Children's home run by Warrington Borough Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 1 SC442777 Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A local authority runs the children’s home. It offers short residential stays to a maximum of three young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are acquiring new skills and experiences because of the exceptional quality of care that they receive from staff when they attend this short-breaks service.  Staff place high priority on obtaining young people’s views and actively support them to make choices in their lives using their chosen means of communication. This means that young people are fully involved in decisions relating to their care.  Staff work creatively to ensure that young people access a wide range of activities and experiences based on young people’s expressed views.  Parents and professionals cannot talk highly enough of this service. A number of parents commented that ‘staff genuinely care’ about the young people they are looking after.  Young people are safe in this home due to the effective management of risk.  The management team members are proactive and inspirational, constantly looking for innovative ways to improve the experiences of the young people

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The quality of the independent visitor reports are variable, which limits their effectiveness at identifying areas for improvement of the service, nor do they provide sufficient evaluation of safeguarding practice in the home.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/07/2016 Full Outstanding 17/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/12/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 3

p.2

Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that the independent person they appoint has the skills and understanding necessary to relate to children in a home’s care and assess all relevant information. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.8)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The care that young people receive is exceptional in this home. Staff know young people well. They plan their care well so that the time that young people spend in the home is individualised and meaningful. There is evidence of research-led practice, for example how staff set achievable targets for the young people. In addition, there is a clear link between young people’s care plans and the work that staff are doing with young people to meet their needs. This approach to care planning has resulted in sustained improvements to lives of young people who have complex and challenging needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are acquiring new skills and experiences because of the care that they receive from staff at this short-breaks service. Staff are proactive in encouraging young people to take part in activities during their stay at the home. There is an abundance of evidence of young people engaging in a wide range of activities. This includes playing squash, going crabbing at the seaside, and outings to The Blue Planet Aquarium and visits to a local fire station. A local artist comes to the home to do artwork with the young people, and there are examples of this work around the home. Staff document the activities that young people enjoy. There are many photographs in the home of young people trying different activities. There is a large photo book kept in the living room area. This is a reminder to young people of the activities that they have attended or to show activities that they would like to try in the future. As a result, young people

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

access new activities and experiences when they attend their short-break stay.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff know young people exceptionally well. Young people love coming into the home, and feedback from parents is consistently positive about the level of care provided by the staff. One parent reported, ‘They are brilliant. I am very fussy. I know I don’t have to worry, it’s only two nights a month I don’t have to worry, they know him that well, they will even sort out his PE kit for tomorrow.’ Another parent commented, ‘What they offer is on point. It is like he has gone to a family. They [staff members] genuinely care.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A real strength of the home is the staff members’ proactive and creative approach to supporting young people to make choices. Staff excel at ensuring that young people actively take part in day-to-day decisions about their lives. Staff use a wide range of Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 4 communication systems with young people to ensure that they have choices in all aspects of their care, from food choices to activities that they would like to try. Staff are continually thinking of new ways to ensure that young people’s views are integral to the running of the home. For example, they have started to include young people in setting their own agenda for young people’s meetings and the staff ensure that there are symbols on the walls of the home so that young people can access these if, for example, they want a drink, rather than having to wait for staff to offer this. This ensures that young people are listened to about their care and have every opportunity to express

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff ensure that they meet young people’s, sometimes complex, health needs. Staff have undertaken training specific to the needs of the young people accessing the service, including training in buccal midazolam, asthma, gastrostomy, suction and paediatric first aid. Staff work well with health professionals, such as specialist nurses and the visual impairment team, to ensure that they understand young people’s individual health needs. Staff administer medication correctly by following the medication procedure and, as a result, there have been no medication errors in this home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transitions are child focused and take place at a young person’s pace. Staff meticulously plan for when a new young person starts to use the service, through attending meetings to gather information, observation at school and teatime visits. Staff make young people feel welcome when they arrive in the home. Staff support young people with transitions from home to school and to the short-break service by utilising symbols to help young people understand what is happening in their day. As a result, young people settle well and like staying in the home. Parents feel reassured that their children are being well looked after and are safe. A parent said that ‘Westland completely understand [name of young person] and his needs; he has settled into his overnight stay with no problem and it has become part of his routine that he looks forward to.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work creatively to help young people develop independence skills. This work is identified in young people’ s care plans and includes staff supporting young people to become more independent in their self-care skills or teaching them skills such as paying for a bus or road safety when they are out in the community. Parents give positive feedback about the impact of this work, and one parent said, ‘[Name of young person] is much better at sitting at the table and eating. He is using a knife and fork. They [staff] have spent time with him on this. It’s something we haven’t been able to conquer. He has improved in confidence and independence; we have noticed a real change.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are aware of the importance of the role of short breaks in developing social opportunities for young people who have a disability. They carefully match the young people who are attending the service. At the same time, discussions take place with the young people about which other young people they would like to spend time with. There is a picture of a tree in the hall of the home with pictures of staff and young people. Staff utilise this when young people arrive so that they can identify other young people they go to school with. One parent said, ‘[Name of young person] is now able to tolerate his peers and is slowly learning to interact with them more, which is a huge step for him.’ Consequently, young people have the opportunity to develop social relationships Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 5 with their peers.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff ensure that the complaints process is accessible to young people by making sure that it is visible in the home and is in a pictorial format. Staff spend time with young people helping them understand the complaints process to ensure that young people know how to complain. Staff ensure that regular young people’s meetings take place. Staff undertake well-planned and creative work with young people in these meetings to capture their views in a meaningful way. This work has an impact on young people, as staff take action about all views expressed. The impact of this is highlighted by an independent reviewing officer, who said, ‘[Name of young person] told me he enjoys attending Westland, and that his previous complaint about the poor Wi-Fi reception at Westland has now been sorted to his satisfaction. He is able to express his views very well, and, if he had any issues about his stay at Westland, I am confident he would raise

p.5

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

Young people are safe in the home due to a high level of staffing and highly effective risk management plans. Staff have a good understanding of young people’s individual risks and vulnerabilities, and there is clear written guidance for staff to follow to minimise any known risks. Staff diligently follow these plans to ensure that young people are safe. Young people do not go missing, due to a high level of staffing. Staff are clear about what actions to take should a young person go missing.

p.5

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

There has been no restraint used since the last inspection, demonstrating staff members’ skill at de-escalation and managing challenging behaviour. Staff know young people well and effectively manage behaviours in line with young people’s behaviour plans, which identify individual triggers and the best strategies for staff to use. This consistent approach has had a significant impact for some young people. A social worker said, ‘Staff at Westland really understand how to calm [name of young person] and how to prevent his behaviour from escalating. At the last core group, this had progressed so much that management at Westland were considering risk assessing [name of young person] for 1:1 support, a huge breakthrough for him.’ Staff go to great lengths to ensure that they are consistent in their approach with young people. For example, all staff have recently undertaken training in Team-Teach; this is the model identified as

p.5

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

being the most effective in managing young people’s behaviour.

p.5

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

There have been no allegations or complaints made since the last inspection, and staff know what action to take should any safeguarding concerns arise. Staff have a good understanding of the particular vulnerability of children and young people who have a disability and work creatively with young people to equip them with the skills that they need to keep themselves safe. For example, there are pictorial symbols in the home of the ‘my underpants rule’, which is a rule that staff routinely go through with young people to help keep them safe. For one young person who has started to access the internet, staff have completed direct work with him aimed at his level of understanding to help keep him safe online. Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 6 Staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding issues, such as child sexual exploitation (CSE), and use appropriate screening tools for each young person to assess

p.5

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

risk. The registered manager has developed good links with the local CSE service to make screening tools and referrals more accessible and specific to the young people. Staff have worked well with professionals when young people are subject to a child protection plan. One social worker said, ‘In regards to [name of young person], staff attend child protection meetings and contribute to the plan so that [name of young person] has positive outcomes and they demonstrate effectiveness in multi-agency working.’

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2011 and is suitably qualified for the role. An experienced and knowledgeable assistant manager supports the registered manager well. They have an excellent understanding of the progress that young people make and are influential in the continued improvements in the home. They are both proactive champions for young people who have a disability, working hard to make links in the local area and finding innovative and creative ways to improve the experiences of the young people who access the service continuously.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a stable, committed and enthusiastic staff team in place. They have the relevant skills and experience to meet the complex needs of the young people they care for. Staff like working in the home and feel well supported in their roles. One staff member said, ‘I love my job, it’s a great team to be part of. I can, hand on heart, say that everyone wants the best for children and it’s a great place to work.’ Staff receive regular supervision, which is reflective and linked to practice. This not only ensures professional development but also ensures that the home is meeting its aims and objectives set out in the statement of purpose.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager places high priority on the professional development of her team through training and regular team briefs. For example, some staff members are undertaking the Team-Teach trainer training; other staff members are given responsibility for specific roles in the home, such as arranging children’s meetings. Staff are all up to date with mandatory training and receive training specific to the young people’s individual needs. For example, a specialist teacher for young people who have a visual impairment attended a team briefing to increase the staff members’ understanding of a young person’s specific needs. A worker from the local child sexual exploitation team said, ‘Claire [the manager] is very focused on staff getting the best training opportunities.’ The worker also commented about how engaged the home’s staff are when they attend training sessions.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A key strength of the home is effective communication between staff, parents and professionals. This ensures consistency for young people across all areas of their lives. Feedback from professionals and parents is consistently positive about how the home communicates with them. One headteacher said, ‘They [staff members] communicate very well by email, face to face, and they attend child in need meetings and annual Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 7 reviews. They will ask for education plans and statements, and we have a very good relationship for the benefit of the pupils.’ A parent said of their child, ‘The staff are fantastic at communicating. They send home a report book which lets us know how and if he has slept.’ Staff advocate effectively for the young people who access the service and provide ongoing support to the parents of young people. One parent said, ‘When I lost transport, they were brilliant. Usually I drop him off, [but] they came to my home to

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager constantly strives to make links in the local area that will enrich the experiences and progress of young people and their families. The registered manager and staff have been involved in a disability awareness day and have made links with local resources, such as the local play and sensory hub. The management team is continually looking at ways to improve the service and is currently seeking accreditation for the home with the National Autistic Society.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has completed a robust working development plan, with specific actions for the service and clear evidence of the progress of these actions. This ensures the continuous development of the service. The registered manager makes use of internal monitoring systems. Managers conduct monthly audits and have systems in place to ensure that they observe staff practice. This includes checking when staff are administering medication, and observing direct work with young people. However, the independent visitor reports are not consistently evaluative. This limits their usefulness as an external monitoring system. This is an area for improvement across the organisation, which the manager is aware of and which the organisation are addressing.

p.7

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, 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.

p.7

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: SC442777 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Children’s Services Directorate, New Town House, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 2NJ

p.8

Inspector

Sarah Billett, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC442777 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9