Children's home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 1 SC428084 Registered provider: Wakefield Council 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-break services for up to seven children who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities, and/or associated complex health needs. In addition to meeting the children’s social care needs, the service also provides nursing care and is registered with the Care Quality Commission. The home currently supports 35 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/03/2022 Full Good 26/11/2019 Full Outstanding 03/10/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from skilled staff who have a nurturing and caring approach. The low staff turnover provides a high level of consistent care to the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The core team of experienced residential staff work alongside several qualified nurses. This enables them to provide day-to-day care for children who have additional health needs. Staff communicate well with families and health professionals, and they attend children’s medical meetings and update their records. This multi-agency working ensures that children’s health needs are always prioritised and staff have up-to-date plans to follow.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a wide range of toys and games when they come to stay. There are two large sensory rooms where children can spend time relaxing and watching their favourite movies. A large garden allows children space to explore the nature trail and play on the outdoor equipment. This gives children opportunities to engage in play activities of their choice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff organise a range of themed days for children based around public holidays and celebrations. Staff capture these experiences in photos so that children have memories of their time at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children who have significant challenges to make progress during their short breaks. One child who would not engage with his peers is now going out for picnics with other children and sitting together at the table when he comes to stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with families to support children during difficult times. They supported one child and their family when the child refused to move to their new home and displayed behaviours of concern. The manager and staff supported the child to have extra days to provide them with familiarity. During this stay, staff undertook social stories using pictures to support the child to understand the move to the new home. This supported the child to adapt to their new house successfully. The parent told the inspector that, ‘Staff went above and beyond. Without them supporting us we could not have managed. I would be lost without the support they give.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is spacious and has been designed to meet the needs of all the children that access this service. The communal areas are well decorated and furnished. However, some areas of damp have been identified in parts of the building and in one child’s bedroom. This could possibly affect the health of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 4

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

Staff provide a safe environment for the children by understanding their behaviours. Staff understand the subtle changes in children’s behaviours and moods. This means that staff recognise when children are communicating signs of being upset and distressed and respond quickly to support them.

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

The planning for children’s stays takes into account their vulnerabilities and known risks. The manager considers the staffing levels to ensure children are supported to access activities in the community.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of the risks to children’s health associated with their disabilities and their long-term medical needs. Staff understand the plans to support children with epilepsy and know how to support children who need help with gastrostomy feeding. Staff provide sensitive care to children whilst respecting their dignity at all times.

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

Leaders and managers have not reviewed the behaviour support plans for a child. A physical hold was used on a child that was not part of their care plan. Strategies to support the child have not been explored with external professionals to provide clearer direction for staff on what practice can be used.

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

Children’s risk assessments provide staff with clarity about the action to take when risks are identified. Some children’s risk assessments noted risks relating to absconding and missing from home. While there have been no recent incidents of children being missing from home, and while staff were able to discuss what they might do, there were no individual missing-from-home plans and strategies for staff to refer to should a child go missing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a wealth of experience of working with children with disabilities. She is well supported by assistant managers, and she values and appreciates all the staff, who are equally passionate and committed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support from the manager. The manager works alongside staff to maintain an overview of the care provided to children. The manager is visible and accessible to staff and provides a high level of supervision for staff to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager creates opportunities for staff to develop their skills and has targets identified in their appraisals. One staff member is the lead for fire safety, and another is the home’s trainer for their chosen model of physical interventions. Staff feel they work well together and support each other in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals praise the work of the manager and the staff. They describe the manager as friendly, child-centred and flexible in supporting the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 5 The manager has good links with the social workers and the transition teams. As children grow older, the manager supports families to plan for the transition to adult services. This ensures that children receive a consistent level of care as they enter adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose has not been updated to reflect the qualifications of four members of staff. There is no workforce development plan, and the training records relating to staff are out of date. These gaps do not support the manager to address issues relating to the ongoing development of staff and the premises. Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 6

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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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that children who have risks identified relating to missing from home and absconding have strategies in place for staff to follow and understand. 10 February 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)(2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure:  the records relating to staff training are updated 10 February 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 7  the homes statement of purpose is updated to reflect staff qualifications  the implementation of a workforce development plan.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the behaviour management policy") which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. (Regulation 35 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should update children’s behaviour support plans with the strategies required to keep children safe. 10 February 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure the areas of damp in the home are addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, Page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC428084 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Cheryl Whitehouse

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Inspector

Aasia Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC428084 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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