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:

 Children and young people receive high-quality, bespoke care and protection that enrich their lives. These strong factors keep children and young people safe and maximise their life chances.  Children and young people enjoy excellent opportunities to get involved in a range of fun, culturally appropriate, engaging and stimulating activities. Their participation provides excellent opportunities for them to significantly thrive and, in a number of instances, exceed their personal goals.  Exceptionally good working relationships with other professionals means that children’s health and education is well promoted enabling them to thrive.  Parents highly rate the short-breaks services delivered to their children and they appreciate the personal support that they receive from the staff team.  The registered manager has a good understanding of children’s and young people’s diverse and complex needs. Her coherent understanding of the

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

strengths and weaknesses of the service enables her to effectively improve the quality of care.  The staff team is well supported and motivated. Staff consistently look for creative and inventive solutions to improve outcomes for the children and young people in their care.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2). Specifically, supervision records should be recorded in detail that is reflective in nature and carried out by appropriately trained staff.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4). Specifically, each young person’s risk assessments should

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Recommendations

be evaluative and make clear any new risks to inform risk management strategies.

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority service is registered to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of seven children and young people, irrespective of gender. Ages range from eight to 17 years, and individuals have a range of learning disabilities, complex healthcare needs and associated physical disabilities. Children and young people attend on a shared-care basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Outstanding

Children and young people experience an exceptionally good quality of care during their short breaks. Their stays are enriched by their participation in an abundance of activities that improve their overall learning, development and progress. A parent said, ‘The staff are amazing. The things they do for me is like having an extended family. It’s totally like the best place ever.’ Highly individualised care planning meets children’s and young people’s complex needs arising from their disabilities. Their progress from their starting points is impressive. For example, some young people are walking, making them less dependent on their wheelchairs. Other achievements include sitting and watching films at the cinema, talking about their feelings, learning patience during mealtimes and sleeping better. These activities effectively improve their social integration, independence and confidence. Children’s and young people’s attendance at their

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Outstanding

reviews promotes their inclusion and the research-informed review outcomes keep a clear focus on their plans. The prominent value that staff place on listening to and acting on children’s and young people’s wishes and feelings helps to minimise opportunities for confusion and distress. A member of staff said, ‘We just know them so well.’ This view typifies the staff team’s broad-based knowledge of the children’s and young people’s personalities and their communication methods., Consequently, children and young people can influence what they eat, activities and future plans. An independent advocate said that staff, ‘demonstrate excellent communication skills with all young people and are always available to support and share their knowledge and skills with me if I have any difficulties in communicating.’ Staff members’ proactive interventions with health and education providers promote effective working relationships that drive forward children’s and young

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Outstanding

people’s access to services. For example, the staff team’s consultation with the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) offers advice and support that is imparted in practice. Staff members’ attendance at relevant meetings and supporting parents to attend such gatherings help to overcome barriers to children’s and young people’s development. Education providers share excellent views about the home. One educational professional said, ‘The relationship between the school and [Name of the home] is excellent, and there is a very good system in place for sharing information and providing support to each other in terms of discussion of issues, [and] mutually agreed approaches appropriate for the young people.’ Children’s and young people’s independence grows due to staff consistently empowering them to acquire useful life skills. This helps them to take responsibility and do more for themselves. This includes helping out in the kitchen, carrying out

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Outstanding

their personal care and learning socially acceptable behaviours. A professional said, ‘Staff are keen to promote [Name of the young person]’s independence skills’ and, ‘His recent looked-after review was very positive and highlighted [Name of the young person]’s growth. He is maturing and increasing his self-help skills.’ Children’s and young people’s involvement in horse riding, interesting trips away, countryside walks, swimming, cycling, meals out and music concerts improves their social life. Celebrating religious and cultural events, such as Eid, birthdays and Halloween, recognises and values their differences. Playing indoors and in the garden provides options for sensory play and enjoyment. Children and young people helped in the planning, and some attended a successful charity fund-raising event. The presence of the lord mayor and lady mayoress, professionals and senior managers increased the profile of the occasion. A notable amount of money was

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Outstanding

raised for an animal rescue charity that also provided a work experience placement for a young person. The outcome of the event recognises how well children and young people learn to ‘give back’ to the community and have opportunities to prosper. It also shows them how small acts of kindness can make a big difference to them and to others. Photographs of children and young people displayed around the home capture the good times and show them in action. Parents feel that their children are well looked after. They think highly of the staff team and appreciate the personal support that they receive. A parent said that the service ‘is absolutely brilliant. You can tell he likes it. They do a lot with him. They are always doing something.’

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Outstanding

An effective safeguarding culture underpins the emerging research-informed risk and behaviour management practices that prioritise how children and young people are cared for and protected. Staff members’ robust understanding of individual children and their vulnerabilities ensures their protection. This is achieved through high supervision levels, monitoring and adhering to the health and safety guidance and updates. Consequently, children and young people are safe from the risk of fire, child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and going missing from home. Parents and professionals raise no safeguarding concerns about the home. They express high levels of satisfaction in the standard of protection provided by the staff team. A parent said, ‘I can trust them to keep him safe.’ A social worker said, ‘Any concerns that could potentially lead to safeguarding concerns are shared and addressed.’ The consistently safe routines and boundaries optimise children’s and young

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Outstanding

people’s sense of safety. It also gives them the space to safely express themselves and continue to grow in a safe environment. Staff are highly responsive to children and young people who present with unpredictable and aggressive behaviours. Specifically, their use of their positive relationships with the children and young people has proved successful in promptly de-escalating serious incidents. This also gives the young people involved opportunities to talk about their behaviour and feelings. This enables staff to seek further support and advice through their exceptionally good professional partner relationships. A parent said, ‘They keep her as safe as possible and strive to find new ways to get through things.’ The minimal use of physical intervention is testament to skilful staff interventions, and this is supported by their adherence to the sound individual behaviour management plans. Close scrutiny by senior management and the independent

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Outstanding

visitor ensures safe and transparent practice. Children and young people are protected from adults who may threaten their personal safety by the thorough recruitment practices. Parental involvement in this process promotes an independent voice on behalf of vulnerable children and young people. Similarly, visitors to the home are afforded the same high levels of vetting, which strengthen children’s and young people’s safety and welfare.

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Good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2016. She has considerable childcare and management experience. She holds a suitable leadership and management qualification and is currently undertaking further management studies. The registered manager’s child-centred and motivated practice ensures that children and young people receive appropriate care and protection. The hard-working staff team strives for the best outcomes for the children and young people and celebrates their achievements. The staff team has successfully worked through a busy period, which has been exacerbated by absences due to sickness and a part-time staff vacancy. This has no detriment to the services provided to the children and young people. The registered manager has a good understanding of most of the strengths and weaknesses. She has a realistic action plan, to ensure that the improvements make a positive difference to the short-breaks service. She makes good use of the

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Good

independent visits to the home, taking on board the ‘critical friend’ feedback, which helps to push forward developments. She has promptly acted on the shortfalls raised with her at inspection, which shows capacity to improve. This includes the thorough investigation into two medication errors in April and September 2016, which resulted in lessons learned and has improved practice. Staff are suitably qualified and some have had updated training or are due to commence further training to enhance their knowledge, skills and competence. The management team is approachable and provides good levels of support to staff. However, not all managers are trained to supervise staff, and some supervision records do not demonstrate reflective practice. This does not ensure that staff are helped to develop their practice further to benefit children and young people. The strong partnerships between the staff team, professionals and parents

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Good

supports the children’s and young people’s progress and reflects the home’s ethos that is outlined in the statement of purpose. The good communication from the staff team generates high praise from parents and professionals. A professional said, ‘Communications I have with the placement [are] clear and to the point. Management and staff have a clear understanding of the young people, family and issues.’ A parent said, ‘I have never had any concerns with the staff. They are so easy to talk to.’ Ongoing improvement to the physical environment has senior management oversight to ensure its full completion. The requirement raised at the previous inspection about consultation with staff during six-monthly internal monitoring reviews is work in progress. An outstanding recommendation regarding the clarity of risk assessment documentation is repeated to ensure its full implementation.

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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 whom 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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