Children's Home run by Warrington Borough Council in Warrington

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has changed since the last inspection. The new manager is suitably qualified, highly experienced and has several years’ experience of managing homes for this local authority. Additionally, some new staff members have joined the team. Through sensitive planning, these changes have not affected the excellent quality of care provided at the home or disrupted the positive relationships between children and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to benefit from nurturing care and support provided by a skilled and dedicated team. This is reflected in the children’s comments: ‘I am happy and things are going well’, ‘I have done that many activities I can’t remember them all’ and ‘I always have someone to talk to and they listen to me.’ Children clearly remain happy, settled and well cared for in a stable home environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work tirelessly to ensure that children continually progress and achieve. When educational challenges arise, staff act quickly and work collaboratively with schools and virtual headteachers to minimise any impact on their learning. For example, staff acted swiftly to address a decline in a child’s school attendance that was brought on by emotional trauma. Staff’s consistent partnership working with the school and effective emotional support to the child resulted in a significant improvement in her school attendance. This was confirmed in a schoolteacher’s comments: ‘Her attendance is 100%, which is amazing. Well done to the staff and the new strategies and support in getting her into school.’ This child went on to receive a certificate for being the ‘mathematician of the month’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s safety is paramount at this home. Staff receive specific training on matters such as first aid, child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. As a result, staff are fully alert to all potential risks, and are well equipped to promote children’s welfare and safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff value young people’s views and involve them in the making of all decisions that affect their lives. A child was extremely proud of the colours that he had chosen for his bedroom. Regular and meaningful consultation with children is ensuring that children feel listened to, valued and respected. This, in turn, further enhances the warm, trusting relationships that have been established between children and staff. Children enjoy a range of activities such as holidays with staff, music, Lego club and spending time socialising in the local community. As a result, they are developing new skills, making more friends and gaining greater confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s monitoring of the home is effective. This is reflected in the outstanding quality of care provided, and young people’s continued progress and safety. However, greater consistency in the independent monitoring of the home would further enhance service monitoring. The provider does not employ a regular independent visitor, and a different person attends the home each month. The quality of this monitoring is variable, depending upon the individual visitor’s background and experience. Furthermore, children do not benefit from having a consistent person regularly visiting the home, whom they know and trust, to share their views with about the quality of care that they receive.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care and accommodation for two children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/09/2015 Full Outstanding 16/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/12/2014 Full Good

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Recommendations:

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure consistency in the independent person appointed to carry out monitoring visits to the home and ensure that they have the skills, experience and professional background, for example in undertaking work of a similar nature, to reach a rigorous and impartial judgement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.9)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and 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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, 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,

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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

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

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