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 good 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

At the last inspection in November 2016, Ofsted made four requirements and five recommendations. The registered manager has successfully addressed three of these requirements and three recommendations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress in all aspects of their development. They benefit both socially and emotionally from access to this short-break service. This is because the young people have the opportunity to socialise with their friends and learn new skills. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed the content of young people’s case files. These files now include all necessary information and documentation, including information relating to short-break arrangements, statutory plans and service review documents. Consequently, internal placement plans now mirror the aims and objectives of the placing authority. This integrated approach to meeting young people’s bespoke and often complex needs better supports their personal growth and their journey towards adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and allocated ‘key workers’ have reviewed young people’s risk assessments. Staff now regularly update these documents to include all known risks, and detail strategies in place to reduce these risks. For example, when staff observe changes to young people’s behaviours, such as increased episodes of self- injurious behaviours, they immediately update associated risk management plans. This means that young people continually receive care and support that evolves to meet their needs, promotes their welfare and protects them from harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working arrangements between the service, the placing authority, other professionals and young people’s families continue to be a strength of the home. One parent said, ‘My son enjoys his time here and has good relationships with the staff. They really understand him and always keep me up to date. I know he is safe when he is here.’ Since the last inspection, the registered manager and senior staff have revised the young people’s guide to the home. This means that young people, their families and other agencies receive up-to-date and relevant information about what they can expect from this short-break service. This further cements the positive relationships between the home and others. The use of physical restraint is rare and there have been no occurrences since the last inspection. Staff use their verbal de-escalation skills to distract young people and to persuade them to behave appropriately. However, incentives awarded to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people in recognition of their positive behaviours, or the achievement of their personal targets, are inconsistent. The registered manager has taken action to ensure that staff adhere to the internal policy relating to the use of incentives and rewards, and has reiterated the content of this policy during staff meetings. However, records demonstrate that awarding incentives remains dependent on the views of individual staff. This is a missed opportunity for staff to motivate young people consistently and continually to strive to reach their goals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made improvements to the monitoring systems in the home. He balances the collection of statistical data with an evaluation of how this information reflects the quality of care provided by the service. Furthermore, care managers and other senior staff are now encouraged and supported to develop their own evaluation skills to monitor better the ongoing development of all aspects of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff say that they feel supported in their role. Since the last inspection, the quality of formal supervision meeting minutes has significantly improved. These now detail actions for both staff and managers to complete prior to subsequent meetings. Nevertheless, the frequency of supervision remains irregular, and some staff have not received formal supervision since the last inspection. Furthermore, not all staff, including the registered manager, have received a formal annual appraisal of their performance. These shortfalls mean that managers do not sufficiently monitor the practice of individual staff, or their learning needs, to ensure that staff have the skills necessary to work with complex young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, Ofsted raised a recommendation for the registered manager to review, and amend where necessary, the ‘location risk assessment’. The registered manager has failed to action this recommendation. This means that the current risk assessment pertaining to the premises and the surrounding area does not accurately reflect all known risks to young people’s safety and welfare.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides short-break care and accommodation for up to six children who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments. A local authority owns and operates this service.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/11/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/09/2015 Full Good 25/03/2015 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development; receive practice related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)(c)) 26/05/2017

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies in line with the child’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)  Ensure that the review of the premises include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. Providers should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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