Children's Home run by Westmorland and Furness Council in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 1 Registered provider: Westmorland and Furness Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home opened in April 2023 and is owned and managed by the local authority. It provides short breaks for up to five children who may have physical disabilities and/or complex learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a confident and stable team of staff who support the children to enjoy their short breaks. Staff know the children well and the inspector observed that children are at the centre of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s introductions to the service are carefully planned. The manager ensures that they gather plenty of information to ensure that the children are safe and can enjoy their break. Children participate in making decisions about who they wish to stay with. This means that children make friends and socialise. One professional said, ‘The team work tirelessly to think of ways to achieve matches for our young people and see beyond their behaviours.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is bright and spacious. Many canvas prints of the children are displayed around the home. When children leave, these are given to them as a keepsake of their time spent in the home. There are lots of books, jigsaws and games for the children to enjoy. There is also a soft playroom, and the manager is currently developing a sensory room. Children’s bedrooms are welcoming and comfortable. One parent said, ‘The homeliness is a strength of the service.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has recently introduced targets for each child to work towards. Staff celebrate all achievements, which are known as ‘proud cloud’ moments and are displayed around the home. The manager makes effective use of case studies to evidence the progress children make during their stays. For example, staff have supported a child to improve his personal hygiene, and they have worked with another child, who chose to sleep on the floor when they started their short break, to now sleep in a bed. One professional said, ‘The staff ensure that everyone works with the families to achieve a consistent approach.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a wide range of activities which follow children’s interests and allow them to expand their experiences, such as fishing and visits to parks and zoos. During the inspection, children spoke about plans for summer, which includes a camping experience. Regular consultation takes place through group meetings and daily conversations. This gives children opportunities to make choices about what they would like to do during their stays. Children’s experiences are shared on the home’s social media page.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Enhancing children’s independence is a key focus in the home. Children learn skills such as cooking, budgeting and shopping. These are skills they will be able to take into adulthood. One parent said, ‘The staff have helped [name of child] with skills such as washing and improved their personal care.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 3

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

Children and their parents say that children are safe. Children have detailed risk management plans, which are reviewed regularly. They provide staff with clear guidelines and creative strategies to keep children safe.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s complex needs. They recognise their vulnerability and prioritise their safety. Due to the high staffing ratios, children are supported well and there have been no incidents of children going missing. Staff can demonstrate what action they would take should such an incident occur or if a child protection concern was to arise.

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

Physical interventions take place as a last resort. Where necessary, they form part of the child’s behaviour support plan, including techniques that are used. However, the recording is not always in line with regulations. For example, on occasions when the manager has participated in restraint, leaders have not ensured that they have evaluated the incidents sufficiently and within the required timescales. Furthermore, debriefs for the children have not been carried out by someone independent of the restraint. This means that children have not always had a suitable person who they can raise issues with.

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

Fire practices are safe. Each child has their own individualised fire plan in place and there is a pictorial version to help children understand what they need to do in the event of a fire.

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

Arrangements for medication are robust. Where there have been two medication errors, the manager has collaborated closely with staff and carried out competency checks to ensure that procedures are followed correctly. Additionally, there have been some recent changes with regards to the storage of medication. Medication administration now takes place in a separate area. This ensures that there is a quiet space for staff to carry out medication procedures.

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

Recruitment procedures and practices are safe and effective. All staff are checked and vetted before they start to work in the home. These checks ensure that only suitable adults are employed to work with children in the home. Furthermore, inexperienced staff receive a good-quality induction. This means that staff are equipped to care for children safely and in a manner that protects their rights and dignity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. He is committed and has a good understanding of the children’s needs. Staff say they work well together and there is a culture of support throughout the team. Staff say they benefit from the open-door policy, which is fully embedded. Recently, there has been a second assistant manager recruited. As a result, management oversight and monitoring are robust. Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 4 Staff are encouraged to develop their knowledge and progress in their roles. A wide variety of training takes place to meet children’s individual needs. Staff regularly attend team meetings, and daily handovers take place. This ensures that valuable information-sharing is in place. However, formal supervision of all staff, including the manager, lacks reflection and has not always taken place in line with the organisation’s policy. These are missed opportunities for managers and staff to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes effective use of his external and internal monitoring systems. He has good awareness of the home’s strengths and areas for development and maintains good oversight of staff practice and children’s progress. He regularly carries out a review of the quality of care. However, the review does not include clear areas for development or contain an action plan. A recommendation has been made to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work collaboratively with other agencies to share information effectively. Feedback from professionals is extremely positive. For example, a professional said, ‘The team go above and beyond to meet children’s needs.’ Another professional spoke about the positive relationships that are built with families and how staff have an excellent understanding of the children and their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents speak positively about the benefits of the service. One parent said, ‘[Name of child] has gained confidence with others and is learning to socialise.’ Another parent spoke about the excellent communication and how the manager keeps them updated. Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 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 ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff, including the manager, receive formal reflective supervision in line with the organisation’s policy. 19 April 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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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”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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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 (a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that leaders carry out timely evaluations of all restraints that involve managers. 19 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should carry out a review of the quality of care that captures the home’s strengths and possible weaknesses. The report should clearly identify actions required for the next six months of delivery. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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: 2731542 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westmorland and Furness Council, Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 2LD

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Inspectors

Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2731542 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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