Children's Home run by Salford City Council in Salford

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements or recommendations were made at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people living in the home continue to make excellent progress in all areas of their lives. There is strong engagement with the local community and young people are encouraged and assisted to develop their independence skills. Staff positively nurture young people’s talents and interests, and also succeed in supporting young people's educational or workplace commitments. Young people develop and gain confidence from living in a very stable and safe environment where staff support them to establish normal patterns of day-to-day life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s previous high risk behaviours quickly diminish. This is because they develop alternative coping strategies, such as talking through their feelings with staff during periods of crisis. As a result, most young people make better choices with regard to their emotional well-being and personal safety. Collectively, young people said they are settled in the home, and one young person said, ‘This home is great, happy and the staff are fabulous.’ Young people form close bonds with each other and offer support when any of them are struggling or upset.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff value young people’s relationships with family, and contact has been supported and facilitated by the team. All young people are having positive family contact, and for some this also includes overnight stays. Young people’s contact with their family and friends is important to them. This helps to maintain their sense of identity, cultural background and connection to family members.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last full inspection two young people have moved into the home and three young people have moved on from the home. The registered manager is diligent about matching young people carefully and facilitating smooth introductions into the home. For example, staff visit young people prior to placement and tell them about the home. Arrangements are made for young people to come to the home for tea and overnight visits wherever possible. This means that young people get to know the staff and other young people living in the home, and can make an informed decision whether to accept the placement. Two of the three young people successfully moved on in a planned way. They continue to do well in their respective new placements. One young person has transitioned from semi-independent living into supported lodgings. Another young person is preparing to move into their own accommodation, having completed their

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

independent living programme. Many of the young people who have moved on regularly keep in touch with the staff and return to the home for a chat or advice. This demonstrates the positive impact the home has had on their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

During a settling-in period for one young person, they presented a number of significant incidents of disruption. This resulted in damage to the home and threatening behaviour towards staff. During this short period of time, the management team and staff supported the young person and other young people living in the home. The young person moved to an alternative placement within the local authority. The home has been fully redecorated with new fixtures and fittings, creating a warm and welcoming environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been four notifications to Ofsted since the last full inspection. The management team has thoroughly followed up incidents to ensure that there has been an effective response when young people display challenging or self-harming behaviours. There has been one complaint raised by young people. The registered manager liaised with the children’s rights officer, and the young people have received a written response outcome of their complaint. Young people were satisfied with the outcome and none of them raised any complaints during the inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff successfully and consistently apply a positive approach to behaviour management, with a focus on recognising, rewarding and praising appropriate behaviour. Incidents involving physical intervention are infrequent, demonstrating that staff know the young people very well and are skilled in de-escalation techniques to avoid potentially challenging situations. Staff undertake regular training in the use of physical intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two instances of restraint since the last full inspection, and before that none since April 2014. The records of these restraints include all of the required information. The records are clear as to why a restraint was used, and the registered manager has recorded her evaluation of the incidents. Both records clearly show that the registered manager has spoken with the young person and staff who undertook the restraint before signing off each of the restraint records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents involving young people being absent from the home without permission or reported as missing are extremely rare. There has been one incident of a young person reported as missing since the last full inspection. Staff follow agreed protocols, including a return interview, when such an event occurs. This preventative work is strengthened by effective partnership work with other agencies which provide specialist advice, guidance and support. The local police visit the home regularly to provide advice and support, and to build up relationships with the young people. This helps with the young people’s understanding of keeping themselves safe when they are away from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe. Staff support and educate them using strategies that are tailored to their individual needs. Staff know each young person well and have a very good insight into triggers that might result in a reoccurrence of a behaviour or an increase in likelihood that a young person might not cope with a situation. They provide excellent reassurance to young people and are proactive in breaking patterns of behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has an excellent track record and provides young people with high quality care and support. There is strong leadership and management in the home. The management team knows the strengths of the team and the areas for development. These are regularly shared with the staff, so they are all working to common goals. Team meetings, supervisions and appraisal are used as opportunities for reflection and learning. Young people are fully involved in how the home operates and are able to see how their views make a difference. For example, their opinions are sought by the registered manager during her regular monitoring of the home, and by the independent person who visits and reports on young people’s progress each month.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no requirements or recommendations made at the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a local authority, and is registered for five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home provides a high level of individual care for each young person. It seeks to promote well-being and self-esteem by building positive relationships based on respect and understanding, as written in the home's statement of purpose.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/07/2016 Full Outstanding 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/07/2015 Full Outstanding 04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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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