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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC464762 1 SC464762 Registered provider: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority short-breaks service provides short periods of residential care for up to six children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2013 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2023

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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: SC464762 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good 08/10/2018 Full Good 20/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC464762 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences during their short breaks. They look forward to their short breaks and to spending time with the other children and the adults who support them. They enjoy activities such as cooking and baking. Children spend time outdoors and benefit from playing in the new outdoor play area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they are happy when they spend time at the home. One child said that the adults are good. Parents are positive about the care and support that children receive. One parent said, ‘My son has always been very well cared for throughout this time and has very positive relationships with staff members.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of each child’s health needs. This helps to ensure that children’s health needs are met during their stays. Staff are competent in the administration of medication, and medication is safely stored and regularly audited. This helps to ensure that children receive medication as prescribed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to share their views, wishes and feelings about the care and support they receive. Staff act on children’s views. Children are given a choice of bedroom when they come to stay. One child enjoyed a pirate-themed party after sharing with staff that it was something they really wanted. Information about how to make a complaint is tailored to suit each child’s preferred communication style, and staff understand how they can support each child to make a complaint should they wish to. No complaints have been made. However, this bespoke approach ensures that children have the freedom to be open about their experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independence skills. For example, one child is now able to make their bed. This is a huge achievement for this child. Direct work with children helps them to increase their skills and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good communication between staff and educational professionals where required. Staff have a good understanding of each child’s educational targets, and children are helped by staff to achieve their goals.

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

Children have positive relationships with staff and their peers. They are settled and happy during their time at the home. When challenges occur, staff use their knowledge of the child and their relationships to de-escalate situations quickly and safely.

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

Direct work increases children’s safety. For example, work between staff and children about online safety has raised children’s awareness of the risks and how to ensure that they have safer online experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC464762 4 Physical interventions are rare. Staff are quick to spot the signs and act when a child has started to become distressed. When a child has needed to be held, staff have ensured that this has been done safely and sensitively. Following a situation when a child has been held, the child and staff have the opportunity to share their thoughts and reflections. Good oversight by the manager ensures that staff practice is appropriate.

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

Health and safety checks of the home are carried out regularly. When shortfalls are identified, these are promptly responded to. Individual inductions for children about the fire procedures ensure that they are aware of what will happen in the event of a fire.

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

The manager has carried out a review of the location risk assessment. However, this did not include consultation with external professionals about any risks posed to children in the local area. Consequently, it is unclear if any action is needed to improve children’s safety in the community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management arrangements for the home are stable. The registered manager and the deputy manager have been in post for several years and have good oversight of the operation of the home. The managers and staff are committed to ensuring that children receive good-quality care and support during their short breaks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about the support they receive from managers. Staff supervision is regular and allows staff to think about their practice and develop their skills. Staff receive a wide range of training, much of which is focused on helping staff to understand and meet the needs of children with a disability. Training in communication means that staff can communicate with children well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is used outside of the home. However, the manager has not ensured that those who have parental responsibility for each child are aware of this method of surveillance and have provided their consent for its use.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager maintains good communication with external professionals. Regular meetings take place between the team at the home, external professionals and children’s families. This collaborative approach ensures that key people are kept up to date about the child’s wishes and needs and that resources and support can be adapted to suit the child’s circumstances. Inspection report for children’s home: SC464762 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 review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2)) 16 January 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that, at the time of placement, written consent is obtained from the placing authority for any monitoring or surveillance. The use of CCTV is regulated by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Surveillance Camera Code of Conduct (Home Office 2013) (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)

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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: SC464762 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, Civic Centre, Walsall WS1 1TP

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC464762 7 regulates and 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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