve improved outcomes for children. The home is managed consistently and is successful in meeting the aims and objectives highlighted in the Statement of Purpose. Staff practice is rooted in the belief that children have the right to be treated as individuals, and to feel safe and secure when spending time away from home. The team is highly skilled at implementing this ethos and places children at the centre of all that staff do.

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Outstanding

Staff working in the home are of a high calibre. They are child centred, well trained in caring for children with complex needs and dedicated to ensuring that children get the most out of their short breaks. They creatively use research-informed practice to continually review and develop the service they provide. An example includes a staff member carefully considering research around effective behaviour support plans for children with complex needs and disabilities. This information informed the development of the home’s individual behaviour support plans. The documents now ensure that children, staff, parents and carers have an agreed strategy on how to support children in times of crisis. These are clear, concise and jargon free, ensuring that everyone involved in supporting children works in a consistent, caring and supportive way.

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Outstanding

Staff regularly receive quality supervision that effectively develops their professional practice. They confirm that they are well supported in their practice and given clear direction and guidance. Staff comments include, ‘I feel valued and supported in my role’, ‘I have guidance and support from very experienced managers’, and ‘My supervision is excellent.’ There are excellent opportunities for staff to develop their knowledge and skills through training. They also learn more specialist skills , such as paediatric first aid, administering oxygen, safe use of defibrillators and bespoke medication training to be able to meet children’s more specific needs. This ensures that children are cared for by competent staff who have the right skills and knowledge.

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Outstanding

Professionals are consistently positive about the home’s effectiveness. They confirm that staff work as part of a team, which contributes to a more holistic approach to supporting children with disabilities. One social worker stated: ‘They are very proactive in attending every meeting and sharing their knowledge and experience to enable us all to be involved in decisions affecting the children.’

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Outstanding

The manager uses testimony from young people, information from professionals working with the home and from complaints to learn lessons with a view to improvement. This informs the home’s development plan, which is focused on maintaining a high-quality service. Areas identified for improvement are actioned, which means that the home does not stagnate. As a result, young people receive services that the registered manager is constantly seeking to improve by using quality assurance processes. There is a clear focus on continuous improvement and development, and children’s needs are an integral part of this.

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Outstanding

The home maintains records of excellent quality that capture each child’s life vividly through both written reports and photographs. Information is shared appropriately with parents and social workers, and this ensures that all parties have an understanding of the children’s progress and experiences within the home. Highly effective partnership working within the home underpins the excellent progress that children are making.

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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 children looked after 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 that 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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