Children's home run by Young Foundations Limited in Wirral

Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 1 SC068410 Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide for six young people who have mental health and learning difficulties. Young people may stay after the age of 18 to complete their education. The home is one of two operated nationally by a private organisation. A DfE- registered school also operates on the site, in a separate building. Some young people may attend this school.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 February 2018

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 good

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

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2017

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make significant progress, beyond all expectations.  Young people are very positive about their relationships with staff and their experiences of living in the home.  Staff work extremely hard to secure the full engagement of other agencies to keep young people safe.  All young people have excellent school attendance and make exceptional academic progress from their starting points.  The registered manager’s enthusiasm is key to the significant progress that young people make.  The staff team’s approach to behaviour management and developing young people’s emotional resilience is exceptional.  Young people benefit from a structured approach and clear boundaries that help to give them a strong sense of security.  Child-focused and perceptive staff provide young people with excellent care so that their individual needs are met.  Staff are ambitious for young people and seek out all opportunities for them to

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

develop skills and interests.  Staff use clinical support and research-based practice to help them communicate with and provide strong support to young people.  Vulnerable young people become increasingly safe in their placements.  Highly trained staff work closely with young people to understand how to keep young people safe. Staff skilfully involve young people to help them find their own solutions to managing risk.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The current system in place to record physical interventions could be enhanced to promote and review what is effective.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/07/2016 Full Outstanding 24/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 3

p.2

Recommendation

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make excellent progress. They feel valued and play an integral role in making decisions about their care and their future. In addition, they thrive and experience a strong sense of belonging and immense pride about where they live.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have excellent relationships with young people. One young person who recently left the home sent a letter to the staff in which she said, ‘Thank you for dedicating the time to care for me and allowing me to flourish, grow and excel.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The high level of staff support encourages young people’s educational progress. As a result, young people exceed their own expectations in education. For example, one young person, who had missed a significant period of schooling prior to his placement, is now on course to achieve GCSE grades. Staff understand the impact of each individual’s special educational needs, and work closely with teachers to make sure that every young person is making steady progress and, most importantly, is enjoying school. Another young person is proud of their success: Prior to (name of home) I was out of education for a few years, which left me with no confidence in my ability to engage at school again. I am now engaging at school and have had 92% attendance. I consistently received excellent feedback from teachers who are impressed with my commitment and progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s self-esteem grows. Positive relationships with staff help them to become more confident and develop their social skills. Young people make good friends in their local community. This is an extremely special achievement for a young person who previously found making and maintaining friendships particularly challenging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people develop emotional resilience and improve their mental health by accessing integrated therapeutic support. Staff work collaboratively with the clinical team to ensure that young people have every opportunity to develop. A psychiatrist said: I think that the care and support that is given to the young people is truly amazing, and seeing a young person achieve and develop gives great job Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 4 satisfaction in knowing we make a difference. We have to continuously stay focused always on the young people.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The clinicians meet weekly with the young people. Each intervention focuses on helping young people build positive strategies for managing and enjoying their lives. This means that young people receive the specialist support they need to understand their difficulties and to learn new ways of making safer decisions. As a direct consequence, they develop coping skills to manage their anxiety, and behaviours such as self-harming decrease.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff insight into the impact of childhood neglect promotes good, focused healthcare support. The perseverance and encouragement that staff offer help young people to improve their personal hygiene and to understand the need for good dental care and a healthy diet.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

As young people get older, the staff encourage them to take on more responsibility for their plans and futures. As a result, young people receive excellent support to help them prepare for leaving care and living independently. For example, bespoke independence plans set practical, gradual targets to enable young people to practise budgeting, shopping and cooking, and to manage their free time. When young people finally leave, their moves are well planned. Staff accompany young people to see their new accommodation, and help them to get to know the area that they are moving to. Young people know that staff are contactable even after they have left. One young person recently said, ‘I will call, email and visit and humour you all with the ins and outs of my new adult life.’ The clear and individualised structure in independence work gives young people confidence in the skills that they need for adult life.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Meaningful key-working sessions, day-to-day discussions and young people’s meetings help young people to explore their behaviours, emotions and the tensions that can arise from group living. Young people generally get on well. They are emphatic that bullying is not a concern, because it is simply not allowed. During a recent introduction visit for a new young person, one of the young people offered reassurance to the visitor and explained that they would not have to worry about bullying in the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s views are always taken seriously. The registered manager and staff are excellent advocates. For example, one young person with particularly complex needs was recently supported to host a ‘Christmas jumper day’ to raise money for charity, and another young person hosted an ‘international day’ to celebrate diversity. This type of practice is central to the care that young people receive every day. Staff notice achievements, no matter how small, and highlight these for the young people on a daily basis.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Moves in and out of the home are planned and managed with the utmost care. This helps to maintain continuity of care and helps young people to make positive changes and settle quickly. Staff work closely with placing social workers in managing and facilitating contact between young people and their families. The home is flexible and strongly child-focused in managing these arrangements. This helps to sustain warm and friendly relationships with families and enables young people to benefit as much as Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 5 possible from these contacts.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home’s environment feels homely and nurturing. Well-furnished and well-decorated communal areas give young people a choice about where to spend their leisure time. Young people’s bedrooms are exceptionally well presented, and are personalised according to their wishes and needs. Some young people have an array of Warhammer figurines, while other young people have bedspreads of their favourite football club and personal items in pride of place.

p.5

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

Young people feel safe and extremely well cared for. Staff have excellent insight into young people’s histories. This includes staff understanding that some young people have a history of going missing from care and self-harming. Because of the high level of awareness, there are no current concerns about young people going missing from care, self-harming or being subject to exploitation.

p.5

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

Allegations or suspicions of potential harm are responded to with expertise and urgency. Staff demonstrate excellent understanding of safeguarding procedures and protocols and follow these. Responses are thoughtful and measured. While there are no concerns about young people’s exposure to radicalisation, staff training equips them with the knowledge that they need to identify and report concerns should they arise. Key-work sessions help to ensure that young people are safe online, and that they develop a good awareness about the risks of using the internet. Staff swiftly refer concerns about young people and potential risks to others. This work is instrumental in keeping young people safe and helps young people to reflect on and adjust their behaviours.

p.5

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

The registered manager works in partnership with safeguarding agencies. A consultant clinical and forensic psychologist told the inspector: There is excellent multi-disciplinary working, with the young person at the centre of this. I have witnessed considerable compassion and willingness to meet individual’s needs, above and beyond what I would have expected but within professional boundaries. The staff are extremely hard working, working effectively with all agencies to promote the best outcomes for and with the young people.

p.5

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

Staff take their safeguarding and parenting roles very seriously. They consistently work in the best interests of the young people, and are assertive in delivering difficult messages to young people when this is required. Messages and boundaries are clearly communicated. Young people fully understand how staff will continue to keep them and others safe.

p.5

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

Young people who have a history of aggressive behaviour have managed with the help of staff to reduce the number of incidents. Staff practice is underpinned by the home’s reflective therapeutic model of care. They engage effectively with young people to explore and reflect on their behaviours. Young people grow in self-confidence and emotional resilience as they gain a deeper insight into the reasons for their behaviour. Together, they find strategies that will minimise the young people’s emotional distress Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 6 and subsequent behaviours.

p.5

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

Staff are reflective, seek to improve their practice and benefit from receiving clinical consultation. This includes having the opportunity to ask questions as part of their regular team meetings with the in-house psychologist. As a result of this practice, staff are more confident in their direct work with the young people.

p.6

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

Young people live in a safe environment because staff undertake regular health, safety and fire checks. The registered manager has sought advice from specialist services to enable adaptations to be made to the home to support independence for one young person, who has a visual impairment. Weekly oversight of health and safety, alongside the commissioning of a fire safety consultancy across all the provider’s homes, demonstrates a commitment to keeping young people safe.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has extensive experience and is qualified with a level 5 diploma in leadership and management. Most staff hold their level 3 diploma in residential childcare and the remaining staff are working towards their award in the required timescale. The registered manager keeps the home’s statement of purpose under regular review.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The extent and breadth of staff training are exemplary and equip staff to work with young people who have complex needs. Staff benefit from a seamless progression from their induction to achieving an appropriate qualification for residential childcare. This process is supported by regular and much-valued staff supervision. The registered manager also makes sure that staff access specialist training when required. For example, staff recently had training to develop their understanding around mental health, identity, autism spectrum disorder and understanding the impact of having a visual impairment.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive extensive training in behaviour management and implement it consistently in their day-to-day care of young people. Strong boundaries and routines give young people a secure sense of safety. Staff endeavour to spend as much time as possible with young people and have an exceptionally good understanding of the triggers for young people’s behaviour. Timely interventions, sensitive discussions and positive reinforcement minimise young people’s need to present challenging behaviours. In exceptional circumstances, staff have been required to use physical restraint to keep young people safe. These incidents are well recorded. However, currently there are two systems in place for recording these interventions. This hinders the opportunity for effective managerial review.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing arrangements are managed effectively. One-to-one staffing ensures that individual support for each young person is secured.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work closely with key partners to ensure that young people’s needs are identified and met. Social workers have very positive views about staff. They are clear that young Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 7 people’s progress is because of the strong relationships that young people have with staff, and the firm boundaries that are in place. Staff work hand-in-hand with social workers to ensure that local authority plans and targets are adhered to and regularly reviewed. A social worker recently said: My experience of working with (name of home) is and has always been very positive. They are very sensitive to the needs of the child, supportive and caring of the parent and in no way prejudge any person or persons. They are very experienced with multi-agency working practices and for me this has been one of the better children’s homes I have experienced in my career, which spans over 30 years.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people give regular feedback to the registered manager about all aspects of their care during regular consultations. The registered manager acts on this feedback and uses it to drive improvement. Dedicated staff and the registered manager advocate strongly on behalf of young people, and challenge placing authorities and key partners when they consider that young people are not being listened to, or are not receiving the support that they need.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high aspirations for young people and is very clear about her responsibilities. Her monitoring and oversight of the operation of the home are excellent. The home’s independent monitoring reports confirm this.

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 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.

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: SC068410 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: residential special school

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Young Foundations Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Young Foundations Limited, Head Office, Suite 1, 2nd Floor, Southwood House, Greenwood Business Centre, Regent Road, Salford M5 4QH

p.8

Inspector

Lisa Walsh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068410 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 children looked after, 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