Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

Unique reference number SC033492 Inspection date 26/01/2011 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Random

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Date of last inspection 27/07/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children’s Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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About this inspection

This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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Brief description of the service

This home is situated in a small rural housing estate. It backs onto fields to the rear and has a garden with a greenhouse, seating areas and areas to play. The home is close to a number of schools and other appropriate health and leisure facilities.

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Brief description of the service

The building is on two floors and has 12 single bedrooms currently in use for two separately housed groups of children. There are separate entrances provided for each of the two groups which are split based on their needs and care plans. The main unit accommodates eight children admitted to the home where their needs are assessed and an intensive package of support is undertaken preparing them to be able to move towards a permanent placement. The other unit accommodates up to four children who move from the main unit and have reached a point where alternative placements are being sought. There are lounges with television, video and music equipment. There are additional communal areas for art and craftwork.

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Summary

The overall quality rating is outstanding.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Summary

The purpose of this interim inspection was to ensure that children are safe. The staying safe and organisational standards, including equality and diversity were inspected on this occasion.

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Summary

This is an excellent home with an experienced and well established staff team who provide a nurturing environment which children respond warmly to. There is an excellent commitment for their education, the local authority education liaison officer and the education support officer who comes in weekly to support homework speak very highly of the communication the home has which benefits the children. Children are safeguarded by good policies and procedures which are fully understood and implemented by the staff. The individual needs of each child are clearly identified with guidance on how these needs are to be met.

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Summary

There were no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Some children require help with personal care and other matters. This is always done in private with sensitivity to preserve the dignity of the child.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children know that they can talk to staff about any issue that they are not happy with; the home maintains a moans and groans record and a complaints log although no complaints are recorded. Children are encouraged to have discussions around the meal table.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff have a good awareness of safeguarding issues and are vigilant in supervising the children at all times. All staff have undertaken on-line safeguarding training and some staff have received child exploitation on-line training which they will cascade to the rest of the team. Staff talk to the children about keeping themselves safe and remind them about appropriate behaviours when they play with one another.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Bullying is a constant project within the home. The display board with this theme is regularly updated with photographs of the children in role play reminding them 'to be nice to one another'. Children confirmed that they know that 'being mean' to one another is unacceptable and will be quickly challenged by staff.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Children know that they must not leave the building without staff and there are no incidents of children going missing. Good strategies are in place to ensure children do not run off whilst out.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

There is an excellent approach to behaviour management; many of the children display some very challenging and disturbing behaviours when they are admitted to the home. The staff work hard to establish firm but fair consistent boundaries and routines which the children quickly respond to. Each child has a behaviour management plan and a 24 hour management plan to ensure a consistent approach to their care. The team work closely with the children and adolescent mental health service who offer guidance or affirmation that strategies they use are effective. Relationships between children and staff were seen to be warm and nurturing. There are a number of sanctions and restraints recorded, these are appropriate; the restraints are mainly gentle holds to help the child to regain control. These measures are discussed with the children who have their comments recorded. The home has an incentive scheme and good behaviour is rewarded; the children all strive to

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Risk assessments are in place for each child, the premises and activities outlining the risk with strategies in place to minimise the risk. The risk assessments for activities give a broad outline of the risk but prior to the activity a detailed risk assessment is undertaken which is appropriate to the children who are participating and the specific activity. For example, a cycling trip will have the basic risk assessment covering equipment and general guidance. Prior to the trip the assessment will identify the children who are going and what risks they may be subject to, the route to be taken and what risks that may pose. This ensures that staff are fully aware of any risks that may be present. Fire records are in good order with drills held at night to ensure that all staff know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are vigilant in checking the identity of any visitors to the home to ensure only suitable people have access to the children.

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Organisation

A detailed Statement of Purpose has been produced clearly informing interested parties what can be expected from the home. A children's guide has also been produced, this is a child-friendly document showing children what it will be like when they come to live at the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. The children were eager to tell the inspector about shops they had visited reflecting the ethnicity of children resident at the home. Meals from different cultures are a regular feature at the home. The home is preparing for Chinese New Year celebrations which is causing great excitement. Individual development plans clearly identify the particular needs of children arising from their ethnicity and guidance given to show how these needs are met. Some children who wish to follow their religion are taken to Sunday Mass. The behaviour management plans, risk assessments, 24 hour management plans and individual development plans are all individual to the child.

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Organisation

There is an established, highly committed and experienced staff team who provide excellent care for the children placed. Rotas demonstrate that staff who put the children to bed will get them up in the morning, this is excellent practice.

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Organisation

There are sufficient staff on duty, night time vacancies are covered by regular qualified and experienced agency workers. All staff have either attained National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 or equivalent, or are working towards this qualification. The senior management team, including senior residential practitioners have attained NVQ at level 4 or equivalent. The staff team have a good understanding of child development and are keen to expand their knowledge to give them a better understanding of why children in crisis behave as they do.

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Organisation

There are good monitoring systems in place and the management team exercises effective leadership to ensure that the home delivers the best possible childcare.

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Organisation

Children's files contain all the necessary documentation to ensure that they will be able to follow their history.

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