Children's Home run by Cheshire West and Chester Council in Cheshire West and Chester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 1 Registered provider: Cheshire West and Chester Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for two children who have social or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in May 2020. The current manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff put the well-being of children and their individual needs at the centre of their practice. There are clear and consistent boundaries in place. This helps children to experience a sense of belonging and develop positive relationships with staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children share their views, wishes and feelings, and staff involve them in decisions about their lives. Children’s views are responded to, which ensures that they feel valued and listened to.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to take part in activities and hobbies that they enjoy. They are supported to spend time with their friends. Staff also help children to spend time with their families. This helps children maintain a sense of their identity.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet children’s health and well-being needs. They ensure that children see health professionals when necessary. Staff find specialised, external help if children need this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in their education. One child was not attending school regularly. However, the manager and staff have worked well with the child’s school to support the child to improve their attendance. This was effective, and the child attends school every day.

p.3

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

Children have individualised risk assessments that address their known vulnerabilities. Risk assessments include strategies for staff to follow in practice. These assessments are up to date. This helps staff understand children’s current vulnerabilities, and staff show a good understanding about how to keep children safe and reduce risk.

p.3

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

Staff talk to children about how to keep safe. This would be enhanced if staff spoke to children following specific incidents. This is a missed opportunity to continue to help children understand any risks to their safety.

p.3

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

Restraint is used as a last resort. When this has happened, it has been reasonable and proportionate to keep children and staff safe. Staff speak to children following any incidents so they understand why this was necessary. Managers also speak to staff about the incident. However, records do not demonstrate that these interventions are managed in line with regulations. Records do not include the date of the incident and an evaluation of the restraint used. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall.

p.3

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

Staff do not consistently record and evaluate any consequences that they give to children. This does not help staff understand what works well to support children or Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 4 identify any triggers to help staff improve the quality of care they provide for children.

p.3

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

Staff talk to children about any worries or concerns they may have. If necessary, staff involve other professionals to help children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and qualified manager in post. The manager is ambitious, and she has high expectations for the children in her care. The staff are positive about the manager and describe a supportive environment. Staff spoken to describe the manager as readily available to provide advice and guidance.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring and review systems are effective. She is aspirational about what she wants to achieve. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and how to address these.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing is consistent. There is a core staff team who have completed specific training to meet children’s individual needs. However, there are gaps in this training. For example, not all staff have completed training in e-safety and suicide awareness.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision sessions take place regularly and focus on children’s experiences. Sessions are practice-led, and this helps staff reflect on their practice and learn from any incidents.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend frequent team meetings. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to discuss any relevant topics. This helps staff develop their knowledge and reflect on any current matters arising in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work positively with other professionals, such as social workers and education professionals. These relationships are effective in achieving positive outcomes for children. One social worker said, ‘I have been impressed at how child-focused they are’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children’s home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline or restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.5

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.5

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.5

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 27 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 6 a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (2) (3)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that debriefs for children and staff following a restraint take place within timescales and discuss the restraint used.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In addition to this, any imposed consequences must be recorded and their effectiveness evaluated.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that children are supported to understand how to keep safe through direct-work sessions aimed at known risks. 27 March 2023

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 27 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have completed mandatory training and training to meet the individual needs of the children.

p.7

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: 2547847 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cheshire West & Chester Council, Council Offices, 4 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 0BE

p.8

Inspector

Katie Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2547847 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. 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 medium,

p.8

Inspector

under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9