Children's home in Wolverhampton

Good

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make very good progress in all aspects of their development.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have positive and nurturing relationships with staff, and these underpin the progress that they make.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people enjoy a range of activities at home and in the community. Staff are committed and creative in ensuring that young people have access to exciting and stimulating activities.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff treat young people with dignity and respect. The staff team understands the importance of well-planned support for both new young people coming to the service and those leaving to adult care services.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager and staff work in partnership with placing authorities and other agencies to promote the progress and well-being of young people in their care.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff work well together and receive good support and guidance from managers.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 The registered manager strives to continually improve and develop the service for the benefit of young people.

p.3

The children's home provision is good because:

 There is one shortfall in practice. Staff do not consistently ensure that potentially hazardous materials are safely stored out of reach of young people.

p.3

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person is to ensure:

p.4

Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. 28/02/2017

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties and/or sensory impairments. The home is owned by a private provider.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

11/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people make significant progress because of the help and support that they receive from managers and staff at the home. A family member spoke highly about the care that her daughter received, saying, ‘I can’t speak highly enough of staff’s commitment. They have helped the whole family. She is doing so well, I could not ask for more.’

p.6

Good

Staff value young people’s education. Staff work effectively with schools, learning providers and placing authorities to ensure that young people have access to education and that any barriers that they face are quickly addressed. Staff regularly attend reviews at school and transfer key learning and development targets to placement plans. They effectively weave targets into activities that are undertaken with young people. Staff communicate well with schools and education providers. They provide effective advice and guidance to ensure that consistency is secured. As one educational professional observed, ‘Staff plan lots of activities and always try different things to complement their learning. Staff have clear boundaries and have developed good relationships with the young people.’

p.6

Good

Staff actively review young people’s health needs. All young people attend routine and specialist appointments as necessary. Staff harness the advice and services of a range of health professionals, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and community nurses. Staff work in partnership with the local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) for young people who have learning disabilities, to ensure that young people’s emotional and behavioural needs are prioritised. As one health professional commented, ‘It is very evident that staff know young people very well. They know how to relate to them and how to work effectively with them.’

p.6

Good

Staff ensure that young people enjoy a varied and freshly prepared diet in which healthy eating is carefully considered. Staff have supported one young person to adjust her diet, which has had a positive impact on her overall health. Mealtimes are friendly, sociable occasions when young people are encouraged to enjoy each other’s company. Young people develop a sense of belonging and value in the home as their social skills and emotional well-being improve.

p.6

Good

Staff help young people to understand their feelings and to manage strong emotions. Staff use research and training to inform their practice. For example, staff have used research to learn how to manage young people’s sensory needs and to minimise anxiety. Staff use visual prompts to remind young people of agreed expectations and have developed sensory aids to manage anxieties. Staff have developed strategies to help one young person to express his anger and worries in a safe way, by using a worry bear to post his feelings. As a result, young people learn to manage and change their own behaviour, leading to a calmer and more relaxed atmosphere in the home for all.

p.6

Good

Young people enjoy stimulating and interesting activities, including swimming, day trips, pumpkin picking and cinema trips. Over the summer holidays, they enjoyed a varied programme of summer activities, including a break at the seaside. They have opportunities to try new activities, thereby extending their experiences and enjoyment of their lives. As one placing social worker commented, ‘There are lovely celebrations for birthdays and imaginative activities reflecting their interests.’

p.7

Good

Young people’s self-confidence improves as staff sensitively support them with their personal care. Parents and professionals have commended staff about their meticulous attention to detail in ensuring that their young person is clean, tidy and well dressed at all times. For one young person who was initially reluctant to use a shower, staff have redecorated his bathroom with bright fun displays, which has encouraged him to bathe. Young people are supported to develop appropriate skills and to work towards increased independence. Each young person has responsibilities in the home, including helping to lay the table, clearing away and washing up. By taking part in these responsibilities and activities, young people improve their skills and enjoy contributing to their home life.

p.7

Good

The registered manager makes sure that transitions are well planned and managed. This means that staff have all the information that they need to understand and meet the individual needs. As a result, young people settle at the home quickly and begin making rapid progress. One placing social worker commented, ‘Staff were really lovely and welcoming. The same staff were on duty the next morning as put the boys to bed. This really helped the boys to settle.’ Discharges are well planned. Staff accompany young people to visits, providing support before and afterwards as necessary. Staff at the home take good account of the particular needs of young people who live at a distance from their families, keeping family members well informed of progress.

p.7

Good

Young people attend regular meetings with staff, including one-to-one sessions and a weekly young people’s meeting. They are encouraged to express their views and opinions about the home, and contribute to the weekly menu and activity planning. Young people’s communication needs are assessed and information adapted to help them to understand what is written and to make it more accessible for them. Some information includes picture symbols and tick-box options, assisting young people to make sense of what is asked of them.

p.7

Good

Families welcome the support that they receive from staff with contact arrangements. This support extends to those who live a long way from the home. One parent said, ‘I always feel comfortable and welcome when I visit.’ Young people feel secure, as they see all adults working well together to support their needs. Young people receive a consistent approach from all adults in their lives.

p.7

Requires improvement

Staff take time to understand individual young people’s needs, including their communication needs. Managers and staff develop individualised risk assessments to address identified vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are generally robust and detailed. They reflect consultation with others, including young people when appropriate. However, staff have not consistently taken action to ensure that risks identified are actively addressed. Staff have not made sure that potentially hazardous personal care equipment is safely stored out of young people’s reach. This has placed young people at risk.

p.8

Requires improvement

Young people have positive and trusting relationships with staff, and these underpin young people’s sense of self-confidence and security. Staff have clear expectations and boundaries in place. When young people test boundaries, staff respond in a consistent and proportionate way that helps young people to understand about how to behave appropriately. They learn how to manage their own emotions. Incidents of physical interventions are low as staff are skilled in understanding young people’s triggers and signs of behavioural escalation. Staff use de-escalation techniques at an early stage, and this helps young people to redirect their behaviour and avoid outbursts, leading to a calmer atmosphere for all.

p.8

Requires improvement

High staffing ratios minimise the risks to young people that are associated with child sexual exploitation or missing-from-home incidents. However, staff are vigilant and alert to these issues and knowledgeable about the action to take should there be any indication of such risks or events happening.

p.8

Requires improvement

Staff receive regular training in safeguarding and child protection. This includes discussions relating to bullying and internet safety. Some young people complete sessions with staff regarding how to keep themselves safe on line, and their computer activity is effectively monitored by staff. This ‘good parenting’ approach further promotes young people’s safety. Complaints procedures distinguish between young people’s different communication preferences and abilities. For some young people, formal complaints records are used and, for others, independent advocates raise concerns on their behalf.

p.8

Requires improvement

Medication administration systems are robust and effective. Managers and senior staff complete regular medication audits, and administration records are checked each day. Staff complete medication administration training and additional competency assessments, observed by registered nurses, when young people require specialist medications. These procedures significantly reduce the potential for medication errors to occur. There has been one medication error since the last inspection. The registered manager appropriately addressed this, and learning from the incident was used to strengthen practice.

p.8

Requires improvement

Safe recruitment practice enhances young people’s security. This includes paying meticulous attention to obtaining references, ensuring that full employment histories are obtained so that the suitability of potential staff can be assessed alongside a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

p.9

Good

An experienced and suitably qualified registered manager leads the home. She places the well-being of young people at the heart of her practice. She has been registered with Ofsted since October 2013. She provides strong and effective leadership in the home. She sets high standards for the service, with the focus being on the needs of young people in her care. Young people are cared for in line with the objectives set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.9

Good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas of development for the home. The monthly independent visitor provides rigorous external scrutiny of the service. The registered manager values the suggestions made by the independent visitor and sees these as opportunities to improve the service to young people.

p.9

Good

The registered manager effectively monitors the quality of care provided by her service, identifying patterns and trends. Her quality of care reviews incorporate consultations with young people, family members and other agencies to drive forward continual improvements to the quality of care provided. This rigorous review ensures that young people’s individual progress and development continue. Immediate action is taken to address any shortfalls and to prevent further occurrence. This ensures that the home continues to improve to meet young people’s changing needs.

p.9

Good

The staff team is enthusiastic and demonstrates high levels of commitment to ensuring that young people make meaningful progress. The staff are mainly experienced and most are qualified. Those who are unqualified are within regulatory timescales to obtain their qualification. The staff team is stable, and good staff morale is evident, with staff consistently reporting that the home is a good place to work. Staff say that they are extremely well supported by managers. Staff receive high- quality monthly supervision and annual appraisals. Staff have regular opportunities to reflect on young people’s welfare and progress, which means that they are better able to offer the individualised care that young people need. A thorough induction programme is in place for new staff. This has recently been revised to enable new staff to shadow experienced staff and to provide greater opportunity for staff to develop in-depth knowledge of young people’s specific needs.

p.9

Good

Consequently, staff are equipped with the key skills necessary to meet young people’s needs.

p.10

Good

Staff receive high-quality training that reflects young people’s individual needs. They complete tailored courses, for example in epilepsy, autism, trauma and attachment, enable them to effectively communicate with young people, meet their healthcare needs and protect them from harm. The registered manager has recently undertaken an audit of staff individual learning styles to enhance learning opportunities. This means that young people’s development is not compromised by poor practice.

p.10

Good

The registered manager and staff have developed positive working relationships with a number of key stakeholders, including health and education professionals and placing social workers. All are positive about the level and quality of communication received from the home, and this promotes effective partnership working. Staff use partnership relationships to advocate and challenge on behalf of young people to ensure that they receive appropriate support to meet their needs. For some young people, this has been very effective, for example in securing appropriate education provision and progressing transition plans.

p.10

Good

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

p.10

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’.

p.11

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

p.11

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.

p.11

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 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

p.12

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.12

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,

p.13

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.13

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates at http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.13

Information about this inspection

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

p.13