Children's home run by Wakefield Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 1 Registered provider: Wakefield Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It provides a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to children’s care through an integrated health and children’s services staff team. The home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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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: 2707715 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff consistently provide outstanding care to children. Children benefit from highly personalised and nurturing care that enables them to make significant and positive changes in their lives. Comprehensive care planning is informed by research and theoretical approaches, and this is now well embedded in the home. Children with complex needs are provided with security and stability, which allows them to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health needs are excellently supported by staff, who work tirelessly with professionals to promote positive outcomes. One child has experienced significant health improvements since moving into the home. The child was initially reluctant to access medical treatment for a long-standing and serious condition. With staff support, the child has been empowered to manage their health needs effectively. This progress is due to the efforts of the team of staff, some of whom have used research and wider learning to inform their practice. The improved health of children has enhanced their overall development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s education is prioritised and tailored to their individual needs. Education plans consider their emotional needs and recognise that attending a school can be an overwhelming experience. Staff are ambitious for the children and help to support them to achieve their educational outcomes. There is excellent work between education providers and the staff to ensure that learning is effective and that children make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager empowers children to actively contribute to decisions affecting their lives, and children say that the staff have given them a voice. The children are involved in staff recruitment interviews, and they participate in the Children in Care Council and their review meetings. These activities create opportunities to influence and shape children’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children form very strong attachments with staff and enjoy trusted, secure and lasting relationships. Staff’s unwavering commitment to keep in touch with children is significant for those children who move on from the home and continue to thrive into adulthood.

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

Children are considerably safer because of the excellent care and support that the staff and manager provide. Staff and other specialists, such as child sexual exploitation and substance misuse services, talk to the children about their vulnerabilities. This very high level of support increases children’s resilience and awareness of risk. This is leading to positive change for children.

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

Staff are informed and guided by regularly reviewed risk assessments. The assessments detail the risk for individual children and provide practice guidance for staff. Staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 4 respond, manage and resolve safeguarding concerns. Information is shared swiftly with relevant professionals to ensure that decisions are made in children’s best interests, and children are safeguarded effectively.

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

Staff know the children well and support them to learn appropriate ways to manage their emotions. Staff look beyond the children’s presenting behaviours to address their underlying issues. Research-informed practice, underpinned by appropriate training, enables staff to respond positively to each child’s trauma. This allows children to gain improved control over their own emotions and behaviours. As a result, behavioural incidents have reduced in frequency.

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

Physical intervention techniques are used as a last resort. Comprehensive recording and auditing procedures ensure that children and staff have the opportunity to reflect and learn from their experience. This helps to ensure that children are better protected from harm.

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

The approach to the recruitment and induction of new staff is thorough and safe. This ensures that children are cared for by suitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership is strong and effective. Exceptionally strong leadership and management helps to create an environment where children and staff flourish. Leaders and managers are aspirational for all children, and they strive for them to experience outstanding care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Joint working between the local authority and local health services is highly effective. This home provides children, who have experienced significant trauma, the opportunity to receive high-quality care in a home that is equipped to meet their needs. This high- quality care offers children the stability and safety that they have lacked previously.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has a diverse and highly skilled staff team. The staff benefit from ongoing support, reflective supervision and constant guidance from managers. Additionally, high- quality training equips staff with the necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to provide safe and nurturing care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are proud to work in the home and have trust in the leadership. The managers celebrate staff’s achievements. They appoint a member of staff as ‘employee of the month’, who identifies and shares their excellent practice. This leads to a sense of personal fulfilment for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management of the home is extremely efficient and supported by effective systems and processes. The manager routinely collaborates with other professionals. Feedback from professionals indicates how the manager consistently has the children’s needs at the front and centre of their decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong learning culture and an appetite for innovation and sharing of knowledge. Leaders and managers have disseminated their model of care and practice to Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 5 several local authorities. This sharing of knowledge is a testament to their commitment and vision that every child should be provided with high-quality care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 6

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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: 2707715 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wakefield Council, County Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield WF1 2QW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Cheryl Whitehouse

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Inspectors

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Sarah McGow, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 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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