Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 1 SC033808 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 provides short-breaks care for up to seven children and young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities, including sensory impairment. The service currently supports 43 children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since July 2019 and registered since November 2019.

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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: 26 February 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2019 Full Outstanding 20/02/2018 Full Outstanding 22/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/12/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 13(2)(a)) In particular, breach to conditions of registration and operating out of the statement of purpose. 06/03/2020

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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) In particular, ensure that the external doors are secure and are able to withhold strong challenge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people who visit this short-breaks home receive high standards of care. Individualised care and health plans are well understood by the highly experienced staff team; these meet the needs of the children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people have developed good relationships with the staff. The staff team members know all the children and young people very well. Children and young people communicate in a variety of individualised ways to express their wishes and feelings and make their needs known, which the staff respond to effectively. Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 4 The children and young people have made good progress and are achieving the goals identified in their individual care and support plans. New goals are regularly set to promote further progress, such as self-care, socialising, managing in social settings and increasing independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people are all engaged in and attend education. The staff work in partnership with schools and parents to best promote their learning and development. An educational professional said, ‘We have developed a good working relationship and good communication with the home. We share information, advice and strategies to support the children and young people.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people enjoy spending their time at the short-breaks home. They are offered a range of social situations, experiences and a variety of activities, both in the home and the community, which include trips to different parks, bowling, swimming, eating out and shopping in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The voice of the children and young people is actively listened to and responded to by the staff team. This includes one-to-one time with the children and young people and group activities with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are supported by the 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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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children and young people are well protected from the risk of harm. Staff have a clear understanding of children and young people’s individual needs and vulnerabilities and specific risks. Individualised support, health and risk plans are documented to a good standard. This enables staff to minimise and reduce any risks or concerns for all the children and young people.

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

Staff receive mandatory and specific training, such as learning disabilities safeguarding training. This equips staff to better understand and meet the individual needs of the children and young people.

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

The children and young people receive consistently high-quality care. Staffing levels are appropriately high, which allows the staff to supervise and support the children and young people well, both in the home and when out in the community. The security of the premises provides additional safeguards preventing the children and young people from exiting the premises without being noticed. However, some of the external doors may not withstand strong challenge.

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

Physical intervention is minimal and is only applied for the safety of children and young people. Records are well documented and reviewed to reflect the situation and, where required, to amend any practice for staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 5 Recruitment processes are good, which means that all staff are thoroughly vetted and deemed safe to work with children and young people. New staff receive a structured induction programme and probationary period, allowing them to gain a good understanding of their role and the type of care they deliver.

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

Parents, carers, and professionals are confident in the management and the staff team. A parent said: ‘I’ve never had to worry when my son is here. They get the children involved; they are like an extended family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led effectively by the registered manager, who holds the level 5 qualification in management. She has extensive knowledge and experience in supporting children and young people. She provides strong leadership with a visible presence for the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has positive relationships with parents and professionals. This provides a consistent approach when caring for children and young people. A parent said: ‘The staff couldn’t do enough for us, they are very supportive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are well supported by the management team. Regular, reflective supervision and annual appraisals enhance their personal and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a full overview of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She uses her quality of care review, chats with children and young people and feedback from parents to improve the outcomes and opportunities for children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff are strong advocates for the children and young people. They appropriately challenge professionals to ensure that children and young people receive the best service to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose outlines the ethos of the home and its aim to give a stimulating and enjoyable experience for each child visiting for a short-break. The home is operating out of their conditions of registration due to the admission of a child on a full-time placement.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC033808 6 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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC033808 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wakefield Metropolitan District Council

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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: SC033808 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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