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

Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 1 SC036551 Registered provider: Walsall Metropolitan Borough 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 and managed by a local authority. The home provides long-term care and accommodation for up to four young people who have complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2007 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 November 2018

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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

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 2 17/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Good 15/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b)(2)(b)(vi)) 17/12/2018

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Recommendations

 Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11). This is in specific reference to ensuring that issues raised in residents’ meetings are followed up with young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive good-quality care from a stable staff team whose members have a clear understanding of the young people’s individual needs. Staff understand the implications of the young people’s earlier life experiences on their current behaviour and presentation. Staff work closely with parents, social workers and specialist services to obtain the best possible care for young people. As a result, young people are making good progress in many areas of their development. Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 4 Staff plan for young people’s arrival at the home well. As a result, young people experience a positive transition into the home, which helps them to settle quickly. Since the last inspection, two young people have had planned moves from the home, one to return to family and the other to live independently. Staff continued to support both young people after their moves, to promote the best possible outcomes for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people said they enjoy the time that they spend with staff and all of the young people have developed positive relationships with the staff. Staff encourage young people to participate in a range of activities. For example, young people visited London in the summer and enjoyed Halloween events during the October half term. Consequently, improvements in young people’s confidence and self-esteem are evident. Young people’s educational progress is mixed. Although some young people have returned to and maintained education placements, others have experienced gaps in their education provision. Staff actively promote education by encouraging young people to attend school and rewarding participation and achievements. One young person who successfully returned to full-time education received a trip to Disneyland Paris as a reward for her achievement. Staff liaise with educational professionals and actively

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

challenge them to ensure that young people’s needs are met, and educational outcomes improve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff know the importance to young people of maintaining family relationships. They support young people to have positive and safe contact with their families and friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are aware of the complaints procedure. Staff always follow the formal process for recording complaints. Young people receive responses to their complaints and are informed of the outcomes of their complaints, and so feel that their concerns are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people to contribute their thoughts and ideas regarding the day-to- day running of the home. In young people’s meetings, young people are encouraged to discuss topics such as trying new activities and selecting meal options. However, managers do not let young people know whether their requests have been agreed or not. This means that young people do not always feel listened to and valued as members of the household.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people help with chores in the home. For example, they help to keep their bedrooms tidy, do their laundry and help the staff to cook meals. However, staff do not hold updated records of the success young people are having in developing their life skills. This is a missed opportunity for staff to show the difference they are making in helping young people to be ready for adulthood.

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

Staff understand young people’s behaviour and the risks that young people may Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 5 encounter. This is because risk assessments are clear and reflect young people’s current needs and vulnerabilities.

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

The risks of child sexual exploitation and of young people going missing from the home have continued to reduce for most young people. However, for some this continues to be of concern. When young people do go missing, staff respond swiftly and appropriately to ensure their safe return. Staff work effectively with young people to support them to make informed decisions that help them to reduce risks and keep them safe.

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

Staff receive training in a variety of safeguarding matters and are clear about the measures they need to take to safeguard young people.

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

Young people feel safe and secure in the home. This is because staff are consistent in setting boundaries. Behaviour management plans are clear and individual to each young person. Staff de-escalate potentially challenging situations effectively. As a result, physical interventions are low in number.

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

Staff benefit from weekly consultations with specialists from child and adolescent mental health services. These consultations support them to develop effective strategies for addressing young people’s presenting behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the staff and young people extremely well. She has a management qualification and chooses to lead by example, which staff appreciate. She is passionate about achieving the best outcomes for young people and will advocate strongly for them. The staff team is stable and experienced. Staff receive regular, supportive supervision and annual performance appraisals. The manager prioritises training and development opportunities for staff. This helps to motivate staff, who demonstrate a commitment to working in the home. Most staff have the minimum level 3 qualification and those undertaking the award are expected to complete this within the required timescale. Consequently, young people receive support from suitably qualified staff. The manager works well with partner agencies that are involved with young people. Professionals speak positively about her enthusiasm and commitment. Social workers

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

said that staff keep them up to date with any developments and they always feel welcome when they visit the home. The manager advocates effectively on behalf of young people and actively challenges professionals when the response from services is not strong enough.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She is keen to drive forward improvements. Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 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: SC036551 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

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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

Anne Daly: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036551 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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