Social care inspector Chanel Bryant visited Upper Pendeford Farm, which provides short breaks for up to 6 young people at a time, earlier this year and found it to be 'warmly decorated and homely'.
Leaders and staff are 'committed to children having the best educational outcomes'. They ensure that children coming to stay at Upper Pendeford Farm are suitably matched, while staff have a good understanding of children’s health needs which ensures they are 'well met'.
Leaders have a good understanding of children’s progress in the home, while staff speak highly of support from managers. Staff are well trained and enthusiastic about learning key areas relevant to their role to deliver a good level of care.
Staff support children in understanding how to keep themselves safe and help them develop their independence skills, for instance supporting children to cook meals in preparation for adulthood or providing step by step plans for travelling on public transport. As a result, parents praise staff for developing their children’s independence skills.
Staff form good relationships with children and 'create positive experiences', providing them trips, including bowling and cinema visits. They also 'advocate well' for children with other professionals and support them to voice their own opinions, which has 'led to their views being listened to and positive changes taking place for children'.
Ofsted concluded that the overall experiences and progress of children and young people, how well children and young people are helped and protected, and the effectiveness of leaders and managers, are all Good.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: "This is a very positive report which demonstrates the good quality service provided by our short breaks service.
"Upper Pendeford Farm offers a home away from home for children and young people who may have experienced childhood adversity that has led to emotional and behavioural difficulties. I am pleased that not only Ofsted, but also the children and young people and their families, speak so highly of the important support it provides.”
