Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 1 SC033808 Registered provider: Wakefield Metropolitan District 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

The service is run by the local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children and young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and/or complex health needs. This service provides a short- break and outreach service. Inspection dates: 20 to 21 February 2018

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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: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 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

 Children and young people receive high-quality care from a committed and dedicated staff team who knows them well.  Sensitive thought goes into planning activities for children and young people. No-one is excluded and disability is not a barrier.  Children and young people love coming for their short break. They are happy and excited to see the staff.  Excellent relationships forged between staff members, professionals, parents and carers ensures that children and young people receive high-quality, consistent care.  Safeguarding is paramount to all staff members. Children and young people are kept safe when they are here.  Strong leadership enhances the experienced staff team. The team works cohesively together to get the best outcomes for children and young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/12/2016 Full Outstanding 29/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/01/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a large, purpose-built building situated in a quiet suburb of a large town. The home is warm, and excellent effort is made to make children and young people and visitors feel welcome. The walls are adorned with photographs and collages of activities that the children and young people have enjoyed. Children and young people thoroughly enjoy their short breaks. A young person said, ‘I love coming here. I’ve been coming here for ages and I know all the staff really well. We have a great time, there’s always something to do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff carefully match children and young people who enjoy spending time together. This is effortlessly achieved due to the strong relationships everyone has developed. In addition, staff respond effectively to any requests to change care arrangements. There is no negative impact for young people, as staff ensure that any requests are met. This means that children and young people receive care, and parents and carers receive much-needed support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff place great importance on building high-quality, trusting relationships with parents and carers. As a result, parents and carers trust the staff to care for their children, and enjoy the respite they receive. Staff will also support and advocate for young people outside of the home, for example in relation to education and health needs, which remain the responsibility of parents and carers. As part of this quality of care, all children and young people benefit from an individual key worker. This member of staff ensures that they attend important meetings as well as providing high-quality reports on their progress. This means that children and young people have a strong advocate at meetings. In addition, crucial information is shared with everyone involved in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff do not view any disability as a barrier for children and young people. Sensitive and careful planning ensures that all children and young people are involved in activities they can participate in and enjoy, for example going on boat trips and adapted bike rides as well as trips away camping. Recently they have enjoyed a ‘ride along’ with the local police force. This gave young people the opportunity to see what local police do in their area. In addition, some young people have successfully achieved the Duke of Edinburgh bronze award and others are working towards this. Young people enjoy an active social life and are growing in confidence as a result of their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Life skills and independence are consistently promoted by staff. Children and young people enjoy focused sessions on a variety of topics. They participate in lively discussion about how behaviour can impact on friendships, keeping safe in and out of the home and different cultures and beliefs. In addition, children and young people are actively involved in celebrating different cultural and religious festivals. As a result, children and young people have learned important skills, such as sharing. They have awareness of their behaviour and how this can impact on others around them. A professional said, Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 4 ‘Many of the families that I work with report that their child is doing more for themselves and I believe that this is due to the support from [Name of home].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff use a variety of research-based skills to gain the views of children and young people. Their ability to use a range of communication methods means that all children and young people have a voice regardless of their disability. Daily living plans written in plain language show the likes and dislikes of children and young people as well as behaviour indicators that show distress or feeling poorly. This high-quality document simplifies more complex documents and incorporates the child’s view. In addition, children and young people know how to complain and whom to talk to if they are worried. There have been no complaints in the last 12 months.

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

Children and young people receive high-quality care in a safe and secure environment. There is a strong safeguarding culture that is second nature to staff members. In particular, staff are quick to identify concerns and act on them. This includes having open conversations with parents and carers as well as informing the relevant professionals if required. Staff ensure that safeguarding matters have the highest priority in their work.

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

Staffing ratios are high. Children and young people benefit from constant support and, in some cases, supervision. All children and young people have individual risk assessments that reflect their level of vulnerability. Children and young people do not go missing. However, staff remain vigilant. In the event of a child going missing, they know what they would need to do. Parents, carers and professionals are confident in the staff’s ability to keep the children safe. A carer said, ‘I don’t worry about safety, I know [Name of young person] is safe and cared for. There have been no issues in the seven years she has been coming here.’

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

Staff are trained in appropriate behaviour management methods and physical intervention. In addition, parents and carers are involved in training. This is provided by a qualified member of staff. Parents and carers benefit from sessions on de-escalation techniques and behaviour management. As a result, children and young people benefit from consistent responses to their behaviour. Physical intervention and restraint is kept to a minimum and is only used as a last resort.

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

Staff are acutely aware of the vulnerabilities that disabled children and young people can face. They are highly skilled at reading non-verbal communication and can quickly identify changes in behaviour that may cause concern. Children and young people are involved in regular discussions about safety. This includes ‘stranger danger’ plus online and social media risks. Children and young people have an appropriate level of understanding for their individual ability. As a result, children and young people have awareness of potential risks while having short breaks and when they are at home or out in the community. Children and young people know whom they can talk to if they are worried. Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2007. She is a qualified social worker with over 30 years’ experience of caring for children and young people. The manager is supported by two assistant managers who are appropriately qualified and experienced. The assistant managers deputise effectively in the absence of the manager. When the manager recently took an extended planned period of leave, there was no disruption to the high-quality service. In addition, the manager and one assistant manager manage effectively an outreach provision for families in need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There have been two unsuitable placements made in the last 12 months against the advice of the registered manager. The young people placed were not a good match for the children and young people receiving short breaks. Consequently, on one occasion the short-breaks service was suspended for six weeks. As a result, several children and young people plus their carers missed out on much-needed respite care. Although the service suffered an impact because of this, the manager and staff team ensured that a limited service was provided at other homes. In addition, the consistent care provided by the staff team ensured that both young people were no longer in crisis and were able to move in a positive way to appropriate placements for their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is well established. They do not leave their employment and say they are very happy working at the home. The staff team has a wide range of skills, expertise and qualifications. They are positive, motivated and passionate about achieving the best outcomes for children and young people. They work cohesively together to provide outstanding care. Staff are supported well by the management team and receive regular, high-quality supervision. Staff say the managers are always available and approachable. Emphasis is placed on learning rather than using blame, if mistakes are made. All staff members have individual projects within the home. This enhances staff morale and builds their confidence as practitioners. As well as regular training, staff consistently update their knowledge and learning for their own development. This enhances and improves their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She is open, transparent and solution-focused. The use of external monitoring visits is highly effective. The manager and staff team use this as an opportunity to continuously improve the care they provide. In addition, the manager accurately self-evaluates the service, strives to develop, and supports new ideas and approaches. As a result, the home has continued to develop and implement new initiatives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals, parents and carers have a high regard and respect for the manager and her team. As a result of the relationships forged, the manager and staff can and do raise effective challenge when services are not forthcoming for children and young people. This ensures that children and young people have their needs consistently met from a dedicated and caring manager and staff team. There have been no breaches in the regulations identified at this inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 6

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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: SC033808 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wakefield 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: SC033808 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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