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

Inspection report children’s home: SC063815 1 SC063815 Registered provider: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and/or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A local authority owns and operates this service.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 7 September 2017

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, in September 2017, Ofsted made no requirements or recommendations. The service continues to meet children’s individual needs extremely well. This is because managers and staff provide exceptional care and support.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make good progress in all areas of their development. Staff ensure that individual care plans reflect the aims and objectives of the placing authority. Children’s thoughts, wishes and opinions remain central to decisions made about their care. The registered manager prioritises consultation with children. To achieve this, the registered manager continues to seek alternative means and methods of supporting children to take part in their statutory reviews and planning meetings. For example, when children find it hard to express their views, they are supported to write songs or poems. Listening to children is an overarching principle in the day-to-day running of the home. This ethos ensures that children are fully involved in the care-planning process. Inspection report children’s home: SC063815 2 Staff support children’s learning and help them to understand the importance of education. This means that children begin to understand the advantages of good school

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

attendance. Since their admission, all children currently living in the home have made excellent progress in this area of their development. For example, one child is now on a par with his peer group, despite previously missing education for long periods. Children say that they mostly ‘love school’, but ‘love holidays more’. When children face barriers to education, the registered manager is dynamic in her challenge of other professionals. Subsequently, children continue to receive the help and support they need to ensure that education is a positive experience for them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Working in partnership with other professionals remains a considerable strength of the service. This is because the registered manager is effective in identifying and engaging with other agencies that are able to meet children’s individual needs. For example, when children require specialist therapy to support their emotional and psychological development, the registered manager makes sure that this is available and easily accessible. As a result, children are able to reflect on their past experiences and individual circumstances, and start to move forward in their lives.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships between children and staff remain extremely positive. These ensure that children feel emotionally safe and secure. Staff continue to use these relationships to help and support children to develop the confidence they need to discuss their individual backgrounds and circumstances. It is through these relationships that managers and staff create a welcoming, stable and family-orientated home for children. As a result, children continue to thrive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager retains excellent oversight of the strengths of the home, and is extremely competent in identifying any areas for improvement. Internal monitoring tools focus on outcomes for children. The registered manager is able to effectively review the quality of care the service provides. When shortfalls are highlighted, the registered manager quickly takes appropriate action to address these. This unwavering focus on making sure that the service meets children’s individual needs continually promotes their welfare and well-being.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2017 Full Outstanding 29/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC063815 3 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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, Civic Centre, Darwall Street, Walsall WS1 1TP

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Inspector

Jo Stephenson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC063815 4 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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