Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

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’s provision is outstanding because:

 This service is outstanding because of the exceptional level of positive regard that staff have for each young person. All young people are happy.  The manager consistently inspires her team to promote the best interests of each young person. She is ambitious to improve the service.  Staff apply a theoretical model throughout their work. This gives consistency to their efforts, which maximises the benefit to young people. Several practices are worthy of wider dissemination.  New young people settle in quickly and then recover lost ground. Their progress continues rapidly in education and emotional health, as in other areas.  The physical environment is of an exceptionally high standard, which makes young people feel valued.  Staff engage other professionals very thoroughly. They react well to changes and advice and challenge other professionals to provide the best possible standards.  Families are a vital part of most young people’s support networks. Staff

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The children’s home’s provision is outstanding because:

undertake imaginative and sensitive work with families.  The procedures that staff use to protect young people work extremely well. Young people feel safe and learn appropriate ways to express their frustrations.  Staff understand the risks posed by each young person, act on this information, and record the changes. The number of negative incidents is particularly low because young people learn to manage their own behaviour.

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Information about this children’s home

A large provider of children’s services operates this home. It provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behaviour difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Full Good 06/01/2015 Full Good 12/11/2014 Full Inadequate

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Outstanding

This is a very warm and welcoming home. Young people are happy and enjoy themselves. Their parents say that they have no worries about their children being here. One said, ‘I was worried at first but now I can’t think of anything to change. I’m glad he’s there. Keep up the good work!’

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Outstanding

The property looks like its neighbours’ and therefore draws no particular attention. The presentation, inside and out, is of an exceptionally high standard, with modern, colour-coordinated furnishings and fittings. Young people’s photographs are in the lounge as are those of previous residents. As a result, new young people feel valued and settle in quickly. A social worker said, ‘Given his background, I’m pleasantly surprised how well he’s settled.’ During the summer, the young people have grown vegetables and flowers in the garden for the first time. One young man is now designated the head gardener. A visitor commented on how spectacular the sunflowers were. Staff take great care to make sure that each young person has a personalised, professionally decorated bedroom. One has a football theme and another has scenes from New York. Young people are proud of their rooms and gain a sense of ownership for the first time. One parent said, ‘It

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Outstanding

Each young person receives highly personalised packages of care. Using a clear theoretical model, staff rebuild young people’s self-worth. Young people thrive because of the positive regard in which staff hold them. Staff continually remind young people that they are valued while also addressing sensitive issues. One social worker said, ‘It’s an emotionally nurturing environment. I’m very pleased. He’s settled in and is benefiting from the positive input of staff.’ Staff help young people to value regular meetings with mental health services by integrating the therapeutic concepts into the day-to-day operation of the home. An independent therapist remarked, ‘They are very good. They want it to work and they understand his emotional status.’ Another therapist added, ‘They’re honest with him without blaming and shaming. This is very rare in children’s homes.’ From this secure base, where staff respect each person’s dignity, young people make

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Outstanding

excellent progress. They reflect this in the positive atmosphere they create in the home, how they treat each other, and their newfound abilities to forge safe and constructive relationships.

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Outstanding

Young people learn new strategies to deal with their anxieties and the effects of their traumas. One young man now draws pictures of his worries and places them in a worry bag. This imaginative and personalised practice allows him to separate himself from his concerns and to feel safe. A large part of the reason for young people’s progress is the most exceptional and positively impactful engagement with their families. Staff go as far as possible to engage, re-engage, and support parents, brothers and sisters. Young people learn to recover and sustain relationships, which is a skill for life. One young person will soon return home. Staff have agreed with his mother how they will adjust activities, rewards and other financially based events so that excessive expectations do not spoil his move back home. This move requires very sensitive and skilled discussions with the parent and within the home’s resident group. Subsequently,

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Outstanding

his mum said she was ‘overwhelmed by the kindness of staff’. In other cases, small amounts of money have allowed family events to occur. This has been particularly significant for young people whose families live a long way away. These highly diligent and sensitive steps rebuild the relationships that are vital to young people’s emotional health and practical support. Another young person will soon move to another children’s home. The closest liaison and highest quality of practice between the care teams means that his transfer is carefully structured. The attention to detail extends to sending flowers to a parent who moved house and changing vocabulary. For example, one young person disliked the phrase ‘family contact’ so staff now call it ‘seeing your family’, which is more personal and less institutional. Another has quickly progressed to seeing his family in the community rather than in a supervised setting. He appreciates this important step towards normality.

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Outstanding

Young people have a lot of fun in the home and elsewhere. They respond well to the ‘firm but fair’ boundaries set by staff and enjoy their company. Staff work to reduce risks in a proportionate way that permits young people to experiment. This applies to social and recreational activities. Some have learned to swim. Several are successfully enjoying youth clubs for the first time and enjoying other community- based opportunities. During the summer, they enjoyed a holiday together and one young person learned to rock-climb. Young people trust the staff to help them with sensitive issues, such as new relationships. One young person is learning about his cultural heritage for the first time from staff who are informed and are strong role models. These practice quality and high standard of care also help young people to learn important independence skills, such as using public transport and cooking. A social worker said, ‘There is a lot of structure and staff are proactive in moving

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Outstanding

young people on with their independence skills.’ During the inspection, one young man shared a lovely cake he had baked with everyone. Photographs in the home show one teenager having his first ever birthday party and unwrapping gifts, including a bicycle, which was a moving and exciting event for everyone. Frequently, the house is quiet and everyone is relaxed because of careful planning and attention to detail. Young people enjoy personalised bedtime routines.

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Outstanding

Most young people arrive with poor experiences in education. However, this transforms once they settle into the home. Attendance rates are as high as possible and academic progress is remarkable, taking into account their starting points. One young person has completed a level 1 catering course and started the next level. Another has attended his school for some time. The deputy headteacher said that the young person’s move move to this home did not have a negative effect on him, unlike his previous moves. He added, ‘The stability and support mean he has made strong attachments, he can now work in groups, and he’s made outstanding progress in English, mathematics and science. Also, the staff (of the home) challenged us to communicate better with them and we had to improve.’ Two teaching professionals describe the support by care staff as ‘above and beyond’. One said, ‘It’s brilliant, I could tell the difference. It’s the best level of support I’ve

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Outstanding

ever seen!’ Young people know this. In this particular case, the young person was able to speak about the benefits of this clear change of direction at his education planning meeting.

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Outstanding

Because some young people struggle with their verbal and written skills, staff employ a wide range of consultation exercises to gain their views. Several young people also use advocates. One young person put aside his initial scepticism of advocates and said, ‘He’s a really cool guy.’ Pictorial records clearly show how young people are feeling and promote conversations. Most importantly, young people learn that their views are important and have an effect. One young man said, ‘When I ask for something sensible, the staff do it.’ Recently, for example, the residents called a meeting to negotiate later bedtimes over the summer holidays. This came into place smoothly. Such collaboration is also remarkable because some young people are relatively new to the home. They have integrated quickly. Young people have also instigated changes to which family members they meet with and when. Young people influence the decor in the home and activities, such as

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Outstanding

outdoor games and the paddling pool. Several professionals commented on how staff are flexible and adapt their practices to meet young people’s needs. Most of the young people have brought friends home for tea. Evening meals are relaxed and sociable occasions for the whole household. Individually, these occurrences are unremarkable, but taken as a whole they give young people an unusually powerful impression of family life.

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Outstanding

Young people are safe and feel safe. They do not feel the need to lock their bedrooms and rarely make complaints, although they know how to. The measures taken by staff to help and protect young people are excellent and, in many regards, are worth disseminating. In addition to taking routine safety precautions, staff anticipate difficulties and prevent them as much as possible. These make young people feel secure in the knowledge that the adults are looking after them. For some young people this is a novel feeling. Some use this opportunity to regress safely into missed childhoods. Staff manage these processes successfully, which requires a superior level of skill, and share as much as possible with parents. When speaking about one young person, a therapist said, ‘He can now reflect on how he has changed. He no longer trashes rooms. He’s learned strategies from staff, such as taking himself away.’ This progress also means that there are very few major

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Outstanding

incidents in the home, which benefits everyone. A member of staff reported, ‘Through training I have learned how to manage and de-escalate challenging situations using proactive strategies.’ A young person agreed and said, ‘When I’m upset, staff calm me down.’

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Outstanding

The staff team is skilled at dealing with incidents in which young people are missing from the home or at risk of sexual exploitation. This was clearly evident at the last inspection. The manager works efficiently and implements learning. Young people face a difficulty, for example, when other professionals do not attend strategy meetings. The manager now contacts them the evening before a meeting and the following morning to try to avoid non-attendance. This minimises frustrations.

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Outstanding

Currently, the risks associated with going missing from care are very low. Since the last inspection, one young person has been missing once. This was at the beginning of his stay and reflected his previous way of dealing with pressure. Since this time, he has not gone missing at all. This represents a vast improvement in his safety. Similarly, staff very rarely use any form of physical intervention to control the young people. They are able to use de-escalation techniques well and effectively. This demonstrates to young people that staff respect their rights and emphasises the positive relationships between staff and young people.

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Outstanding

These achievements are the culmination of an immensely thorough process of planning, collaboration and skilled intervention. The manager uses research well to inform practice. She has become a qualified social worker while managing the home, and uses, for example, the principles of social pedagogy. This focuses on the social relations between staff and young people, and values dialogue and reflection as a way of understanding events and interactions. This holistic way of learning is what staff use. Team meetings are the core of this process at which each team member contributes to the analyses of young people’s progress. Therapists, teachers, parents and social workers also play their part so that each young person receives consistent messages. Consequently, young people feel listened to and build up a strong personal investment in their placement.

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Outstanding

Well-written risk assessments clearly show the main risks faced by each young person. Given the effective control measures, the vast majority of risk levels are low at present. The assessments also show changes to the levels of risk, which contribute to an accurate summary of young people’s progress. The manager has plans to improve this process further. She monitors internet safety, issues in the community including radicalisation, and a range of other hazards. This contributes to her decisions about admissions. In the past year or so, the manager has overseen a substantial improvement in matching new residents. This has a wide range of benefits, including reducing potential risks to as low a level as possible. Consequently, young people enjoy increased unsupervised time and a wider range of activities. One has shown that he no longer needs to ride in the back of the car, which has increased his self-esteem and confidence. Young people’s social workers

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Outstanding

say that they would happily place other young people in the home.

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Outstanding

Each young person has a key worker who has particular responsibility for discussing issues with them. Key workers choose topics from recent incidents and from the targets agreed with social workers. These conversations occur frequently and serve to make each young person clear about the boundaries and their responsibilities. In return, staff build an effective understanding of young people’s motives. This leads to highly effective preventative strategies.

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Outstanding

The registered manager has substantial experience in residential childcare. Ofsted registered her for this home in 2009 and she has suitable qualifications in management and childcare. Since then, she has obtained a qualification in social work. She maintains a clear concern and respect for young people and advocates for them strongly. Her challenges of other agencies can create tensions in professional relationships, but she understands that this is necessary if the child is to remain at the centre of the process. All staff reflect her determination and energy.

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Outstanding

The team is largely unchanged since the last inspection. Consequently, young people have benefitted from the stability and consistency they require. The team provides a range of role models based on age, gender and racial background. Young people enjoy excellent relationships with staff and other professionals notice this. The skill with which male staff demonstrate affection for the young men particularly impressed one professional. The training programme prepares staff well for this difficult job. The majority of staff hold a relevant qualification and the remainder are on track to complete one within the required timescales.

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Outstanding

The manager has an excellent understanding of the quality of care in the home. She uses research well to improve practice in the home. Young people’s records are clear and documents link meaningfully to each other. Young people look at them regularly. An extensive array of performance indicators show when there are shortfalls in achieving the aims of the service. Due to the manager’s exceptional diligence, she has successfully achieved the aims of the service over many years. Nevertheless, improvements are ongoing. The outside of the house is more attractive and the gardening project has stimulated everyone. Attention to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection have improved office security and clarified the judgements of the independent visitors. An ambitious development plan shows where the next improvements will occur.

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Outstanding

The organisation secures the continuity of the service well by preparing staff for promotion. The deputy manager, for example, is undertaking a management qualification and other staff are following development programmes. The senior team is aspirational and all staff are encouraged in regular supervision meetings to improve themselves. Staff are suitably qualified and they are all up to date with newly emergent concerns, such as female genital mutilation. This training energises the team, which has a positive effect on young people.

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Outstanding

Outstanding leadership shows in young people’s successes, an exceptional level of personalised care using fresh ideas and the real impact that young people have on the service. In addition, documents and procedures are adapted for them. The written guide that new children receive is personalised, their activity planner templates use their own artwork and charts show them how they have progressed.

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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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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