Children's home run by Salford City Council

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

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

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people that have left the home since the last inspection have done so in a well-planned, supported and positive way. Some young people have returned home to live with their own families and others have made the transition to an alternative care provision. For example, foster care or semi-independent living.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home has recently taken a small number of new admissions and there are some young people who are struggling with being placed away from home. In the absence of appropriate risk assessments for new admissions, it is difficult to judge how young people’s needs have been assessed effectively, and what consideration has been given to the likely impact that new admissions would have on group dynamics and other young people living at the home. As a result, the recommendation from the last inspection is repeated, to ensure that young people are appropriately placed and matched.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people make good progress taking into account their individual starting points. The progress that they make is dependent upon the length of time that they have spent living at the home. There is evidence that young people’s progress improves over time as staff build positive relationships with young people and help them to make positive changes and improvement in their lives.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff maintain effective partnerships with parents, social workers, health services and other professional agencies to ensure that young people benefit from the best possible help and all-round support. This includes the providers of young people’s education to support their learning and educational achievement.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people who struggle to attend school regularly receive good support and encouragement from staff to help them to resume their education. Staff consistently have high aspirations for young people and there are clear expectations for young people to attend school. However, there are young people that are new to the home. Consequently, they require a personal education plan to support their learning, career aspirations, training and educational goals.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people report, ‘I’ve got a week to prepare myself for going back to school. I wouldn’t be going back if it wasn’t for them. They helped me make the right decision. I have only lived here since December. I like it here. We’re like a big family. It’s good here. It’s actually really nice. They really listen and they’re dead nice people. It’s not that I want to run away it’s just me wanting to be with my mates. It’s nothing to do with living here because I actually like it here. I haven’t anything bad to say about it.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff take appropriate action if young people go missing. Staff actively look for young people to encourage their safe and quick return. They maintain strong and highly effective partnerships with the police and other professional agencies to promote the safety and well-being of young people.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities charged with a duty to protect young people. This ensures that young people are protected and receive the right levels of protection and support. Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the young people and take appropriate action to address them. There have been no complaints since the last inspection and no complaints or concerns were raised by young people during this inspection visit.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff build and maintain good relationships with the young people. They actively encourage their positive behaviour and address any negative behaviours safely and effectively. The use of sanctions as a consequence for unacceptable behaviour is fair and proportionate in use. The use of restraint, if used at all, is only ever used to protect young people from harm, accident or injury. There has only been one low level restraint since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

There has been a significant improvement in the standard and quality of young people’s accommodation. For example, a new kitchen has been fitted and new carpets have been laid throughout the communal areas of the home. Further improvements are also planned to further improve the cosmetic appearance of the home. Young people benefit from a warm, physically safe, comfortable and homely environment.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home is visited each month by a person employed who is completely independent of the home. They scrutinise the performance of the home and form an impartial and professional opinion about the quality of young people’s care and the arrangements made to safeguard them and promote their well-being. The registered manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to secure the home’s continuing improvement. The manager demonstrates strong and effective leadership of the operations of the home.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

As a result of this inspection, there are two recommendations made for the registered person to address. These relate to young people having personal education plans to support their education and ensuring that new admissions are appropriately placed and matched.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who may have emotional, behavioural 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 07/09/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2015 Full Outstanding 16/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. This relates specifically to ensuring that all young people have a personal education plan completed. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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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 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 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 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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