Children's home in Wolverhampton

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Staff continue to provide consistently good care for children who have a range of sensory, learning and physical disabilities. One parent described her child’s care over the years as ‘absolutely fantastic from start to finish, marvellous.’ The staff have made a real difference to the lives of four children who have lived at the home recently. Three children have moved very successfully on to their next planned and permanent homes. Two brothers moved to a carefully selected foster home in the organisation’s independent fostering agency. Another has moved to a residential school and college that offer adult residential care. Staff played a fundamental role in securing the best destinations for these children. They were tenacious in their searches and planning for the next placements. They

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

were creative and hard working in their support in handing over their in-depth knowledge about the children to new staff. Their efforts gave comfort to parents and meant that children moved on with great care. Staff invest in children’s lives and miss them when they move on. A parent described this staff commitment: ‘This comes across in the way they have cared for her. Would advise any parent to grab a place with both hands.’ Only one child is living at the home currently. Staff have supported her care and progress well. Close implementation, monitoring and review of a new complex medication regime have resulted in a calmer, more productive daily life for the child. Well-planned arrangements support education and health. Children enjoy good leisure opportunities and go out and about in their community, closely supervised by staff. Staff work well with families and do everything that they can to make home visits positive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met the requirement made at the last inspection. Arrangements to keep hazardous items away from children are now much more secure. Staff worked with children after an incident, using communication aids to help them to understand how they can keep themselves safe in future. Staff are also more careful now. There have been no safeguarding concerns, and any issues such as accidents or children’s health issues have been well managed. Children require close supervision, and a range of safety equipment keeps them safe while they are travelling and out in the community. Staff feel well supported and are proud of the standard of non-institutional care that they offer. They advocate well for children. They have pushed for, and secured, a service from child and adolescent mental health services. Staff were crucial in challenging a poor education situation for one child and cooperated

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

constructively with the home tutors needed to fill gaps when children were not in full-time education provision. This tenacity has meant that children have received the services that they need for their well-being and they continue to learn and develop. A range of effective internal and external independent monitoring identifies and drives improvement. The registered manager uses effective performance management to ensure that only the best staff remain working with children and that they are well trained. Training has been a focus, and further work in developing staff communication skills is planned. The garden is to be improved to provide better facilities for children. Internal redecoration of children’s bedrooms is also planned. Long-standing managers for the home, and at a senior level in the organisation, are ‘hands on’ with all aspects of the service. This includes the owner, who staff say is a generous and accessible leader. The registered person plans to apply to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

operate this and the neighbouring children’s home as one. They share a site, a staff group and manager.

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Information about this children’s home

This 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. The manager is also responsible for another adjacent home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2015 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 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.

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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 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

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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