Children's Home run by Witherslack Group Limited in Sefton

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 improved effectiveness . A dynamic and highly committed registered manager and staff team ensure that the young people are happy, safe and continue to make excellent progress in all areas of their development. A number of new staff have joined the team and are undertaking their induction programme. The registered manager and other staff said the new staff have brought a positive dynamic to the home. Young people are pleased that they were involved with the recruitment of the new staff, and feel valued as the interviewers carefully considered their views. The statement of purpose is regularly updated to reflect the changes in the home. As a consequence, parents, carers and social workers are fully updated on the care and support provided to young people. Work has been undertaken to update the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

location risk assessment, including meeting with police community support officers and researching the police local crime data. However, this has not yet been finalised in a completed document, which may mean that staff are not all fully aware of potential risks in the community. The home is generally well maintained. There are some areas that require attention, such as the bathroom on the first floor, but this is being addressed. The radiator covers have now been made safe, as has the door in the sensory room. One young person is pleased to have moved into the basement room and said this feels more like her own place. Other young people said they have input into the organisation of their bedrooms and the décor. Consequently, bedrooms clearly reflect the uniqueness of the young person, their tastes and interests. This extends to purchasing what many will see as old-fashioned furniture, to rooms being

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

resplendent in the colours of their favourite football team. Monitoring of the home by the independent person is improving and provides better insight into what the home does well, or potential areas for improvement. This is helping the registered manager to continually drive improvements forward, such as documentation revision. The registered manager is constantly looking at ways of improving the service and outcomes for young people and staff. A display of snapshots of the young people‟s activities and behaviour is being created with the young people, who have decided on the pictures and language to be used. This is a prompt for staff on how to respond to young people in different ways and situations, and is improving ownership of possible sanctions and acceptance of them. Young people speak very highly of the staff and the support they receive. One young person said, „Without the staff, I wouldn‟t be where I am now.‟ This young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person is now a confident, articulate young person who recently successfully challenged the child and adolescent mental health team (CAHMS) about why his medication should not be increased. This was despite a request from family for this to take place. Staff are proud of the way the young person composed his argument and how he presented this to the CAHMS team. This is something he has previously been unable to do. Another young person is looking forward to moving into her own home in the summer. She said staff are supporting her well, especially when things start to get „too much‟. This young person has made some difficult decisions in recent months about contact with her birth family. However, she made a mature, informed decision about what and who she wants in her life. She said staff have been there for her throughout this. She is excited to be starting work experience at her former school as teaching support staff. She has undertaken trial interviews with the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

registered manager and deputy and they scored her answers. They are also helping her to complete her application forms. She smiles as she explains that they were „brutal‟ as they went through the application and told her what was wrong. However, she acknowledged that this helped her to think about what she was saying and how. Young people are delighted to be helping the registered manager create a training package. They told visitors what they are doing and thought that it is good, because it is about what they want from Ofsted and the inspectors. One young person said, „It‟s important that “they” know about us.‟ Staff and the registered manager said that this has increased their insight into young people‟s opinions by learning new things about the young people; this includes how they interpret language, such as somebody being enthusiastic and what it looks like for the young people. The young people enjoy very positive trusting relationships with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are lots of appropriate banter exchanged. The young people laugh in delight as they measure themselves up against the inspector and realise that they now all tower over her. Other young people continue to make excellent progress in relation to their respective starting points. Some are much more confident in talking about how they are feeling and in seeking the support of staff. This has resulted in a significant decrease in interventions. Another young person is now able to cope with having curtains up in his room and is slowly allowing other items to be left in there. For one young person, there has seen a decrease in the number of „complaints‟ he wishes to make. Staff continue to log his concerns and provide him with a clear outcome. Young people are becoming much more independent and have a greater understanding of a variety of life skills, such as saving their allowances and showing empathy for others. One young person is delighted with his new drum kit.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

He proudly explained how he saved up for this and staff helped him to go to purchase it. He said it can get loud, but he uses headphones to minimise the noise in the house.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and support for six young people who have learning disabilities. The home is one of several owned and managed by a limited company.

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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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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 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 recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person reviews the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 64, paragraph 15.1) In particular, that the changes to the home location risk assessment are formalised.

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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 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

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

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

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