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

Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 1 SC040982 Registered provider: Wigan Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide short breaks for five young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home is operated by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The staff team is very experienced, highly qualified and competent in providing high-quality, consistent care and enjoyable experiences for children and young people.  Young people are supported to enjoy a wide range of positive activities and social opportunities.  The service is extremely well managed. Leaders are inspiring and dedicated to supporting the team to continuously improve and enhance the experiences and achieve exceptional outcomes for young people.  Young people who have complex healthcare needs and disabilities are able to access a wide range of community resources.  The staff team successfully uses a multitude of innovative methods to communicate with children and young people who are unable to verbalise their wishes and feelings.  Staff are highly proactive and work in partnership with other agencies to safeguard young people. The service provides vital support to families to prevent young people from becoming looked after full time by the local

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Key findings from this inspection

authority.  Highly effective care plans, detailed individual risk assessments and behaviour support strategies ensure that staff follow very comprehensive guidance and meet the needs of each child and young person extremely well.  Young people, their families and social workers have provided exceptionally positive feedback about this service.

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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

 The independent visitor to the home does not routinely consult with children and young people, or their carers and relatives, to inform this vital external monitoring process.  The majority of the large staffing team is female. Some young people may benefit from having male role models.  Due to their significant care needs, young people are not free to leave the home or the supervision of staff. Consideration should be given to apply for formal deprivation of liberty arrangements for young people over the age of 16. Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/11/2016 Full Outstanding 16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/10/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 4

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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

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person – if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a)) 31/10/2017

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Recommendations

 A deprivation of liberty may occur where a child is both under continuous supervision and control and is not free to leave the home. A children’s home cannot routinely deprive a child of their liberty without a court order, such as a section 25 order to place a child in a licensed secure children’s home, or, in the case of young people aged over 16 who lack mental capacity, a deprivation of liberty may be authorised by the court of protection following an application under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.63)

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Recommendations

 Wherever possible, staff in day-to-day contact with children should include staff from the different gender groups. Where the home’s statement of purpose makes it explicit that that the home uses staff of one sex only, clear guidance will need to be put in place and followed as to how children are enabled to maintain relationships with people of a different gender. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22) Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff at the home provide a short-break service that currently cares for 44 young people and provides support to their families. The manager assesses each referral made to the service and carefully considers the risks, impact, and influence that young people may have on each other, to ensure that each child has a positive experience at the home. Any admissions are extensively planned with the family and other professionals to create an individual plan that comprehensively addresses the young person’s needs. When young people leave the service, the staff ensure that this is sensitively planned. Young people’s achievements and experiences are celebrated to ensure that it is a positive ending. The service works closely with other agencies to enable them to plan appropriate adult provision tailored to the individual preferences and needs of young people. Some young people have been supported by the service through difficult

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

transitions in their own lives, such as bereavement and separation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are at the centre of the service. One young person said, ‘It’s amazing here, I love chilling out.’ Staff seek their views on the activities provided and their day- to-day care experiences through regular questionnaires and house meetings. The format is adapted to suit each individual’s communicative preferences. The service is highly innovative, and staff use a variety of research-based methods of communicating with young people. All of the questionnaires contain very positive reviews of the service. The young people staying at the time of the inspection appeared happy, relaxed and completely at ease with the staff and in their environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help young people to develop social skills, independence and to increase their emotional well-being. One social worker said, ‘The children love going there, and for them it’s a social opportunity.’ Another social worker said, ‘Staff are always encouraging and it’s a very positive environment. We get a lot of positive feedback from families and young people.’ Many young people achieve positive outcomes across all aspects of their development. This enhances their life chances and reduces the risk of them being admitted into full-time care. The service is highly innovative and will seek to fill gaps in provision and meet any emerging unmet needs that families have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide a variety of positive activities to help build close and trusted bonds with young people. They know the young people extremely well. Inside the home, young people take part in nurturing activities, such as baking, arts and crafts, and playing games. Staff provide social experiences for young people, such as going on day trips, accessing sensory play centres and local parks. The careful matching process of groups ensures that young people’s ability to socialise and communicate with others is optimised. Some young people have made excellent progress in their ability to communicate. This all contributes to young people having an increased sense of self- worth and belonging and improves their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people who have highly complex healthcare needs are cared for effectively and in line with their individual healthcare plans. Medication arrangements have been revised Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 6 following previous inspections and ensure the safe storage and administration of all medicines. A new medication room has been created and all staff have had appropriate training. Additional support is sourced from specialist healthcare professionals when required. Staff provide a healthy and balanced menu for young people and encourage them to be active as much as possible, dependent on their mobility needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Although young people do not reside permanently at the home, staff promote good educational outcomes. Young people are supported to prepare and dress appropriately for school. The manager is exploring ways that the service can offer additional qualifications and awards but is mindful of the main aims of the service, which are to provide short breaks for children, young people and their families, arrange social opportunities and broaden the experiences of young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make exceptional progress in developing skills for independence. This is one of the core aims of the service for many children. Young people are encouraged to learn skills to provide self-care and to prepare basic meals, wherever possible. Staff support young people to access local amenities, go on trips and outings. Staff ensure that any cultural and religious needs are accommodated sensitively. They cater appropriately for young people who have dietary requirements. One young person has a specialist diet due to allergies and sensitivities, and staff ensure that this is catered for without limiting his choices unnecessarily.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work very hard to strengthen relationships in families to improve the experience that children and young people have in their home environment. They work hard to reassure parents when young people come to stay. One parent said, ‘It’s a wonderful service and the staff are excellent.’ Another said, ‘I am so glad we have this service, it makes a really big difference. It’s a godsend for families of children with complex needs.’ A social worker said, ‘We see some really positive outcomes. We had a family on the verge of breakdown and we have already noticed an improvement.’

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

There have been no serious incidents, safeguarding matters, allegations or complaints since the last inspection. Supervision levels agreed with social workers and families are high, due to the significant care needs of young people. Some young people are over the age of 16 and are not free to leave the home. These arrangements have not yet been authorised through formal judicial applications. The manager is aware of this area of development and is currently working with social workers to address this. Therefore, a recommendation is made to resolve this matter. Staff are effectively trained in safeguarding procedures and understand how to raise a concern if necessary.

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

Young people have highly individualised behaviour management plans to ensure that staff have clear strategies to manage any challenging behaviour. Staff have had recent training in effective distraction and diffusion strategies when young people display heightened behaviour. Staff provide consistent and well-coordinated responses to young people to help them reduce their anxieties and frustration. As a result of their highly Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 7 competent practice, there have been no incidents of physical restraint in the home since 2011. This is an exceptional achievement.

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

Staff have recently provided some young people with research-based education about internet safety and developing and maintaining healthy relationships. This has been delivered in an innovative manner that is compatible with each young person’s individual communicative preferences and cognitive ability. The manager of the service attends a variety of multi-agency forums that seek to address the safety needs of young people who are considered to be in need or at risk of harm. Young people are supported to become increasingly safe and there has been outstanding progress in this area.

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

The staff team is highly evaluative in its approach. After each shift, the team has a reflective practice session to ensure that trends are noted and practice is altered to reflect the evolving needs of young people in the staff’s care. Risk management is excellent, and staff are very knowledgeable about the young people in their care. They encourage young people to participate in all activities, ensuring a careful balance of young people being afforded sufficient freedom without compromising their safety.

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

Young people confirm that they feel safe at the home. Parents and the placing authority’s social workers agree. The physical environment in the home is risk assessed regularly and is well maintained. All manual handling equipment is serviced frequently. Appropriate consideration is given to fire safety, and regular drills are held to ensure that staff and young people are familiar with the evacuation procedure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The setting is managed by a highly competent, inspiring and child-centred leader who has a wealth of experience in caring for young people who have complex needs and disabilities. She is suitably qualified and is supported by two experienced and knowledgeable deputy managers. They successfully lead a consistent team of dedicated staff who have considerable relevant experience of caring for young people. The team is mainly female. Some young people may benefit from the influence of a positive male role model in their lives. The manager is already aware of this, but a recommendation is made to consider ways to address the gender balance of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have a thorough oversight of care practice in the home and a detailed understanding of the individual care needs of young people. They have very high expectations with regard to the level of care and support that young people receive and, because of this, the staff are motivated and inspired to help young people to achieve their full potential. The manager has instilled a culture of reflective practice across the team. She carries out monthly audits of all the records and uses a wide range of feedback obtained from families, young people and partners to drive continuous improvement of the service offered. The independent visitor to the home does not always seek feedback from young people or other stakeholders. A requirement is made to address this shortfall. This has not yet impacted on the service provided to young people as feedback is sought in many other ways. Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 8

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from a comprehensive training programme. Coupled with supervision and other support structures, this equips them to meet the complex care needs of the young people at the home. Care planning is highly individualised and subject to regular review and appropriate revision. As a result, young people are making exceptional progress across all aspects of their development. One parent said, ‘I look back and realise how much it’s helped him grow into the independent young man he is today. I really can’t thank them enough for that. They do an amazing job and I’ve never had to worry about [the young person] being well cared for.’ The setting is achieving and exceeding the aims and objectives as defined within the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The setting works very well in partnership with other professionals. One social worker said, ‘Our team and the staff at the home have an excellent relationship and we liaise regularly.’ Another social worker provided a highly positive review:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

‘[The home’s name] is an excellent setting and provides safe and positive respite for children with additional needs. The children are encouraged to engage in appropriate activities and during reviews the children’s feedback from completed questionnaires is positive. The staff at the home encourage the children to further their independence skills, social skills and confidence. The children are included in decision making as much as possible. All the children are treated as individuals and the insight and understanding the staff have of the children’s needs is excellent. Parents feel confident and assured that their children are safe and all their needs will be met appropriately during their stay’.

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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 differences 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: SC040982 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, Town Hall, Library Street Wigan WN1 1YN

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Inspectors

Nicola Thomas, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC040982 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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