Children's home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

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:

 The excellent care, help and protection delivered to children and young people during their short breaks is research informed and implemented within a highly aspirational culture. This helps them to make progress from their starting points.  An exceedingly good range of services offered to children and young people provide a diverse range of fun activities and opportunities that may not be available to them at home. Included are safeguards that protect children and young people irrespective of their length of stay.  Excellent collaborations with other professionals, parents and carers contribute to the ‘team around the child’. The staff team’s capacity to diversify their skills and expertise enables them to deliver high-quality services that exceed the short-breaks role.  Strong and trusting relationships between the children, young people and staff empowers children to express themselves through their preferred

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

method of communication, which staff embrace and respond to in supportive and creative ways.  Consistent behaviour management techniques effectively result in a low number of physical interventions. This is particularly impressive given the highly challenging behaviours that some children and young people present.  Successful leaders and managers are reliable, inspirational and set an ambitious benchmark for the service that children, young people, their parents and carers can expect to receive. A highly resilient and motivated care and nursing team works seamlessly together with tenacity, skill and flair to improve outcomes.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure the prompt repair of the damaged en-suite bathroom floor located in one of the bedrooms.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority service provides short-breaks care for up to seven children and young people with learning disabilities and complex healthcare needs. In addition to meeting the children’s and young people's social care needs, the service also provides nursing input and is registered with the Care Quality Commission. This aspect of the service was inspected on 5 and 6 October 2016. The judgement is yet to be confirmed with the provider. The service currently supports 43 children and young people, including one extended temporary placement to ensure the safety and welfare of a child.

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Information about this children's home

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/01/2016 Full Outstanding 25/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/01/2015 Full Outstanding

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Outstanding

The staff team cherishes the children and young people who visit for short breaks or who are looked after for an extended period. A member of staff said, ‘We offer a safe and secure environment for children of all abilities to enjoy, feel safe and take part in a variety of activities with staff who all have different strengths and experiences to make the children’s stay pleasurable.’ Another member of staff said, ‘We are totally needs led and child-centred.’ These views support a highly aspirational environment that meets children’s and young people’s diverse and complex needs. A professional said, ‘The care that children receive at [Name of the service] is excellent and I know that any child who is placed in their care will receive a high-quality level of support.’ Parents said, ‘The setting is fantastic, the staff are brilliant, my child really enjoys staying’ and ‘He loves it!’ A young person said, ‘They help me to have experiences I would not otherwise have. They keep me

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Outstanding

safe and happy.’ Consequently, children’s and young people’s progress, derives from elements of this high-quality service delivery. Careful planning ensures a compatible group dynamic that improves children’s and young people’s experience during their stay. A professional said, ‘Careful planning is done to ensure that children are able to make friends with an appropriate peer group’ and ‘Children are matched to visit together if they have a particular rapport. Likes and interests are matched.’ Bedrooms are ready for children’s and young people’s arrival. They can bring their special items from home, which reinforces their sense of identity and culture. Children and young people build strong and trusting relationships with the kind, enthusiastic staff team that speaks highly about them. One staff member said about a young person with life-limiting health needs, ‘She is absolutely gorgeous.’ A professional said, ‘Children are comfortable. Children often have a bit of banter.’

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Outstanding

The positive relationships support the direct emotional support provided to children and young people. For example, the exceptionally good use of a research-informed model by staff helps children and young people to address their worries. In one instance, a young person identified that in order to find a coping mechanism to address their anxieties, they needed to ‘build a bridge and get over it’. Staff using the research-based model have visually accomplished the young person’s concept by drawing the different steps in the young person’s words. This shows creative thinking and is successfully helping the young person to work through some of their entrenched anxieties. Staff listen to children’s and young people’s wishes and feelings and incorporate their preferred communication methods. A professional said, ‘Children’s voices are heard. The child in question is non-verbal but his views are listened to through

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Outstanding

observations and by those who know him well. A likes and dislikes board has been made in relation to this so that he can share with staff that he cannot communicate with.’ Children’s meetings, which are occasionally chaired by a young person, and direct discussions with children, young people, their carers and advocates result in action. For example, adopting and naming a donkey from the local ‘wonky donkey’ sanctuary. Responding to children’s and young people’s requests for visiting places, trying out ‘gellie baths’ to dip their hands and feet into and planning for a Halloween party with requests for ‘yukky’ food and drink are considered and acted upon. Despite the primary responsibility for children’s and young people’s health and educational needs remaining with their parents and carers, the excellent partnerships formed between the staff team, parents and professionals promote an effective ‘team around the child’. A staff member said, ‘By attending multi-

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Outstanding

disciplinary meetings and speaking to families, we are continually made aware of the positive impact we have on children and their families.’ Staff support to families, irrespective of individual’s short breaks or looked after status, pushes forward their prompt access to health services. The nursing staff provide extended support to poorly young people with complex and life-limiting health needs when they travel to hospital for treatment outside of their local area. They go above and beyond their role to provide consistent care and offer peace of mind to families in their time of need. A parent said, ‘They are all I have got.’ The promotion of healthy lifestyles by way of young people accessing the gym and running in the park promotes their physical and emotional well-being and social integration. Outreach support provided by staff to families advocates on behalf of children’s and young people’s health requests. Supporting children and young people with their

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Outstanding

diets has helped them to change some unhealthy habits that if not responded to, could hinder their progress. The lessons learned from one medication error that was notified to Ofsted and fully investigated, enable the staff team to improve their practice to ensure no repeated incidents. The staff team places a high value on children’s and young people’s education that ensures their regular attendance and monitors individual progress. The staff team’s close communication with schools helps to counter any issues before they reach crisis point. A professional said that the service has ‘close relationships with schools’. Children’s and young people’s excellent opportunities to indulge in a range of activities expose them to new and exciting experiences. For example, a group of children and young people who were taken to a tennis club over the summer holidays experienced much enjoyment. Specifically, a young person showed a clear

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Outstanding

aptitude for this sport and all involved had a good time. A talent show hosted by the service and involved the staff, children, young people, parents and carers was so successful that future plans to repeat the event are being considered. Activities at the home, such as sensory play, playing out on the grounds, the garden, playing on computer games and enjoying pampering sessions, provide hours of fun and stimulation. The numerous photos of children and young people past, current and new adorn the building, which values their presence and captures the moments. Children and young people develop useful skills that empower them to do more for themselves. For example, carrying out personal care tasks, expressing choice, learning to tolerate peers and helping out in the kitchen. Young people who are due to transition into adult services receive exceptionally good support and advocacy from a lead member of staff from the service. Their effective working

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Outstanding

relationships with other professionals prevents drift. A social worker reports that parents ‘are really going to miss this place’ when their child moves on.

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Outstanding

Children and young people live in a safe environment where the protection of their health and safety is of paramount importance. Exceedingly good help and protection safeguard children’s and young people’s significant vulnerabilities. The research-informed practice used at the home continues to develop and influence a strong safeguarding culture that places children and young people at the centre of risk management. The research-informed model threads through the staff team’s care of the children and young people. The excellent partnerships shared between the service, parents and other professionals help staff to manage children’s and young people’s complex risks as well as they do. Opportunities for children and young people to harm themselves or others, go missing or have exposure to child sexual exploitation is reduced by high staffing ratios. Parents and professionals have a huge amount of confidence in the staff

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Outstanding

team’s ability to keep their children safe. A professional said, ‘Staff work hard both within the unit and with professionals and parents or carers to ensure that children are kept safe.’ The strong relationships that children and young people share with staff afford them the confidence to disclose their worries. Staff, irrespective of their role, clearly understand the safeguarding procedures and in one recent example proactively reported a young person’s disclosure. A further area of strength involves staff member’s effective and collaborative relationships with parents and other professionals that help to monitor children and young people who are on safeguarding plans or where concerns exist. Staff offer practical family support and guidance during joint home visits to parents and carers. Included are offers of extra short breaks where vacancies and priority needs arise. Such examples of the team’s valuable contributions to family life

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Outstanding

support the manner in which it exceeds the short-breaks role. This promotes an approachable, ‘wrap-around’, child-focused service that strives to empower families to work in their children’s best interests and stay together under a robust and watchful safety net of services. The characteristics of children’s and young people’s complex disabilities may be associated with some of their challenging behaviours or inconsistent boundaries at home. Staff use individualised behaviour management plans that inform them about the signs to be alert to and the strategies to employ. This prevents behaviours from escalating, although for some children and young people, this does fluctuate. Stellar success has been achieved with those children and young people who, as a consequence of having a consistent team around them, have significantly reduced their challenging behaviours. Physical interventions are very few. Their use is a last resort and they are closely monitored. Habitual behaviours

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Outstanding

that are not considered to be socially acceptable are transformed into achievable goals. In one example, a mixture of staff tenacity, consistency at home and the young person’s positive engagement resulted in the cessation of their particular behaviour. This remains in abeyance one year on. Staff contributions to training parents in an approved behaviour management strategy continue with a resumed training package in November. The successful delivery of behaviour management training to a number of professionals is testament to how the team exceed expectations to make a difference to children’s and young people’s lives.

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Outstanding

Successful leaders and managers underpin an excellent service that exceeds expectations to provide short breaks to a large number of children and young people. This includes one extended placement that has not been without its challenges, but has safeguarded a child and enabled them to experience continuity of care pending an imminent move to a suitable placement. The conscientious and enthusiastic registered manager has over 30 years’ relevant experience and a social work qualification. She has been registered with Ofsted since 2011. Her enduring and highly complementary partnership with the nurse manager promotes a reliable, inspirational and ambitious service that enhances children’s, young people’s and their family’s lives. Both managers lead by example, are well deputised by competent managers and have the respect and flexibility of the team. A staff member said, ‘The level of support given from management is

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Outstanding

immense. The working conditions are wonderful and the team work is evident on every shift.’ Another staff member said, ‘I am really proud to be part of the team.’ The stable and consistent core care and nursing team is motivated and experienced in their field of expertise. Effective use of casual staff ensures safe cover to meet the demands of the service and a temporary staff shortage pending recruitment. The staff team’s tenacity and commitment to caring for a child for an extended period coupled with providing short-breaks services without the need to cancel stays and making themselves available to families and professionals is testament to their child-focused work ethic. A professional said, ‘The staff provide excellent all round care and support for the children and their families who use the service.’ Staff members state that they feel well supported by the manager and senior team. A staff member said, ‘Reflective practice is fantastic as a result of supervision.’

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Outstanding

Strong team communication enables the team to keep up to speed with the children’s and young people’s progress. A member of staff said, ‘[Name of the service] have extremely thorough handovers, email, handover book, staff meetings, supervision and appraisal all help contribute to effective communication.’ The manager’s clear understanding of the service’s strengths and weaknesses enables her to prioritise identified actions to improve children’s and young people’s quality of care and experiences. External monitoring visits confirm that children’s and young people’s safety and well-being are promoted. Any issues arising from the visits are responded to, which shows that the service has capacity to improve. The one requirement and two good practice recommendations raised at the last inspection are suitably addressed. The manager and staff can demonstrate the progress that children and young people make, which is captured through their records and communication with

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Outstanding

others. A professional said, ‘Staff keep me informed of the child’s progress and attend review meetings with the child and parent.’ Professionals express a high regard for the quality of service and communication shared with them by the staff team. This ensures effective challenge should the manager need to address any issues about children’s and young people’s progress. A professional said, ‘The staff are always approachable and they keep me informed and updated of any developments in respect of the children who use the service. I have an excellent relationship with the staff team.’ Similarly, parents and carers agree that staff listen to and consider their views about their children’s care and support. A parent said, ‘Staff are very good and the communication is brilliant and my views are always listened to and taken into account.’ The flooring in one of the bathrooms is in need of prompt repair. Nonetheless, a

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Outstanding

welcoming physical environment provides children and young people with a clean, spacious and well-resourced place for them to enjoy their short breaks.

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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’. 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

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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 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

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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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