Children's home run by Wigan Council in Wigan

Inspection report for children's home: SC040266 1 SC040266 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 children’s home is registered to care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC040266 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Inadequate 12/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC040266 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been no children living in the home from June 2021 until late July 2023. On 22 January 2023, the provider applied to Ofsted to vary their conditions of registration requiring them to give Ofsted three months’ notice of their intention to move a child into the home. On 12 July 2023, one child moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child spoke positively about their relationships with staff. Staff listen to the child’s wishes and feelings and advocate effectively for them with wider agencies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with healthcare professionals to support the child with a diagnosed lifelong medical condition. The newest member of staff spoke about additional research they had undertaken, which meant they had a good understanding of the child’s health needs. The child has been supported to understand the risks associated with their condition. This is closely monitored by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have worked closely with the designated nurse for looked after children when the child struggled to engage with their annual health assessment. However, staff had not considered accessing support from wider agencies to support the child to understand the risks associated with using electronic cigarettes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of the child keeping in touch with their family. This means that the child can maintain relationships with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made positive progress in accessing daily education, following a long period out of education. Staff have been proactive in supporting the child with their educational needs. Staff are working with education colleagues and there are plans in place to support the child back into full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the impact of the child’s lived experience. However, when life-story work has been delayed, action has not been taken to challenge the local authority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been damage to the home, which detracts from a homely feel. However, staff ensure that repairs are carried out quickly.

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

Staff take effective action to safeguard the child. Risks to the child are known and understood by staff caring for them. The manager and senior leaders have acted to increase the time that the psychologist spends in the home. This is supporting the child to receive a consistent approach when they become distressed. Inspection report for children's home: SC040266 4 Staff handovers are detailed and reflective. During handovers, staff use a mapping tool to help them gain an understanding of the child’s behaviours. When the child is in crisis, their behaviours are managed without the use of physical intervention.

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

There are measures in place to help support the child to stay safe online. Staff have had conversations with the child about internet safety.

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

Staff understand the risks for children who go missing from home. There are plans in place to manage such situations. However, on one occasion, staff did not follow the actions set out in the child’s plans, and this was not identified by the manager.

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

The child’s risk assessments and plans are regularly reviewed. However, not all changes made reflect the child’s current circumstances. This includes the recording of room searches which have been carried out to keep the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023. The manager is well respected by the staff team. He is supported by a competent deputy manager. The manager has effective oversight of the progress of the children, the staff and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable staff team. There is a new member of staff and there are further plans to recruit an additional staff member. The staff provide the child with a consistent level of care. The staff are enthusiastic and compassionate and want to support the child to make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake a range of training which supports their knowledge, to help them meet the child’s needs. Staff say they are well supported by managers. The manager ensures that staff receive monthly supervision. New staff say they have a detailed induction to support them during their probation period. Inspection report for children's home: SC040266 5

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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, The 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 registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(b)(c)) 3 January 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff access advice and support from the designated nurse for looked after children regarding the child’s use of vapes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.8)  The registered person should ensure that they challenge the placing authority when children’s life-story work is delayed, impacting the child’s sense of identity. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that all staff understand and follow the procedures set out for when a child is missing from care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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: SC040266 6

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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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Inspector

Alexandra Pearson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC040266 7 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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