Children's home run by Wigan Council in Wigan

Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 1 SC040266 Registered provider: Wigan Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is a local authority children‟s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people, of either gender, at any given time.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager of this home has been on long-term sick leave and is now serving her notice. The current interim management arrangements are suitable in the short term, but have not been formally ratified with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children‟s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 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

10: The health and well-being standard is that- (a) The health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) Children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) Children are helped to lead healthy lives.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (i) achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child‟s relevant plans; (iii) take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child‟s health and well-being needs; and (iv) understand and develop skills to promote the child‟s well- being. (c) that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(c), (2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(c)) 30/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

7: The children‟s views, wishes and feelings standard is that - children receive care from staff who— (a) develop positive relationships with them; (b) engage with them; and (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children‟s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) ensure that staff— (i) ascertain and consider each child‟s views, wishes and feelings and balance these against what they judge to be in the child‟s best interests when making decisions about the child‟s care and welfare; 31/05/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 4 (ii) help each child to express views, wishes and feelings (iii) help each child to understand how the child‟s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; (iv) regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home‟s care. (Regulation 7(1)(a)(b)(c), (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child‟s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s child protection policies; (b) that the homes day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; (d) that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child‟s health.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the home must ensure that individual impact risk assessments are completed prior to every admission; there is an effective system in place for ensuring timely and meaningful independent return interviews; and young people‟s bedrooms and furnishings through the home are maintained at a satisfactory standard at all times. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(a)(i)(ii)(vii))(b)(d)) 31/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— (a) the quality of care provided for children; (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s 31/10/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 5 home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

(3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must— (a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and (b) make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1), (2)(a)(b)(c), (3)(4)(a)(b), (5))

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Requirement Due date

(3) The registered person must— (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(a)(b)) 31/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI as soon as it is reasonably practicable to do so, if any of the following events take place or are expected by the registered person to take place— (a) a person other than the registered person carries on or manages the children‟s home; (b) a person ceases to carry on or manage the home; (e) if the registered provider is an organisation— (iii) any change in the identity of the responsible individual. (Regulation 49(a)(b)(e)(iii)) 30/04/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 6

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home‟s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home‟s care. (Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection in January, all five young people currently living at this home have moved in. Sensitive and gradual admissions have ensured that they all settled quickly and feel relatively happy and safe. They enjoy sound relationships with the majority of the staff team. Good staffing ratios ensure that young people benefit from individualised care. One social worker identified this as a key strength and said, „They are very different young people, and I am impressed with how well the staff adapt to meet their individual needs.‟

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improvement to be good

All the young people enjoy regular and positive contact with family and friends. This maintains their strong sense of identity. For one young person, this has been re- established and maintained since moving to this home. However, young people‟s experiences, progress and outcomes are variable.

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improvement to be good

Regarding education, two young people attend school every day and another engages well with a full programme of alternative educational provision arranged by the home. For two young people, this is excellent progress from their starting points. However, one young person‟s attendance has deteriorated since moving to this home. Moreover, one young person‟s GCSE results could be negatively impacted due to sporadic attendance, because of frequently going missing. This is a bright young person with aspirations to go to university.

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improvement to be good

All the young people enjoy a range of constructive activities that meet their individual interests and talents. For example, one young person particularly loves going on long walks with the staff, and goes swimming at least three times a week. This is good physical exercise and she said, „It relaxes me.‟ However, young people‟s health is being compromised in a number of ways. Examples include continuing to smoke tobacco and cannabis, failing to attend statutory medicals to ascertain physical health needs and appointments to address their emotional needs, and refusing to wear prescribed glasses. Also, although a nutritious evening meal is always provided, young people often choose to eat unhealthy snacks or takeaways. Furthermore, one young person, who was admitted specifically to promote a healthier lifestyle, spends considerable periods of time on their own in their bedroom, often refusing meals. Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 7

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improvement to be good

There is inconsistent practice in respect of formally ascertaining young people‟s wishes and feelings about their day-to-day care and future. At the two extremes, one young person enjoys frequent key-worker sessions, and relevant issues are fully explored and recorded. However, for another young person there is documentary evidence of only one session, on the day of admission three weeks ago. Moreover, there have been only two young people‟s meetings recorded since January.

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improvement to be good

The plans for most of the young people is semi-independence, and to this end they have commenced a formal preparation programme. However, this work has been curtailed because the washing machine is currently broken, much to the young people‟s frustration. A key strength of this home is the continued support provided to young people and their families after discharge.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the interim management team has prioritised and successfully ensured that there is now an agreed team approach to behaviour management. Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are collectively and regularly reviewed and revised as necessary. This ensures that staff are more consistent in their practice.

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improvement to be good

Consequently, a key strength of this home is the ability to manage some extremely challenging behaviours without using restraint or police assistance. The effective use of restorative justice and reparation also means that young people have not been unnecessarily criminalised. One social worker said, „They are managing my young person‟s challenging behaviours well.‟

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improvement to be good

Furthermore, the staff have demonstrably gained the confidence and competence to enable the young people to take age-appropriate risks in the community as a natural part of their development into adulthood. However, despite staff being aware of previous concerns about online grooming, there is no evidence of work on internet safety being undertaken to help young people to stay safe online.

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improvement to be good

One young person was moved to this home to be away from gang affiliation. This has had the desired effect, and incidents of going missing are now comparatively few. In sharp contrast, incidents have increased for another particularly vulnerable young person. There is good partnership working with the police and parents when a young person is missing, to try to ensure their quick and safe return. This has included the use of harbouring notices. However, there is limited documentary evidence of timely and/or meaningful independent return interviews to reassess risks and explore new strategies to prevent a recurrence. This is despite concerns of child sexual exploitation.

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improvement to be good

This home was completely refurbished in November 2017 and offers spacious accommodation with a choice of communal rooms. Young people like their bedrooms, which are highly personalised. However, the impact of criminal damage means that there are now insufficient dining chairs to enable everyone to sit to eat a meal together. One bedroom is also in a poor state of disrepair and decor, and the lounge settee needs replacing. Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 8

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has been on sick leave since the summer of 2017, and the current interim manager and deputy have been covering this home for only the last 13 weeks. They found that key files were not available for monitoring purposes, records were poor and practice inconsistent. They focused on improving the practice at the home and establishing effective partnership working with a range of relevant agencies to safeguard and protect all the young people. That said, they have made some progress in all three areas. They have also ensured that all staff now benefit from regular, good- quality supervision and timely appraisals that celebrate good practice and identify areas for continued development. One manager said, „We are passionate leaders and will turn it around, but it will take time. We have confidence in the new senior managers.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Five of the six requirements made at the last inspection have not been satisfactorily addressed, and three are repeated. One is not applicable, because there have been no restraints since the last inspection, which is a significant and positive culture shift. However, individual impact risk assessments have not been consistently produced prior to any new admission. This is particularly pertinent given the previously poor compatibility decisions made prior to the last inspection, resulting in disruptions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Both the interim manager and the representative of the senior managers were still unable to clarify who would be applying to Ofsted to be the responsible individual and the registered manager of this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The internal and external monitoring processes in place are still not sufficiently robust. The systems for extracting key performance indicators and young people‟s outcomes and progress are ineffective. Furthermore, although a quality of care report has been forwarded to Ofsted since the last inspection, it was not informed or enriched by the views of parents and social workers, as legally required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A recommendation has been made to ensure that robust monthly independent monitoring visits are undertaken. This requirement has not been repeated, in acknowledgement that the service has already started to address this shortfall. The reports since the last inspection still lack evaluation and do not demonstrate scrutiny of key records. Moreover, two reports refer to a different children‟s home. As a direct result, the current visitor is serving his notice and new arrangements are in place from April 2018.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

This home is part of an authority-wide restructure. They have recently commenced a process of transition into one of three „hubs‟ where all relevant professionals will be based. The overall aim is to improve the timeliness of access to specialist services for young people. To this end, all residential staff have reapplied for their own positions. Some have not been successful, so anxieties for the future are high and morale is low.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There has been significant staff turnover at this home in recent months, and the statement of purpose does not accurately reflect the current staff and their distinctive roles. The home is now sufficiently staffed, but staff have been resourced from across Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 9 the local authority, hence the need to establish consistent practices. One new member of staff said, „It has been a big culture change working with looked after children again and getting used to the different terminology.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The majority of the team are suitably qualified for their respective roles, and the four unqualified staff are near the end of their training.. There is a gender mix within the team, and a good range of ages and relevant backgrounds and specialisms, including in youth justice, mental health, community youth work and autism spectrum disorder, and this helps to meet the diversity of young people‟s needs.

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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 difference 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: SC040266 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan WN1 1YN

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Inspector

Lynn O‟Driscoll, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 11 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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