Children's home run by Wigan Council in Wigan

Inspection report for children’s home: SC051856 1 SC051856 Registered provider: Wigan 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 home provides short breaks or shared care arrangements for up to four children with diagnosed disabilities. This may include autism and a learning disability, or multiple complex learning needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 14 May 2020.

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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: SC051856 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2024 Full Outstanding 11/01/2023 Full Outstanding 09/03/2022 Full Good 12/03/2019 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: SC051856 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive well-planned and individualised care during their stays. This ensures that they have enjoyable experiences and significantly improves outcomes for them. Children are supported to flourish and know that staff care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is well maintained, welcoming and has photos of the children displayed throughout. Staff have created areas to support children’s individual interests, including a reading nook, relaxing lounges, and sensory room. Children’s bedrooms are personalised for their stay with their own bedding and special items, such as posters, pillows, and teddies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have good relationships with the team of staff, who know them exceptionally well. Children are encouraged to develop their skills and enhance their independence. This includes helping in the kitchen, getting dressed independently and paying for items when shopping. One family member said, ‘He has progressed so much in every aspect.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to make choices about their meals and the activities that they engage in. Children have opportunities to enjoy their individual interests, such as playing in the garden, singing along to the television, arts and crafts, shopping and visiting local parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Introductions to the home are sensitively planned and at a pace that suits children and their families. Staff spend time getting to know the children through visits to the home before their first overnight stay. Children’s personalities, behaviours and needs 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 at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are highly skilled in communicating with the children and have an excellent understanding of their communication methods. Staff help children to develop their communication skills to support them to share their wishes and feelings and make choices. One social worker said, ‘Staff have talked me through the best ways to communicate with [name of child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s achievements are celebrated by staff and families. Families are extremely complimentary about the high levels of care their children receive and the support provided to them by staff. The designated safeguarding lead at a local school said, ‘It’s a very effective and valuable service and is often described as a “lifeline”.’

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

Children who stay at the home have various health needs. These are well understood and managed by staff. All children have comprehensive ‘keeping you safe plans’ that clearly identify known risks and vulnerabilities. These plans give clear instructions to staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC051856 4 about how risks to children should be safely managed. This helps to ensure that staff respond consistently, and risks are reduced.

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

Medication is stored securely in the home. The administration of medication is reviewed by the manager to ensure safe practice. Children’s complex health needs are well understood and safely managed by staff. The registered manager ensures that staff receive specialist training in relation to children’s individual health needs before their stay. Family members are also involved in training provided to ensure consistency for children.

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

Children benefit from a consistent team of staff who provide them with high levels of supervision and support. Supervision levels are based on children’s individual needs. This ensures that children are safe and protected from harm. One family member said, ‘He is safe and cared for.’

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

There has been one missing-from-home incident. Staff were proactive and searched thoroughly for the child. They liaised effectively with relevant professionals to ensure that the child was supported to return home safely. There are robust missing-from-home protocols in place, which are fully understood by staff. One family member said, ‘The staff were brilliant. They definitely dealt with it the right way and kept me informed.’

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

Children benefit from a nurturing and structured environment where positive behaviour is actively promoted. Positive recognition and praise outweigh negative consequences. No negative consequences have been recorded since the last inspection.

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

There is good multi-agency working. The manager and staff maintain excellent levels of communication with other professionals. The designated safeguarding lead at a local school said, ‘We have a very good working relationship. This provides consistency in care, which is vital for children’s communication, health, and well-being.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a dedicated, ambitious, and caring manager who advocates very well for the children. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager ensures that she is present in the home and accessible to staff and children. The manager speaks about the children with warmth and enthusiasm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children receive outstanding care, support, and guidance from a highly committed, competent, nurturing, and reflective staff team. The stable and settled staff team promotes consistency and strong attachments for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are well organised, up to date and detailed. This information evidences the continued progress that the children make during their stays. Children’s records include photos and capture their views and wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff team meetings are held regularly and have links to research in practice to help support guidance and practice. They focus on children’s well-being and progress and Inspection report for children’s home: SC051856 5 enable staff to be reflective. One member of staff said, ‘The children and young people are at the centre of everything that we do, and we regularly discuss and reflect on their care and support as a team.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff receive a range of training that focuses on meeting the children’s individual needs. Staff apply their training effectively when supporting the children. Training includes topics such as sensory processing, medication awareness, non-invasive ventilation, Prader-Willi syndrome, and food allergies awareness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff work hard to build trusting relationships with parents so that they feel confident leaving their children for their stay. Managers include parents in the care planning and service delivery for their children. This includes parents attending training and being involved in developing sensory programmes for their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a comprehensive understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Internal and external monitoring of the home is effective. However, on one occasion, the provider did not notify Ofsted in line with regulation when a serious incident occurred. Inspection report for children’s home: SC051856 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that Ofsted is notified if there is an incident they consider to be serious relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: SC051856 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Stacey Ilaboya, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC051856 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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