Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

Inspection report children’s home: SC356781 1 SC356781 Registered provider: Worcestershire County 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

This home is owned by the local authority. It is registered for up to eight children and young people who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours, as well as for children and young people who have a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered. He is experienced and has previously been registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC356781 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/07/2017 Full Good 17/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/08/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC356781 3

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Recommendations

 Supervision of staff practice should ensure that individual adults in the home are engaged in the safeguarding culture of the home so they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is friendly and well looked after. It provides them with safe and nurturing care that meets their needs. Since the last inspection, living rooms have been redecorated and new furniture has been bought.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school daily and have stable routines and boundaries in place that help to reassure them. Staff have good working relationships with school teachers and there is frequent communication about the progress of children. Feedback from teachers was very positive about the care staff provide.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in improving their confidence and social skills. For example, once a week children plan a meal of their choice, go shopping and cook for everyone.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to live healthy lifestyles. Healthy eating and exercise are promoted by staff. Children attend local football clubs, go for walks, enjoy cycling and visit a Slimming World club to stay healthy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care from highly skilled and dedicated staff. Staff conduct creative and meaningful key-work sessions with children based on their individual needs and understanding.

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

Children feel safe living at this home and say that they love the staff. Staff make sure that they follow safeguarding procedures well. Incidents of concern are very well Inspection report children’s home: SC356781 4 recorded and managers take effective action. However, some staff have not addressed concerns about the quality and consistency of care provided by other staff. They have not shared their views with managers straight away. This could have an effect on the quality of care provided.

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

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. There has also been a significant decrease in children going missing from the home.

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

Since the last inspection, very few incidents of physical restraint have taken place. This is because staff follow very well-written and clear behaviour management plans. Children have well-evaluated risk assessments that help to keep them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been managing the home for six weeks. He has the necessary experience and qualifications for the role. He has high aspirations for children and is passionate about providing good quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are very committed and knowledgeable and provide individualised care to meet the needs of each child. They are able to confidently demonstrate the positive impact that living in the home is having on children’s development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a range of good quality training to improve their skills and knowledge. However, a small number of staff need updated mandatory training. There has been no impact on children as a result, and the manager is taking effective action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supportive of staff and is providing good quality supervision. He is keen for the voice of the child to be at the centre of the care provided. He is forming good relationships with children and is supporting staff creativity to gain the wishes and feelings of children on a regular basis.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC356781 5 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: SC356781 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Worcestershire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Worcester WR5 2NP

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC356781 7 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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