Children's home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 1 SC034162 Registered provider: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority service is registered to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of seven children and young people aged between eight and 17 years. Young people have a range of learning disabilities, complex healthcare needs and associated physical disabilities. Children and young people attend on a shared-care basis.

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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 good

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outstanding

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

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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

 Children and young people receive high-quality care from a dedicated and enthusiastic staff team. Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 2  Children and young people have excellent opportunities to experience a full range of fun activities, regardless of their disabilities.  Parents place high value on the support and guidance that they and their children receive.  Excellent working relationships between staff, professionals and parents ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people.  The staff are well supported and motivated to help children and young people make progress. They are led by an equally enthusiastic and dedicated manager.  The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She endeavours to provide an outstanding service for children and young people.

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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

 Continue to pay close attention to the administration of medicine in order to avoid errors.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/11/2016 Full Outstanding 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/01/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. In particular the registered person must ensure that— medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child (Regulation 23(1) and (2)(b)). In particular, when administering medication in order to avoid errors with dosage. 09/03/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is an extended terraced house located in a quiet community. It is suitably equipped and provides a safe environment for children and young people who have disabilities. Staff make every effort to make the home feel homely. Pictures of children and young people engaged in activities and events adorn the walls. This makes the home feel warm and cosy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Health and education needs remain the responsibility of parents. Staff constantly promote high-quality partnership working and make a considerable effort to work together with parents. At times, this is compromised. For example, correct medication is not always sent with children and young people by parents. This means that the staff’s time can be consumed with obtaining the necessary medication to provide safe care. Staff provide support for parents who are attending important meetings. This ensures that children and young people receive important services, and provides staff with vital information. A parent said, ‘They [staff] are brilliant. I could not cope without them, my life has changed so much since receiving this support. [Name of young person] has made such great progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people have the opportunity to experience a wide range of activities. Thoughtful planning means that, regardless of disability, they are included. For example, the majority of young people attend a local youth club, go horse riding and enjoy swimming. Children and young people have also attended a rock concert at a large venue. In addition, children and young people enjoy yearly residential holidays away Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 4 together. For some children this is their only opportunity to experience a trip away. The staff and young people regularly arrange charity events to raise money for other children. Children and young people develop their social skills and a level of independence. As a result, one young person has secured regular work experience at a local fast-food establishment. There is potential for him to gain employment when he finishes his education. He is rightfully extremely proud of his achievements. The young

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

person said, ‘[Staff] are great, they’ve helped me so much, I love coming here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The happiness of children and young people is paramount to the staff. Children and young people have excellent relationships with their carers. Staff have a vast knowledge of communication methods. They consistently use research-based models to gain the views of children and young people. Due to the relationships they have built, the staff are able to empower children and young people to have their say. Their disabilities are not seen as a barrier.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A thorough matching process ensures that children and young people staying here get on well together. Staff know the children and young people from local services. The majority of young people already know one another. Staff have the opportunity to observe them in other settings and, as a result, they are able to match the personalities and the needs of children and young people. There are good-quality relationships with staff at other homes, which means that information remains current.

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

There is a strong safeguarding culture and staff are highly skilled at identifying risk. Improvements have been made to risk assessments, which means that staff are clear about potential and emerging risk. Their knowledge and understanding are robust and children and young people benefit from individual and bespoke care. High-level supervision is balanced with some autonomy, which means that children and young people can safely explore their environment with support. Children and young people enjoy activities and events without feeling restricted. As a result of the high staffing ratio, children and young people do not go missing.

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

No concerns have been raised about the safeguarding ability of staff; child safety is paramount to them. Staff raise any safeguarding concerns immediately and have no hesitation in discussing concerns with professionals and parents. As a result, children and young people in their care receive consistent protection.

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

Children and young people develop and maintain excellent trusting relationships with staff. Children and young people at this home can present with unpredictable and aggressive behaviour. Staff are successful when using de-escalation and distraction techniques, and are skilled at defusing volatile situations. This enables the staff to calm children and young people effectively. As a result of the relationships between the staff and the children and young people, physical intervention is kept to a minimum. When used, the intervention is low level, and is used correctly. Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 5 Children and young people are not exposed to risks associated with child sexual exploitation or radicalisation. Staff remain vigilant to risks in the community, and appropriately risk assess activities. Staff promote and support independence with the most able young people. Discussions around keeping safe are delivered at an

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

appropriate level of understanding for each young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered since January 2009. She holds an appropriate management qualification. Added to this, the manager has considerable experience in working with children and young people. She is child focused and passionate about providing the best care possible. The manager inspires her staff team to achieve the same goals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Three errors in medication administration have occurred during this inspection period. The procedure for the administration of medicine is not always followed. However, when this happened medical advice has been taken immediately and no harm has come to any child. A thorough investigation completed by the manager highlighted changes that need to be made. Staff involved in this were open and honest about their mistakes. Retraining has been completed and a further tier for checking medication is now in place. The manager focuses on learning from errors; she does not support a ‘blame’ culture. As a result of a breach in regulation, a requirement has been made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The local authority is currently involved in a service review. This also impacts on this shared care service. The manager has remained positive throughout this process to keep staff morale high. As a result, there has been no impact on children and young people and the staff team has remained upbeat and relaxed. Regardless of some staffing vacancies, the same high-level service is consistently delivered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service. She completes a comprehensive evaluation of the service regularly, and is open and transparent. The manager provides achievable action plans to address any areas of weakness. In addition, the service receives support from an independent visitor who provides monthly feedback. This is used effectively to develop the service for children and young people. The recommendation made at the last inspection has been met to a high standard. This further demonstrates the manager’s ability to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is long standing. Many of the staff have been with the service for several years. Staff are positive and enthusiastic about the manager and the service. They are supported daily and say the manager and assistant managers are accessible and approachable. Staff enjoy their job. Their primary goal is to help children and young people to have the best experience. A staff member said, ‘We have great support here, I can always talk to management, even on weekends, they’re always there for us. It’s a great place to work, I love seeing the kids progress.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 6 Staff receive regular formal and informal supervision from managers. There has been a significant improvement in the recording of supervision. The manager has taken advice on board, and now demonstrates reflective practice in the records. Staff have the opportunity to analyse and improve their practice within a supportive environment. In

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

turn, this means that children and young people continue to receive high-quality care.

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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: SC034162 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, County Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2QW

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Inspector

Abigail Maspero: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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