Children's home run by City of Wolverhampton Council

Inspection report children's home: SC378153 1 SC378153 Registered provider: Wolverhampton City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered for up to six young people who stay at the home for a short break. The home is managed by a local authority and accepts young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children's home: SC378153 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are very well cared for during their short breaks by motivated, caring and supportive staff.  Staff prioritise young people’s safety.  Managers constantly strive to extend and improve the service.  Managers and staff warmly welcome new young people and their families to the home.  Managers carefully plan short breaks, and prioritise the needs and compatibility of young people.  Managers work well with families, carers and professionals for young people’s benefit.  Young people enjoy a variety of activities and have an enjoyable day-to-day life during their short break.  Feedback from most young people, parents, carers and professionals is extremely positive.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Some young people do not feel consulted about activities.  Managers and staff do not always ascertain young people’s views and wishes or include these in service delivery.  Some staff felt that they would benefit from additional training in meeting young people’s mental health needs, in understanding the impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse on young people, and in working closely with education providers to improve the outcomes for young people.  Staff do not always consider healthier options for young people when they go out for meals in the community.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 28/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/05/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC378153 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who take their views , wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7(1)(c)) 29/09/2017

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) In particular, include young people’s views in their risk assessments and behaviour management plans, and include evaluation of one-to-one sessions.  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11). In particular, ensure that staff have received mental health training, training about the impact of parental drugs and alcohol use on young people, and in understanding and working with

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Recommendations

education providers to benefit outcomes for young people.  Ensure staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary, work to change negative behaviours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 35, paragraph 7.18). In particular, staff should promote a healthy diet when young people are having treats out in the community. Inspection report children's home: SC378153 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are positive about their short breaks at the home. One said to the inspector that ‘This is like my second home. I love coming here.’ Care is highly individualised, and the relationships between staff and young people are very good. This encourages young people to talk to staff about any worries or concerns that they have and to receive appropriate help and support. Emotional well-being has a high profile, and staff observe young people’s presentation, including considering the reasons for any heightened or over-excited behaviour. A social worker commented, ‘Coming to the home for a short break has made a big difference to her self-esteem and confidence.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people value the service that they receive, and talk about the various activities that they undertake. Young people have a well-resourced games room and education room where they can play snooker or board games, and play games on the computer or undertake school and college work, when necessary. Staff arrange frequent trips, which include swimming, bowling and Laser Quest.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s introduction to the short-breaks service is well organised and planned. Managers carefully consider all aspects of young people’s compatibility with each other. Managers ensure that the service is flexible. For example, managers change young people’s short-break dates if there are clashes between young people. Young people visit the home with their parents or carers before starting their short breaks so that they can be sure that the service suits them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most young people attend school or college. Managers are developing ways of forging stronger links with education providers, with the aim of improving young people’s educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote young people’s health needs. Nurses visit the home and offer young people advice about many aspects of healthcare, including contraception, healthy lifestyles and safety. Young people value the service, and one young person told the inspector: ‘It can be helpful to talk about things, and learn things I did not know. I know that I can see the nurse again here if I want to.’ Health professionals are enthusiastic about the services provided to young people at the home. Some feel that young people’s access to fast food at the home had decreased, resulting in healthier choices. However, staff do not promote this good practice when out in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most young people said that staff listen to their views and opinions, although a few expressed disappointment that activities did not happen as they had expected. A few young people said that staff did not always inform them about the reasons for activities not happening or changing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people told the inspector that they enjoy spending time with staff. They said that they like having one-to-one discussions with staff on topics such as safety and relationships with friends and families. They said that they found them helpful. Others Inspection report children's home: SC378153 5 said that they would value the chance to have meetings with peers and staff, as these do not currently take place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspection found that the records of one-to-one sessions with young people are variable. Staff record some of the sessions well and include young people’s views and comments. However, other session records lack a brief evaluation or an analysis of areas to follow up, which may be of benefit to the young person. In addition, some records, such as behaviour management plans, risk assessments and journey books, do not always record young people’s views and opinions. This is a missed opportunity to capture the young person’s voice.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff help young people who present with high levels of risk-taking behaviour to become safer, due to the help and support that they receive during their short break. Since the last inspection, the service offered to young people has developed. A variety of professionals visit the home to offer help and support to young people, and young people can attend different groups. Staff and other professionals talk to young people about health and safety topics, including sexual exploitation, drug and alcohol misuse, and safe internet use. Young people’s knowledge and understanding of potential risks grow, and they develop strategies to stay safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff promptly challenge unsafe situations. For example, they challenged a car driver who tried to collect a young person from the home, and they reported the incident to police and other professionals. Staff worked with the young person to promote their safety and help them to understand the risks involved. One young person told the inspector: ‘It is such a good place to be. Such a safe house.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A small number of young people have gone missing from the home during their short break. Staff look for them in known locations, updating the details of the people and the places that young people go to, for future use. Staff liaise with police, professionals and families to try to locate the young person. Because of these measures, all young people have returned safely. Following their return to the home, an independent person interviews them. This gives young people the opportunity to discuss with someone from outside the home any worries or concerns that they may have.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people develop positive, trusting relationships with staff and each other. Staff have a calm, consistent approach towards managing young people’s behaviour. Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of physical intervention. Staff work well together to de-escalate potentially difficult situations. This helps young people to enjoy a calm atmosphere at the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Managers and staff keep families and professionals updated on young people’s progress. A relative commented: ‘Staff ring me if there are any problems. I can rest assured that he is safe and well there.’ A social worker commented,’ Staff are brilliant at sharing intelligence to ensure the safety of young people at risk.’ Inspection report children's home: SC378153 6 Managers carefully vet new staff to ensure that they are suitable to work with vulnerable young people. Employment checks include references, identification, a disclosure and barring service check, and an analysis of past work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an experienced professional who is appropriately qualified. He has a national vocational qualification level 4 in managing residential childcare services. The registered manager has high aspirations for all young people in his care. He motivates staff to promote a good standard of care for young people using the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people’s progress is the focus of the home. Since the last inspection, managers have developed the short-break service. Managers use various tools to evaluate the impact that the service has on young people’s outcomes. This allows them to identify areas for further development, such as promoting healthy lifestyles and countering gang affiliation. The registered manager works with the independent visitor, and welcomes scrutiny and suggestions to improve the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands the areas of strength and areas of development for the service. The latter include extending the services offered to young people to improve their understanding of sexual exploitation. Managers are looking at ways to develop communication with schools and colleges to improve young people’s educational outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose is clear and reflects the service currently offered to young people. It defines the service offered by staff at the home, and describes how managers and staff will achieve the aims and objectives of the short-break provision. Consequently, young people and their families, carers and professionals understand how staff will meet young people’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Social workers are positive about the difference that the short breaks make to young people. One said: ‘It is such a positive service. The young people have a really good time and benefit from the nurturing care from staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is high. Staff complete a range of training and are knowledgeable about safeguarding matters. All staff have received training about many areas of safeguarding practice, including anti-radicalisation. However, some staff told the inspector that they would like additional training to increase their knowledge and skills. This includes training in mental health, the impact of parental drug and alcohol misuse on young people, and working with education professionals to improve young people’s outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have a diploma level 3 in caring for children and young people in residential care, or an equivalent qualification. Staff receive good support from managers through regular supervision and annual appraisals. Managers monitor staff performance and development, identifying staff development needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and families are highly complimentary about the communication that they Inspection report children's home: SC378153 7 have with managers and staff of the home. A social worker said, ‘Staff let me know straight away if there are any difficulties.’ A relative said: ‘Staff are always in touch. They try to help as much as they can.’

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children's home: SC378153 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1RT

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Inspector

Julia Wright, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC378153 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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