Children's home run by Wigan Council in Wigan

Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 1 SC040266 Registered provider: Wigan Council Interim 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. The registered manager has been in post since 28 August 2018.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has undergone transformational changes in many aspects. As a result, young people experience a significantly improved quality of care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new registered manager is at the heart of these changes. The registered manager‟s enthusiasm and motivation are impressive. Staff mirror her child-focused ethos.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has completed all the requirements raised at the last inspection. Despite this, one recommendation is outstanding. Specifically, independent visitor reports are of variable quality and are not shared with the registered manager or Ofsted in a timely manner. Positively, the registered manager has identified alternative arrangements to address this shortfall. These changes are due with immediate effect. Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 2 Recent decoration and new furniture ensure that young people live in a modern, homely and well-maintained home. Staff encourage young people to personalise their bedrooms. This promotes their sense of belonging.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Proactive staff can meet the health needs of young people. For example, one young person has signed up to a personalised exercise contract. Daily exercise with staff is helping the young person to improve her fitness and to stay healthy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work creatively to promote young people‟s emotional well-being. For example, one young person has a reversible coloured purse which she can use to communicate with staff how she is feeling. This means that staff can swiftly offer the young person support when she needs it most.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use a variety of means to communicate with young people and ensure that young people can actively shape the care that they receive. For example, young people are meaningfully involved in developing their own risk management plans and placement plans.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are successful at managing young people‟s behaviour. Staff use a restorative approach to support young people to learn from their mistakes.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Those young people who are currently resident have not been involved in any incidents of going missing. However, when young people who are no longer resident displayed such behaviours, staff responded well. Staff have the skills and knowledge to keep young people safe.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 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

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children‟s home at least once each month. When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person— if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home‟s records (except for a child‟s case records, unless the child and the child‟s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person‟s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‟s opinion as to whether— children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children‟s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person‟s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person‟s report to— HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5) and (7)) 01/04/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 4

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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

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: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

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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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Inspectors

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Jo Hornby, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC040266 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

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