Children's home run by Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council in Walsall

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . At the time of the last inspection in June 2016, the registered manager had been absent from the service for a number of weeks. She returned to the home in October 2016. The registered manager has been away from the home again since November 2016. Although interim management arrangements are in place, the lack of stable management is detrimental to the development of the service and means that Ofsted has raised an additional four requirements at this interim inspection. Ofsted raised seven requirements and two recommendations at the last inspection. The acting manager has taken sufficient action to address four requirements and one of the recommendations made at that time. She has addressed a further requirement relating to young people developing positive relationships in part. Two

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

requirements remain outstanding. These relate specifically to actions required of the registered manager concerning her continuing professional development to ensure that she has the skills necessary to manage the home and to inspire a culture that enables young people to reach their full potential. The absence of the registered manager means that Ofsted has not judged these requirements at this inspection. The acting manager makes sure that young people now receive personalised care. Young people benefit from internal care and support plans that reflect their identified risks, individual needs and vulnerabilities. These documents mirror the aims and objectives detailed in the statutory care planning documents provided by the placing authority. Individualised risk assessments now detail young people’s known risks and the actions required of staff to reduce these risks. In addition, staff involve young people in the review of these risk assessments. This helps

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people to understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff devise bespoke independence plans for eligible young people. These help young people to prepare for the next stage of their lives and embrace their journey towards adulthood. Nevertheless, the success of this independent living planning process is limited. This is because young people do not have access to the semi- independent flat that forms part of the home and the registration of the service. This flat currently accommodates a young person who has specific and distinctive support needs. The provision of this specialist service is in conflict with the agreed statement of purpose for the home. The provider is operating this specialist and intensive support service in isolation of the main home. Consequently, the registered provider does not operate the home in a manner consistent with the statement of purpose. At the last inspection, young people above compulsory school age did not access

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

suitable education provisions to encourage them to continue with their learning. The acting manager and senior staff now liaise with a varied range of post-16 education services. This means that young people are able to continue to develop their academic, vocational and social skills. However, staff do not consistently support young people of school age to attend their placement. For example, when young people are reluctant to attend, staff do not support young people with practical arrangements, such as transport, to promote attendance until suitable routines are established. Staff support young people to widen their social circles by participating in leisure activities and pursuing their hobbies and interests. Since the last inspection, staff have researched community activities and clubs to make sure that they are able to provide young people with up-to-date information relating to local resources and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

events. This encourages young people to engage in leisure and group activities. There has been a significant improvement in young people’s behaviour. Young people now demonstrate an understanding of socially acceptable behaviours. Staff now complete one-to-one and group-work sessions with young people relating to bullying and the devastating effect this behaviour can have on others. Consequently, there have been no incidents of bullying since the last inspection. There have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection and a noticeable reduction in the number of sanctions that young people receive. However, records of sanctions do not include all necessary information, such as a detailed account of the young person’s behaviour, the duration of the sanction or the effectiveness of this measure of control. This limits the acting manager’s ability to evaluate the suitability of the sanctions given to the young people. Furthermore,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff do not always consistently encourage young people to take responsibility for all of their actions and behaviours. For example, over recent weeks a number of young people have been smoking in the home. On these occasions, staff have failed to reiterate the possible consequences of this behaviour or effectively challenge young people’s perception that this behaviour is acceptable. As a result, young people continue to smoke in the home, placing themselves and others at risk of harm. Since the last inspection, there has been a slight increase in the number of occasions when young people have been missing from the home or absent from the home without permission. Staff continue to work in partnership with the placing authority and local police teams to respond to these episodes and help young people to understand the potential risks associated with this behaviour. However, changes in recording systems mean that the acting manager is no longer able to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

monitor these occurrences effectively to identify any possible patterns, trends or triggers linked to this behaviour. This means that plans in place to support young people in these circumstances lack sufficient detail. The acting manager has not revised or updated the young person’s guide to the home. This document does not accurately reflect the home or provide young people with up-to-date information. Ofsted also made a recommendation relating to this shortfall at the last inspection. Staff have removed the graffiti noted around the home at the time of the last inspection. The environment is now well decorated and maintained and provides young people with a comfortable and pleasantly furnished home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This includes two placements within a semi- independent flat. A local authority owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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, the 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.

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Requirement Due date

8. The education standard In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure that staff – (2)(a) (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

11. The positive relationships standard In order to meet the positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure that staff – (2)(a) (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that – (1) (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must – (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 31/03/2017 Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16(5)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must undertake such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the registered manager has the skills needed for managing the home. (Regulation 29(4)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; and the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(ii)(iv)(vii)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the children’s home produces a children’s guide. The children’s guide must be made available to all children when their placement in the home is agreed (or on arrival at the home if the placement is made in an emergency) and must be age appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure that they understand it. This specifically relates to producing a guide to the self-contained semi- independent flats. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)

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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 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 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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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 0300 123 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, 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,

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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

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Information about this inspection

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

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