Children's Home run by WiNurture Childcare Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2854880 1 Registered provider: WiNurture Childcare Limited

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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 home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to 4 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. All three children contributed to the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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: n/a

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2854880 2

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Summary of findings

This was the first inspection of this home. It is led by a manager who is aspirational for the children and staff. The children are happy and say that the home is good. Positive working relationships between staff and children have been established. Staff feel very well supported by the manager and senior leaders. This has helped them to manage a very difficult situation well. The manager and staff work closely with children's social workers and families. Staff care for children in a way that involves a lot of praise and fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at this home. They enjoy a homely and comfortable environment that is very well maintained. Children having large and comfortable bedrooms which they have personalised to reflect their individual personalities, interests and tastes. Relationships between staff and children are good. Children like the staff and know who they can go to for help and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's care plans are known as, 'My plan'. They are clearly written from the child's perspective. They help staff to know how to care for each child and meet their individual needs. The plans could be made stronger if there was more information regarding the child's culture and identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education and learning are seen as important for all children. Two children are in fulltime education. There are good working relationships between school staff and home staff. Staff are supporting an older child in looking at college courses and work opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children's health needs are known and met well by staff. This includes additional health needs for one child. It also includes children's mental health needs. Staff have a good understanding of neurodiversity. Children are cared for in ways that show staff understand each child. They know how children communicate their wishes and feelings. Children's medication is stored securely, administered safely and recorded well with regular audits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend good one to one time with children. These keywork sessions are on topics that are specific to each child. They help children learn and develop. For example, different ways of expressing themselves to help them make their feelings and wishes known.

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

Children have occasionally gone missing from the home. Staff respond appropriately when this happens. The staff undertake local searches and make regular phone calls to Inspection report for children's home: 2854880 3 the child. Children are warmly welcomed back to the home when they return. Staff help children to know of the associated risks to children when they are missing.

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

The manager has ensured that safe recruitment processes are used for new staff joining the home. This helps to protect children.

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

The manager, senior leadership and staff have dealt with a serious situation extremely well. This involved a gang who were targeting children. Staff remained resilient through this difficult and challenging period. A police prevention and safeguarding manager said, 'I think they went well over and above to protect their children and staff and ones from other care homes.'

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

Staff understand risks to children. There are clear risk assessments in place for each child. These identify the risks, action for staff to take, and the level of risk before and after action taken. There is a good assessment of risks associated with the location of the home. There are also good crisis management plans for the children. These identify any triggers for unwanted behaviours. They identify the help a child needs during and after a crisis.

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

Children have been supported to understand the risks of substance misuse. This has included through one-to-one keywork sessions. A specialist youth substance misuse service is referred to when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff like working at this home. They speak very highly of the children, colleagues, the manager and other senior leaders. One staff member said, 'The home manager is approachable, professional and very experienced. The team leaders are always in communication with staff to make sure everything is running as it should be, and to keep up with staff training.'

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the strengths of the team and areas she still wishes to develop. This is aided by good home and workforce development plans. She can identify future leaders and those who need extra support or encouragement. The manager can tackle issues and act if staff are not meting the expected standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are led by the manager each month. There are in-depth discussions regarding each child. Also, good agenda items for up-skilling staff, such as processes for disclosure and whistle blowing. Additional meetings are held when required to share important information. Learning circles are also used to refresh staff's knowledge. Topics include medication administration and recording.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supervised each month by a team leader or the manager. They are effective meetings that discuss the staff member's wellbeing. Also, their role and how they are supporting the children. Staff members value these productive meetings. Inspection report for children's home: 2854880 4 The manager feels very well supported by the responsible individual and the operations manager. This includes monthly supervisions and being available whenever needed. She really appreciated the additional support during the difficult time with the gangs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager effectively uses a large range of quality assurance and monitoring tools. This is to ensure that she has full oversight of the care and protection of the children. She spends time with children and observes staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is extremely enthusiastic about her role. She has high aspirations for the children and the staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2854880 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that care meets each child's needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account the child's gender, religion, ethnicity, cultural and linguistic background, sexual identity, mental health, any disability, their assessed needs, previous experiences and any relevant plans. This refers to the child's culture and identity being clear within their care plan. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 14, paragraph 3.2)

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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: 2854880 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: WiNurture Childcare Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 40 Billing Road, Northampton NN1 5BA

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2854880 7 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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