Children's home run by Salford City Council in Salford

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across all aspects of their welfare, including physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. Young people are kept safe, and have a strong sense of personal safety.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from effective support, help and protection. They become increasingly safer as a result of the actions staff take to support and protect them. Staff have a good understanding of their specific needs and vulnerabilities, and take appropriate action to address them.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy excellent attendance at school. With good support and encouragement from staff, they attend regularly. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the providers of young people’s education, to promote their educational achievement, learning and progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff maintain highly effective working partnerships with social workers, families, schools, health workers and other professional agencies to meet the specific needs of young people, and to ensure that they benefit from the best possible help and all-round support. Young people benefit from high- quality support that contributes to change and continuing improvement in their lives.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Care planning is well planned and practice is highly personalised to meet the specific needs of the young people. Young people benefit from continuity of care, and have consistency and stability in their lives. Staff provide them with a safe, homely, highly supportive, caring and nurturing environment. Young people have good relationships with staff, and sustain their positive attachments.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The health needs of young people are identified and met effectively. They have prompt access to the health services they need, and there are effective arrangements to promote their good health. The arrangements for the safe keeping, administration and storage of young people’s medication are managed safely and effectively by staff.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards. This relates specifically to making the home’s external gates safer in line with the recommendation in the home's health and safety risk assessment. (Regulation 12 (2)(d)) 16/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that updated care plans are obtained from the placing authority to reflect any significant changes in a young person's care. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 11.10, page 57)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33(4)(b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home (this relates specifically to staff signing their own supervision record); detail the necessary management and staffing structure (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s statement of purpose (this relates specifically to all staff being trained in autism and epilepsy). (‘Guide to the children homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.8, page 53)

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for leading a team which provides high- quality care for all children living in the home. They must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home's statement of purpose. They should also play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to the children. This relates specifically to supporting and measuring young people's progress through key-working activities, relevant plans and/or by other appropriate means. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.4, page 52)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who may have emotional, behavioural, physical and/or learning disabilities. The home is owned and managed by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/09/2014 Full Good 10/03/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress 26/06/2013 Full Good

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Good

Young people make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across all aspects of their welfare, including physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. There is evidence of change and improvement in the lives of young people, who benefit from effective, high-quality support from staff. Young people enjoy good relationships with staff and sustain their positive attachments.

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Good

Staff provide the young people with continuity of care, so they have consistency and stability in their lives. Young people enjoy living at the home. They are kept safe and have a strong sense of belonging. Parents reported, ‘It’s so good and it brings out the best of him this place. They’re just lovely with him. They’re amazing. He’s in amazing hands. They’re on the ball with him in every single way.’

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Good

Staff maintain excellent relationships with the families of young people. They promote contact to ensure that young people can sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them. Staff work closely with young people’s families, schools, social workers and health professionals to meet their specific needs, and to ensure that they benefit from the best possible help and all- round support.

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Good

An independent reviewing officer reported, ‘In my view the placement is good for the young person, and staff are working hard at getting to know him and learning how to communicate with him. The reports prresented at his reviews have been good, child-centred, and a flavour of his personality is evident. There is evidence of good communication between staff, mother and school, which was essential to the shared-care arrangement and will continue to benefit him as he remains looked after.’

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Good

Young people benefit from well-planned, highly individualised care that promotes their needs effectively and contributes to change and continuing improvement in their lives. The health needs of young people are identified and met effectively. Staff work closely with health professionals and parents to promote young people’s good health. They ensure that young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians, and have access to these services when they need them. This includes access to any specialist support to promote their physical and emotional well-being.

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Good

A school nurse reported, 'I cannot fault the home in the care and support they offer to our two young people and their families. Communication and liaising is good and prompt and health appointments attended. Response to requests to attend school to collect young people when unwell or to attend accident and emergency are appropriate. They provide an invaluable service for our more challenging young people.’

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Good

Young people’s food preferences and any special dietary requirements are met. Medical consent is in place and staff are clear about what types of health decisions and responsibilities are delegated to them. The arrangements for the storage, safe keeping and administration of young people’s medication are manged safely and effectively by staff.

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Good

Social workers reported, ‘Staff have discussed age-appropriate issues, such as internet safety, sex and relationships, and have done so appropriate to the young person's level of understanding. They have taken over the management of fortnightly contact and have been managing this well. Staff have implemented a clear plan of support to encourage greater independence.’

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Good

Young people have excellent attendance at school. With good support and encouragement from staff they attend regularly. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the providers of young people’s education, to promote their educational achievement, learning and progress. Staff attend parents’/carers’ evenings and school meetings, and ensure that young people are able to attend school clubs and extra-curricular activities to promote their friendships and social interactions with others.

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Good

Young people benefit from positive activities at school, in the home and in the wider community. They enjoy singing and dance, clothes shopping, swimming, eating out and visiting special events. Young people are provided with a broad range of exciting and stimulating activities to promote their social and practical skills, specific interests and hobbies.

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Good

Young people have key workers who act as their advocates and principal supporters. Key staff work closely with the families of young people. They attend review meetings and develop partnerships with other professionals to promote their specific needs. However, key-work sessions do not demonstrate effectively the individual goals and specific targets that individual young people are supported and encouraged to work towards. Consequently, their progress in some aspects of their care could be more clearly evidenced by staff. Additionally, there are some young people who require updated care plans to reflect any significant changes to their care.

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Good

The safety of young people is consistently at the centre of staff’s practice. Sufficient numbers of skilled and experienced staff are deployed on each shift to meet the specific needs of the young people at the home. This ensures that young people are well cared for, and are supervised and supported effectively by staff. Staff have a good understanding of the needs and specific vulnerabilities of the young people, and take appropriate action to address them. Clear risk assessment and effective, safe working practice promote the safety and well-being of young people. Young people are kept safe and have a strong sense of personal safety. They are protected from abuse, bullying and all other forms of significant harm. Parents reported, ‘The staff know my son extremely well and can anticipate any problems which may occur. For the duration of his stays, I've been impressed by the dedication of everyone associated with the residential facility.’ Social workers

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Good

reported, ‘I am not aware of any incidents of bullying but am confident that it would be dealt with by staff.’

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Good

Staff promote young people’s positive behaviour, and deal with challenging behaviour in a safe, well-planned, controlled and coordinated way. The use of restraint, if used at all, is only ever a last resort to protect young people from harm or injury. Where restraint is used, it is skilled, short-term intervention and is not excessive or controlling in its use. Sanctions are rarely used, and kept to an absolute minimum. A social worker reported, ‘I am really pleased with the placement. I really am. Staff and school both say they’re seeing a change in his behaviours. The feedback is he’s much more settled. There is a definite change in his behaviour and he has a very consistent approach. Staff are very amenable and he’s doing very well. The staff work hard and it’s all very positive.’

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Good

There have been no complaints from young people or their families since the last inspection. A small number of third-party complaints have been dealt with effectively by staff. These were in relation to the behaviour of a young person who no longer lives at the home. Young people rarely go missing, and on those occasions when they do, staff have followed the home’s procedures to locate the young person and promote their quick and safe return. Since this particular young person was moved to alternative care provision, missing from care episodes have decreased considerably.

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Good

Young people benefit from effective support, help and protection. Staff maintain effective partnerships with the police, social workers and other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety of young people. Significant incidents are reported to appropriate authorities to ensure that information is shared with the relevant professionals to support and protect the young people. Staff are trained in child protection, and know how to deal with allegations and report suspected abuse. They prioritise the safety and well-being of young people effectively. Young people benefit from a physically safe, appropriately secure, warm, comfortable and homely environment. Health and safety arrangements are addressed effectively by staff to promote a safe environment for young people. However, a recent health and safety audit identified a low-level hazard with the home’s gates. While the likelihood of injury is low, the potential consequences of

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Good

the hazard could be serious. Therefore, prompt action should be taken to eliminate this risk. A requirement is therefore made in respect of this issue.

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Requires improvement

The home has employed a new manager since the last inspection, who has applied for their registration with Ofsted. The manager prioritises the needs of young people effectively and ensures that staff are well managed, supported and led. However, leadership and management still require improvement, due to the lack of a registered manager for the property. Staff described the manager as being ‘fantastic’. They said, ‘She’s there and she listens’, and ‘She’s made big changes here. She encourages us all to make decisions.’

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Requires improvement

The home meets the aims and objectives as set out within the statement of purpose, and in doing so delivers a good-quality service for young people and their families. The care the home provides for young people makes a real difference to their lives and to their families. Staff work proactively and enthusiastically with families, schools, social workers and health professionals to ensure that the young people benefit from the best possible help and all-round support. Social workers reported, ‘Staff have kept in regular communication with me so that we work together to support the best interests of the young person. The home is the perfect residential unit for young people with additional needs. Staff are very caring and nurturing, but also implement clear routines and boundaries. They have a very good understanding of each young person's individual needs and seek to ensure that they meet them consistently.’

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Requires improvement

Young people benefit from skilled, well-qualified and experienced staff who promote their needs effectively and contribute to change and improvement in their lives. Staff benefit from regular professional supervision, and have access to appropriate training that is relevant to the work that they perform. However, while most staff are trained in autism and epilepsy, not all staff have received this training. Consequently, a recommendation is made in respect of their training to develop their knowledge and understanding of the care of young people with autism and epilepsy.

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Requires improvement

There are good systems for the routine monitoring of the performance of the home. Each month, an independent person visits the home to scrutinise the quality of young people’s care, and the arrangements to safeguard them effectively and promote their well-being. The manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities, and is developing a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They take appropriate action to address identified shortfalls to secure improvement.

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Requires improvement

There were no requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection. As a result of this inspection, however, there is one requirement and a small number of recommendations made.

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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 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 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

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

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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