Children's home run by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council in Wigan

Inspection report for children's home: SC040982 1 SC040982 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 provides short breaks for children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC040982 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2023 Full Outstanding 10/11/2021 Full Good 20/07/2021 Full Inadequate 16/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC040982 3

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outstanding

Children have delightful short breaks at the home because they receive a warm welcome, and they are cared for by staff who know them well. Staff work hard to maintain a homely environment for children to relax and enjoy their time. Children enjoy playing and having fun with staff.

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outstanding

Staff are highly skilled in supporting the individualised care needs of the children. Staff make sure that children regularly hear positive statements about themselves. Staff and children are affectionate towards one another. This helps children to feel loved and cared for.

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outstanding

Photos are taken of the fun and enjoyable activities that children take part in when staying at the home. The photos are put on an online sharing platform for children and their carers to see. One parent told the inspector, ‘It’s so helpful. I really look forward to seeing the updates.’ The photos are also used to create personalised memory books for each child to take with them when they no longer need to access the home.

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outstanding

Each child’s stay is extremely well planned and organised. This includes welfare telephone calls to parents on the morning of the child’s stay. This helps ensure that staff are fully updated with any changes to the child’s needs, including changes to medication.

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outstanding

Managers have considered which children will have pleasurable stays together. This has helped children build positive friendships, which continue even after the children have stopped accessing their short breaks.

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outstanding

Staff have positive relationships with children’s schools. This ensures that the staff work effectively with school professionals. For example, staff ensure that communication aids are replicated between home and school. Staff understand children’s education, health and care targets, and they work hard to promote them. As a result, children experience consistency in care and make progress towards their targets.

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outstanding

Staff are skilled in seeing children’s behaviours as a form of communication. Staff respond effectively to this. Furthermore, children are continually supported to develop their communication skills. Staff use a wide range of communication aids and strive to support children to make progress in this area.

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outstanding

Staff have the skills and expertise to ensure that children feel listened to. When one child communicated that she was not enjoying her stays, steps were taken to change her package of support. This meant that the child felt listened to and valued. Inspection report for children's home: SC040982 4 The home is well decorated and appropriately maintained. The home has recently had a new sensory room installed. This is loved by many of the children, who enjoy the different options for music, lights and sounds.

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outstanding

Staff encourage and support children to develop their independence in meeting their personal care needs. When children need support with their intimate care, staff ensure that this is completed safely and sensitively. Plans give clear guidance to staff on the support needs of children. These are updated on a regular basis to reflect children’s wishes and feelings. For one child, they have started to independently access the toilet.

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outstanding

The excellent care children receive helps to keep them safe. This is because staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and the strategies to protect them.

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outstanding

The manager has completed research-based training with the staff. The training has equipped staff with the skills and knowledge to consider and manage children’s holistic needs, including children’s past trauma and disabilities. The training has informed decision-making about how to keep children safe, and this is reflected in children’s risk assessments.

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outstanding

The staff are highly skilled and have the expertise and confidence to support children when they display distressing behaviours. As a result, staff can de-escalate situations and help to calm children. This means no physical intervention has been used since the last inspection.

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outstanding

Some children need a wide range of medication to meet their complex health needs. Staff ensure that these are safely administered. Furthermore, staff have a good understanding of children’s health needs and can recognise when they may need to take action in response to a change in the child’s health. This ensures that children remain safe while on their short breaks.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that children can take appropriate risks, for example exploring new environments such as woodlands and parks. Staff’s professional judgement ensures that children are adequately supervised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an experienced and confident leader. She has created a culture of high aspirations for children and has been influential in supporting children to progress. She is supported by a knowledgeable and effective deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff enjoy working at the home. As a result, there are high retention rates, and staff are motivated. The long-standing staff team provides children with a consistent quality of care. Inspection report for children's home: SC040982 5 The manager has built strong relationships with the families of the children accessing the home. This means that families are confident their children are safe, well cared for and having positive experiences. They value the support on offer and enjoy seeing their children have opportunities to build friendships and make positive memories.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel very well supported in their roles. When staff have experienced difficulties outside of the home, the manager has sought additional support for them. As a result, staff have been able to continue to work at the home. The registered manager is visible and approachable. Staff morale is high, and this means the team is creative and ambitious in working to achieve the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers make sure that staff have the skills and knowledge to be able to meet children’s needs effectively. The deputy manager has completed a wide range of different research on children’s diagnosed disabilities. She has then delivered workshops to help the team understand the impact of children’s individual diagnosed needs. This has included input and attendance from specialists from other services. This ensures that the team continues to have an in-depth knowledge of the support needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff love working at the home. They are enthusiastic and pride themselves on providing children with positive experiences. Staff are proactive in their care of children. For example, additional resources were purchased after parents informed staff about their child’s new interest.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal monitoring systems are excellent. Reflective practice for staff is strong, and managers use what they learn through monitoring the care provided to continually improve. The manager has ensured staff check placing authority systems monthly. This helps ensure important information is included when updating plans and records for children.

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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: SC040982 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Library Street, Wigan WN1 1YN

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Inspector

Alexandra Pearson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC040982 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 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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