Children's Home run by Warrington Borough Council in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: SC442779 1 SC442779 Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a local authority. It is registered to care for up to two children who may experience social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Children were spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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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: 23 October 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 for children’s home: SC442779 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/10/2019 Full Outstanding 04/12/2018 Full Outstanding 08/08/2017 Full Good 27/03/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC442779 3

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outstanding

The children benefit from the long-term care provided by a very stable and committed staff team. The staff know the children exceptionally well and how to support them. This has enabled children to thrive and continue to make positive and sustained progress in all aspects of their lives.

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outstanding

The staff have excellent relationships with a child’s school to ensure that he has the best possible support to achieve. He has taken a GSCE examination a year early and is working towards improving his grade further in year 11. He already has a college place for when he leaves school. His sibling achieved nine GCSEs with good grades, which is a significant achievement. The staff supported the child’s decision to leave college and gain employment instead.

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outstanding

Children are in good health. The staff are consistent in their advice and support to help children address any health needs. Children access specialist services to support their emotional well-being. The staff ensure that children have helpful information and refer them to external services to receive the support they need. This means that children’s holistic health needs are consistently met.

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outstanding

The staff recognise the impact that COVID-19 has had on children’s activities and social interactions. They encourage children to re-engage so that they do not become isolated.

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outstanding

The staff help the children to maintain positive relationships with their family. A family member described the staff as being part of their family and that the staff really love the children. Friends and family members are welcomed when they visit the children’s home.

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outstanding

Children describe their home as, ‘top tier’, and ‘five stars’. Both children say they feel supported by the staff in their decisions. They can talk to the staff about anything and therefore they say there is nothing they would want to change about their home.

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outstanding

Children say that they feel safe living at the home and that the staff help them to become safer. They understand the reasons why the staff might worry about them. The staff provide highly nurturing care that promotes a sense of safety and security for children.

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outstanding

The staff have a thorough understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. They follow detailed risk management plans consistently and have a clear understanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC442779 4 of potential triggers to changes in children’s behaviours. Children will talk to the staff about their feelings and frustrations, so that the staff can provide reassurance and seek solutions.

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outstanding

Any concerns about risk-taking behaviours are responded to immediately. Specialist external support is requested promptly. The staff reinforce any advice provided, including the use of negative consequences to promote improved choices and behaviour. They research resources to help children understand the effect of their actions on their immediate and long-term well-being.

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outstanding

Children enjoy earning tickets towards personalised incentive schemes, which they can exchange for rewards of their choice. The staff work closely with education providers to ensure that everyone works consistently to reward positive achievements.

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outstanding

Children are extremely well-supported with their identity needs. The staff draw on knowledge and experience within the team as well as identifying external sources of support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The former deputy is now the registered manager of the home. She and her team share high aspirations for the children in their care. Children clearly enjoy close and affectionate relationships with the manager and staff. There is a real sense of pride in children’s achievements and genuine commitment to support children to make positive progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and the staff have an excellent understanding of children’s progress and how to support them to develop greater independence. There are close working relationships between a child’s keyworkers and a supported accommodation worker to ensure a smooth transition for the child moving on from the home. The staff are embracing a new local authority initiative for maintaining connections with children leaving care so that they can provide ongoing support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are very positive about their work and the support provided by the manager. They receive regular supervision which helps them to reflect on their practice and identify any areas of training that they need. Team meetings are held regularly and include regular discussions about research to enhance practice in the home. Children are consulted on a regular basis and their ideas are included in team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff are qualified and continue to develop their professional skills. They access a range of training opportunities to enhance their knowledge and practice. The team is proactive in researching child-focused resources and sources of specialist advice to meet the individual needs of children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has robust systems in place to oversee practice in the home. She uses independent external monitoring to drive forward continuous improvement. Some Inspection report for children’s home: SC442779 5 updates are required in the statement of purpose to ensure that information is current. Inspection report for children’s home: SC442779 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the statement of purpose is reviewed and updated with current information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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 for children’s home: SC442779 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Warrington Borough Council, Children’s Services, New Town House, Buttermarket Street, Warrington WA1 2NH

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Inspector

Karen Willson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC442779 8 to 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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