Children's Home run by Warrington Borough Council in Warrington

Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 1 Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority home which is registered to provide care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties. Admissions are made on both a planned and emergency basis. Children coming to live at the home are aged between 12 and 17 years. The home uses the No Wrong Door model, as part of the Strengthening Families, Protecting Children programme (SFPC). Children are provided with short-term care while their needs are assessed, and plans are made for their future permanence.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2021. The registered manager is on long-term, planned leave and therefore an interim manager is currently in post. The interim manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: 24 January 2024

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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: 2626053 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2024 Full Good 27/07/2022 Full Good 22/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were three children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good care that enables them to build trusting and positive relationships with staff members. Staff know the children well. Some children are already known to staff through outreach work completed with families. Children told inspectors they are happy living in the home and feel supported by staff. This helps to ensure that they make progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers assess each child’s needs before they move into the home. The initial assessment considers the compatibility of the needs of children who will live in the home together. Managers and staff support children’s moves into the home, and children are involved in the process. Managers and staff complete assessments to ensure that there is effective care planning for those children moving on from the home. Staff speak to children about their plans for the future. However, some children have experienced unplanned endings when it has not been safe for them to return to the home due to serious incidents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak to children to gain their wishes and views. Children are able to influence their day-to-day care experiences. Staff spend time listening to children and provide opportunities to talk about their care, recreational activities and food choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of education and promote children’s engagement. Staff work with education staff to reduce the barriers to learning. Staff are creative in engaging children in educational activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in a range of new activities and to access activities in their local community. Children are offered choices about the activities they would like to do. These experiences allow children new opportunities and help to increase their self-confidence. The staff help children to have positive experiences and improved outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s health needs. Staff make referrals to appropriate services, such as substance misuse agencies, to help children lead healthier lifestyles. The home offers children access to psychological support and speech and language support as part of their model of working. This helps children to access additional support in relation to their emotional well-being and communication when required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see the important people in their lives. Staff also work closely with children’s family members and ensure that there is effective communication. This close working relationship supports children’s return back to family. One parent spoke to inspectors about their child’s experiences when living at the home and said, ‘[Name of child] has some excellent relationships with staff, and Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 4 they are still working with [the child] on outreach, and [the child] was always kept safe.’

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

Staff have a good understanding of each child’s vulnerabilities and any concerns about their safety. Staff are vigilant and recognise signs that indicate that a child may be at risk of abuse or exploitation. Staff work well with a wide range of professionals to share risk and ensure that children are safe.

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

Managers and staff continually assess the risks for each child and take every necessary step to make sure that children are protected. Written assessments and plans provide clear information and guidance for staff. Managers and staff amend documentation when there are changes to children’s risks and needs. Staff sign the amended plans to ensure they are aware of the changes. This helps staff know how to keep children safe.

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

Staff help children to be aware of risks and to manage their safety. Staff spend time talking to the children about important aspects of their lives, including healthy friendships, exploitation, substance misuse and managing their emotional well-being. This work has helped children to make more positive choices about their safety and build resilience. For one child, the support of staff resulted in a reduction in their self- injurious behaviours.

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

Managers and staff take decisive action when they have concerns about children’s welfare, such as them going missing from home or if they have worries about their safety in the community. They actively look for children and welcome them back to the home. If there are concerns that children are under the influence of substances, staff ensure that they access medical advice and intervention as required. Staff work effectively with the police and health professionals to follow safety plans that manage and reduce risks to children.

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

Staff make sure that each child has clear and appropriate boundaries and expectations for their standards of behaviour. Staff deal with negative behaviour constructively and reinforce each child’s positive behaviour through praise and rewards. Staff find the least intrusive way possible to help children to manage their emotions and behaviour. When there have been incidents where holding a child has been required, there are clear records in place. Both the children and staff are provided with the opportunity for a debrief following an incident, and this includes agency staff. This helps staff and children to reflect on the incident and gain additional support if required.

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

Incidents of bullying in the home are low. When incidents have occurred, managers and staff have taken action to address the issue. However, further direct work with a child who displayed bullying behaviour would have supported their understanding of the damaging consequences of this behaviour. Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 5 Door alarms are used on each exit door of the home and also on all children’s bedrooms. Managers and staff are not assessing each child’s individual needs and risks to consider whether a door alarm is necessary. This lack of assessment and review of the use of door alarms impacts children’s privacy unnecessarily.

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

Safer recruitment practice is in place to ensure that only suitable people work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager provides clear and effective leadership. She is ambitious for children to live in a safe and supportive home where they can achieve better outcomes and lead happy and fulfilling lives. The staff share these high expectations and work hard to provide each child with the support and guidance that they need. One staff member commented, ‘She [the manager] is absolutely committed and has the full backing of our fabulous team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager provides each member of staff with good support, guidance and encouragement. The management and staffing arrangements make sure that children build safe and stable relationships with the staff looking after them. There are currently several staff vacancies, and staff recruitment is currently taking place. Agency staff are used in the home, and the manager ensures that they understand how to support each child. The manager completes supervisions with agency staff, and they attend handovers, which helps to ensure that children receive continuity of care. Any concerns raised about staff practice have been dealt with effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and also regular team meetings. This offers an opportunity for staff to critically reflect on their work with children. Children’s needs and how to improve practice and the quality of care provided to children are at the heart of discussions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training to develop their knowledge and understanding of helping children. However, there are gaps in staff training to develop their understanding of the specific needs of children living in the home, such as substance misuse. The home has provided care to children with diagnosed conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning needs. Further staff training is required to ensure that all staff understand how to support children with these specific needs. Furthermore, staff need to be enrolled onto appropriate qualifications in order to meet the timescales in line with the regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager continually reviews the quality of care and has effective oversight. When shortfalls are identified, these are appropriately addressed. The interim manager supports staff’s understanding, development and reflection to ensure that children receive a good quality of care and are supported and encouraged to make progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 6

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that staff receive training specific to children’s individual needs.

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Requirement Due date

Furthermore, leaders and managers should ensure that staff are enrolled on appropriate qualifications in order to meet the timescales in line with the regulations. 6 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if— 6 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 7 the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that each child’s needs and risks are assessed and reviewed in relation to the use of door alarms.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv)(xxi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure they respond to incidents of bullying in the home, including supporting children to understand the consequences of their behaviour. 6 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 8

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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: 2626053 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Warrington Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Council Offices, 1 Time Square, Warrington WA1 2NT

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Inspectors

Suzanne Birchall, Social Care Inspector Judith Birchall, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2626053 10 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 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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