Children's home run by Wigan Council in Wigan

Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 1 SC051856 Registered provider: Wigan Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This local authority home provides short breaks or shared care arrangements for up to four children at any one time. Children have a diagnosed disability that may include autism spectrum disorder and a learning disability, or multiple complex learning needs.

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Information about this children's home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 14 May 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2022 Full Good 12/03/2019 Interim Not judged 09/01/2019 Interim Not judged 24/01/2018 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 3

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outstanding

Children enjoy wonderful short breaks that add considerably to the quality of their lives. Staff are highly motivated and skilled in supporting disabled children. They provide each child with an incredibly high standard of personalised care that meets children’s complex and additional needs.

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outstanding

Each child’s stay is extremely well planned and organised. Managers make sure that staff have the skills and knowledge to be able to meet children’s needs effectively. They skilfully and carefully match the children who stay at the same time. A lot of thought goes into making sure that children get on with one another and receive the best possible support, so that they get the most out of their stay.

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outstanding

The arrangements for introducing children to the home are sensitive to the needs of each child and their family. Introductions are planned considering children’s abilities and capacity to understand and retain information. Children visit the home often before they stay overnight. This gives them opportunities to get used to the environment and to get to know the people who will be looking after them.

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outstanding

The staff team’s exceptionally high-quality care and professional practice are contributing to children’s development. Children make sustained progress in improving their health and emotional well-being, education, personal care, communication, social interactions, eating habits and family relationships. Staff make sure that the environment and activities meet each child’s sensory needs.

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outstanding

Children are supported and encouraged to express their wishes and feelings. Staff are skilled at using a range of methods of communication to help children make meaningful choices about how they are feeling and how they spend their time.

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outstanding

Staff’s use of well-informed support plans makes an exceptional difference to children’s lives. They support children to widen their experiences as part of their development. Staff encourage children to bake, cook and try new foods. Children are now able to use cutlery and sit at the table for meals with other children. The work done to support a child to wear clothes has enabled them to spend time in the community with their family and enjoy new experiences, including pumpkin picking, going to a soft-play centre and watching fireworks.

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outstanding

Children’s records provide a detailed picture of their needs, experiences and progress. Records are written in an engaging way that show children’s strengths and achievements. Comprehensive summary reports measure children’s progress against their objectives and explain what needs to happen next to help the child. These records help managers and staff reflect on the child’s time at the home and the impact of the quality of care on the child’s life. Additionally, they provide important Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 4 information for the child, their family and professionals about their needs and abilities.

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outstanding

Exceptional safeguarding arrangements protect children from the risk of harm. Children, including the most vulnerable, feel safe and develop a strong sense of well-being.

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outstanding

Children stay in a safe and very pleasant environment. Managers make sure that the accommodation and facilities meet children’s needs, including their communication and sensory needs. The house and gardens are maintained to a very high standard to protect children from avoidable risks.

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outstanding

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of each child’s complex needs and the additional vulnerabilities of disabled children. They provide children with an excellent level of supervision that protects them from risk of harm, including from accidents or going missing from the home.

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outstanding

Staff recognise the signs that indicate a child may be at risk of harm. They understand their responsibilities for protecting children. They know what they must do when they have concerns about a child, and they follow statutory safeguarding guidance.

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outstanding

Staff use research-based practice to build positive relationships with children and understand their needs. They support children to find positive ways to express their wishes, regulate their emotions and reduce any unwanted behaviour.

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outstanding

Staff help children to overcome things that they find difficult or cause them distress. For example, the home’s staff have worked very closely with professionals from a child’s school to create a social story that has helped the child to manage their transition into school positively.

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outstanding

Staff manage difficult situations and behaviour safely. They take steps to reassure children and prevent situations from escalating. Staff have only had to use physical intervention on two occasions. In both instances, it was used appropriately to protect the child and those around them. Detailed records enabled the manager to evaluate what had happened and inform the arrangements for the children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a tenacious and inspirational leader. They have considerable expertise in supporting children with autism spectrum disorder and complex additional needs. The manager and deputy managers together make a confident, knowledgeable and highly effective leadership team. They have high expectations Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 5 and have created the right culture to make sure that children receive an incredibly high standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff build supportive relationships with children’s families. Parents are extremely confident and comfortable that their children are safe and cared for properly at the home. They value the support available and the positive difference it makes to family life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff help parents to develop a better understanding of their child’s disability and find strategies to manage the child’s complex needs. A social worker said, ‘Staff have difficult conversations with parents positively, encouraging parents, working with them and ensuring that parents are part of the plans.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers make sure that plans continue to meet the children’s needs and are followed consistently. Managers and staff have effective working relationships with parents, social workers, schools, leisure providers and health professionals. They work together to make sure that the arrangements for children’s support are applied consistently in every setting. A parent said, ‘The home links everyone together really well to make sure that my child gets the right support.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers provide staff with excellent support and guidance. Staff use practice- related supervision and team meetings to reflect critically on children’s progress and their own professional practice. Managers make sure that helpers receive high- quality training, which is tailored to the personal needs of the children they are supporting.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers use thorough monitoring systems to understand the strengths of the home and areas for improvement. For example, staff shortages are limiting the number of children who can use the service. Managers make sure that they only care for children whose needs they can meet safely. Well-planned staffing arrangements make sure that there are always enough knowledgeable, experienced, skilled and well-trained staff available to support each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has recruited suitable staff and is looking at ways to improve staff retention. They are developing the range of services the home provides. They have secured funding for waking night staff so they can offer care for children with sleep difficulties. Also, they are enhancing their expertise in understanding children’s sensory and communication needs by employing an occupational therapist and a speech and language therapist to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff share their expertise, skills and highly effective practice with parents and professionals outside the home. This has included providing practical advice to support a child’s transition from a secure children’s home back into the community. Furthermore, the manager has made a presentation about the work of the home at a national conference Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 6

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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: SC051856 7

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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

Nick Veysey, Social Care Inspector Colin Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC051856 8 inspects 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or

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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: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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