Children's home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 1 SC034162 Registered provider: Wakefield Metropolitan District 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 local authority service is registered to provide care and accommodation for a maximum of seven children and young people aged between eight and 17 years. The children and young people have a range of learning disabilities, complex healthcare needs and associated physical disabilities. Children and young people attend on a shared-care or full-time basis. The registered manager is suitability qualified and experienced and has been registered with Ofsted for 10 years.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 17 to 18 December 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 11 February 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/02/2019 Full Outstanding 16/01/2018 Full Outstanding 20/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/11/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 3

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  This is with particular reference to completing the home’s repair and decoration plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children and young people who live at this home or stay on a shared-care basis receive exceptionally high standards of care. Individualised care and health plans are very well understood by the highly experienced staff team, which meets the needs of the children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people have made significant and sustained progress from their starting points in relation to their individual complex needs and abilities. The staff team ensures that there is a seamless link with all professionals to provide the ongoing support to the children and young people on a daily basis. This enhances their health outcomes, developing their individual skills, such as self-care, socialising and increasing their independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of the relationships between the children, young people and staff are excellent. Staff know the children and young people exceptionally well. The children and young people use different communication methods to make their wishes and feelings known to the staff, who respond consistently and positively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people’s interests and abilities are prioritised. They access a wide range of activities within the home, at specialist provisions and in the community. They regularly interact with their peers and also make new, positive friendships, developing their social and communication skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children and young people’s opportunities, experiences and achievements are captured in life story books. When they move on from the home, they have memories of their time spent at the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 4 Children and young people are supported by the highly dedicated team of staff, who prepare them well for moving on from the home. Staff also work closely with parents and professionals to ensure that the children and young people have a positive experience and a smooth transition to adult services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The kitchen and lounge need redecoration following a leak from the shower room and a burst water tank.

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

Staffing levels are appropriately high, which allows the staff to support the children and young people exceptionally well. The children and young people receive consistently high-quality care in a safe and secure environment.

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

Staff fully understand the children and young people’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. Comprehensive health and risk management plans support the seamless and individualised care for all children and young people.

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

Alongside mandatory training, specific training equips the staff to meet the complex and individual needs of the children and young people. They work in partnership with parents and health professionals to provide high-quality, individualised care.

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

Regular physical intervention, such as guiding children and young people away from danger, is only used as a last resort. Records are well documented and frequently reviewed to reflect on the situation and amend any practice as needed. Transparent records of discussions with professionals help the staff to inform care and behaviour plans to ensure that the very best support is given to children and young people.

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

Professionals, parents and carers have confidence in the management and staff team. There is an open and honest safeguarding culture in the home. A professional said, ‘Staff are insightful. They know and care for the children’s well-being. There is excellent joint working and communication.’

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

Robust recruitment processes mean that all staff are thoroughly vetted and deemed safe to work with children and young people prior to employment. New staff receive a well- structured induction programme and probationary period to test out their skills and ability before becoming permanent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has extensive knowledge and experience in supporting children and young people with complex health and medical needs. She provides strong leadership with a visible presence for the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff are strong advocates for the children and young people. They appropriately challenge professionals and families to ensure that children and young people receive the best service to meet their needs. Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 5 The manager has excellent partnership working with parents, carers, health, education and social care professionals. This provides a consistent approach when caring for children and young people. A parent said, ‘We are a complex family. The staff are tremendous. What a lifeline to our family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research and evidenced-based training further promote staff’s ability to personalise children and young people’s care. This has led to one young person decreasing their medication when if was no longer felt needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals, which contributes to them feeling supported by the manager. They also benefit from working alongside the management team, which ensures that the manager knows the care practices and promotes consistency for the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s monitoring and quality assurance systems ensure that she has a full overview of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She uses her quality of care review report, along with feedback from children, young people, parents, staff and other professionals to implement changes in practice to continuously improve outcomes for children and young people.

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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: SC034162 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield, Yorkshire WF1 2QW

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Inspector

Sue Hatton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC034162 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 children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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