Children's home run by City of Wolverhampton Council

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378153 1 SC378153

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Wolverhampton City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides a short-break service for up to six children aged between 10 and 17 who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to presenting complex behaviours. The home also offers crisis care for children in line with short- break regulations. The home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 2013 and is suitably qualified.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged as declined in effectiveness on 22 February 2022. As a result, six requirements were raised, one of which was subject to a compliance notice.

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This monitoring visit

This visit examined progress made at the home against the compliance notice. All areas of this compliance notice are now met. Four of the requirements raised at the interim inspection are also met. Two requirements were not considered at this visit and are restated. One recommendation was not met and is restated.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made changes to children’s risk assessments. This has resulted in staff having clearer guidance to help them work with children. In addition, the registered manager now considers interactional risk more clearly for each group of children who stay together. This means that staff have direction for how to manage risks for children individually and as a group.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have led workshops and a development day for staff. They have used scenario-based approaches, as well as individual meetings, to ensure that staff are aware of the new risk assessments and systems in place. Leaders and managers are now confident that staff have the knowledge they need to safely care for children. They are also confident that staff will use this knowledge in practice. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378153 2 Leaders and managers are looking at how they quality assure work in the home. They are developing new systems to aid the registered manager’s monitoring of practice. While this work is in its early stages, there is increasing evidence of management oversight in the home. Leaders and managers have changed the deputy managers’ working hours. As a result, they are more available in the home to guide and support staff. These measures mean that managers have a clearer view of

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This monitoring visit

Managers in the home provide individual supervision sessions to staff. These have improved but records are still variable. Supervisors do not always provide clear actions in these meetings. This shortfall means that some staff do not have an accurate record to aid their practice improvement.

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This monitoring visit

Staff feel increasingly supported by managers. A new senior manager is now in post to oversee the registered manager and the home. In addition, the improved day-to- day management presence has helped to build staff’s confidence. Staff appreciate this. Staff have warm relationships with children, and children enjoy activities that they would not always have access to outside their short break.

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This monitoring visit

When staff or managers have concerns about children, they ensure that they inform children’s social workers and families or carers. This means that children’s networks of support are kept up to date.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/01/2020 Full Good 19/12/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378153 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

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified;

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Requirement Due date

and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that notifications are well written, clear and provide all relevant information.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 16 May 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 16 May 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378153 4 any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ascertain the views and opinions of children, parents, social workers and staff to inform his review of the quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of supervision are sufficiently detailed to provide an accurate record of the discussions between staff and supervisors, including actions. The record should also include evidence that staff are reflecting on their practice with the aim of improving the care children receive and understand the impact of their actions on children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378153 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wolverhampton City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, St Peters Square, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 1SH

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Inspector

Karol Keenan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC378153 6 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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