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 home registered with Ofsted in May 2003 and provides short breaks for children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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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: 12 December 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2023 Full Outstanding 01/03/2023 Full Outstanding 10/11/2021 Full Good 20/07/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC040982 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children who spend time at the home enjoy staying in an environment that is safe and homely. Photos of the children and a ‘welcome’ picture that has been created by staff and children are displayed in the home. This gives children a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are introduced to the short-breaks service at a pace that is right for them and their families. Staff spend time getting to know the children during their visits to the home before their first overnight stay. One family member said, ‘Staff supported the family with guilt and worry about using the service, which reassured us as a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff who know them well. Children are encouraged to develop new skills that help to improve their independence. This includes getting washed, dressed, and brushing teeth. One family member said, ‘They have learnt so much.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s personalities are carefully considered by the manager when visits are being planned. Time is taken to ensure that children can build friendships with other children who stay in the home. One social worker said, ‘Children interact with other children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are aware of children’s individual communication methods and support needs. They use child-friendly aids to support communication. This empowers children to participate in choosing activities and meals and to express their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive consistent care from a highly skilled and committed staff team. Children look forward to attending the short-breaks service, which is evident in their behaviours and feedback from family members and professionals. One family member said, ‘As soon as they arrive at the service, they start clapping their hands.’

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

Children who stay at the home have various health needs. These are understood and managed well. Children have detailed risk management plans that clearly identify known risks and vulnerabilities. These plans ensure that staff are consistent in their approach and risks are reduced.

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

Medication is stored securely and the process for medication coming in and out of the home is robust. The administration of medication is reviewed by the manager to ensure safe practice. Staff receive specialist training to support the children’s complex health needs.

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

Children are happy and safe at the home. Parents feel that their children are well cared for and staff take time to ensure that parents also feel supported. One parent said, ‘My child is safe, loved and well cared for.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC040982 4 Children benefit from a nurturing and structured environment where positive behaviour is actively promoted. Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. Natural consequences support the children to have a sense of ownership. There have been no incidents of children going missing from home. Staff are aware of the actions to take should a child go missing and there are clear policies in place to support this.

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

There is good multi-agency working. The manager and staff work closely with professionals and families to ensure that the children receive appropriate support. One social worker said, ‘There is good communication. There is a team around the child and the child is the main focus.’

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

The recruitment process for new staff is detailed. However, safer recruitment checks were not carried out for a new member of staff who had lived abroad for a prolonged period. This does not demonstrate that all staff are safely recruited to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated, caring, and ambitious manager who advocates well for the children. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and accessible to children and staff. The manager is supported by two dedicated deputy managers who work together to support the staff and children. One member of staff said, ‘The management team support staff and encourage training and ambition.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a suitably qualified staff team. Staff who do not currently have the relevant qualifications are working towards them. Managers and staff carry out a range of training to support the individual needs of the children. This includes training on topics such as diabetes awareness, loss and bereavement, epilepsy awareness and medication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular reflective supervision, which gives them the opportunity to reflect on their practice and consider development opportunities. Staff team meetings are effective and held regularly. Team meetings use research in practice to help to support and guide staff practice. They focus on children’s well-being and progress and enable staff to be reflective. One member of staff said, ‘We have team meetings once a month. This is helpful so staff can get together and put the best care in place for the young people who stay with us.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are personalised, well organised, up to date and detailed. This information evidences the continued progress that children make throughout their stays. Children’s views and wishes are captured in their records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work hard on building trusting relationships with families so that they feel confident when leaving their children to stay at the home. One family member said, ‘[Name of service] offers an extra support network to our family, and we would be lost without them.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC040982 5 The manager has a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. Internal and external monitoring of the home is effective. The manager and staff regularly seek children’s views, wishes and feelings. However, this information is not always included in the quality-of-care review. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040982 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that safer recruitment checks are carried out for all staff to ensure that they are suitable and safe to care for children. 6 December 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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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 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Menaka De Silva, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC040982 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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