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

Unique reference number SC063978 Inspection date 08/12/2011 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/01/2011 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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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This local authority children's home provides care and accommodation for eight young people between the ages of 14 and 17 years who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional and behavioural problems. The home offers a living environment to young people on a medium- to long-term basis. The home prepares young people to live independently.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This is a large children's home accommodating seven young people with quite diverse needs. Each young person has a highly individualised, comprehensive care plan and a 24 hour management plan which clearly sets out how they are to be cared for. Outcomes for the young people are variable but all have benefited from the clear structure, expectations and very good child care practice that are provided.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's well-being is promoted by their involvement in all aspects of their care planning and in how the home is run. Young people benefit from the warm and nurturing environment that is provided by the staff team who are committed to ensure that young people have good life experiences. A number of the young people were involved in some risk taking behaviours that compromised their welfare. This behaviour has ceased and young people feel safe.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are variable. Some young people engage in education and are good attendees and are doing very well. While other young people are reluctant to engage with their education provision and have been excluded from a number of settings. A number of the young people arrived at the home with a history of non-school attendance and in the main they now are good attendees. It is an expectation of the home that young people do have some daytime occupation and they are encouraged to participate. There is excellent communication with the education provider to ensure information is shared and to verify attendance.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are well met in the home. They are all registered with doctors, dentists and opticians and records contain details of their immunisations. They benefit by having nutritious healthy meals provided and some young people shop and prepare their own meals. These individuals are encouraged to prepare these meals from scratch preparing them for independent living. Young people benefit from learning skills that will need to live independently. An assessment tool is being developed to help identify which skills they need support with and these are addressed to help them make a successful transition to adulthood.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from having good contact with their significant family and friends. The home maintains a good relationship with parents and carers and information is shared as appropriate.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from the warm nurturing relationships that they have with the staff. They confirm that they have someone they can talk to and consider that they are well looked after.

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Quality of care

Young people have excellent opportunities to have their views heard; care plans set out the aim of empowering young people to express their wishes and feelings. Parents are also kept informed of young people's progress, for example, they are sent the report that is produced for their child's statutory review. This helps maintain good partnerships with parents.

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Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint and are confident that they would be listened to. All complaints are recorded with details of the outcomes, this ensures transparency. Young people are supported to make representation about other services and staff act as advocates to assist in their resolution.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from the individualised care plans drawn up with the young person and other professionals involved. These are in excellent detail and run alongside the 24 hour management plan that details the daily routine of the young person clearly demonstrating how they are to be cared for.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from accessing a number of services that help meet their needs. For example, organisations who work with young people who have been involved in sexual exploitation and drug and alcohol services. The child and adolescent mental health service supports some individual young people and also attends staff meetings to offer support and guidance to the staff team to help manage any difficult behaviour.

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Quality of care

Young people's attendance at their places of education has improved immensely for the majority of the young people. There is good communication with education placements to monitor attendance and address matters arising. Where young people have been excluded the home is proactive in promptly securing alternative provision. This promotes young people's welfare.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from engaging in a range of activities, for example, football, bowling, the cinema. Over the summer they enjoyed a number of trips to a zoo, the seaside and theme parks. Some young people attended an outward bound holiday and others attend weekly youth groups. Young people's well-being is promoted by having their needs relating to abilities, ethnicity, culture, heritage, religion and sexuality clearly set out in their care plans with clear guidance on how these are to be addressed. Young people are consulted on how they wish to celebrate different festivals and are encouraged to explore different facets of their heritage.

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Quality of care

The home is set rurally on the edge of a city, which gives young people access to a wide range of facilities. Young people have enjoyed being involved in a horticultural project in the home over the summer months, growing a range of vegetables and salad. Young people benefit from living in a well-maintained home which is furnished and decorated to a high standard, creating a homely environment.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people confirm that they feel safe in the home. They are protected by having staff look after them who have an excellent awareness of safeguarding issues. A number of young people, prior to their admission were involved in some risk taking behaviours that compromised their well-being. This behaviour has ceased and young people are now safe. Vulnerable young people are closely monitored to ensure they are not put at risk and are protected from harm. Staff ensure young people are safeguarded by ensuring that any concerns about young people’s safety are speedily followed up and strategies identified to ensure they are protected.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Any bullying behaviours are quickly addressed. The home accesses the services of a community police officer who has a very child centred approach and is able to support both the perpetrators and victims of bullying to help address this behaviour, promoting their well-being.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are safeguarded by having robust risk assessments in place which identify the potential hazard with clear strategies in place to minimise the risk. These are reviewed regularly to ensure the efficacy. Young people are familiar with the fire drill ensuring they know what action they should take in the event of a fire.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Prior to admission a number of young people had a propensity for going missing which put them at risk of harm. Although, occasionally young people do not return to the home when they should, they keep in regular contact with the home and inform staff they are safe and well and say if they are not returning. Individual protocols are in place to ensure appropriate action is taken when a young person fails to return when expected; this promotes their welfare.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's benefit from having comprehensive behaviour management plans that identify unwanted behaviours with clear guidance to staff in how they should be managed. This ensures a consistent approach to the care of young people, promoting their well-being. Young people are protected by robust staff recruitment procedures ensuring only suitable people are employed in the home.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from living in an exceptionally well-managed home with staff who are clearly committed to ensure that they receive excellent quality of care.

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Leadership and management

There are comprehensive management systems in place ensuring the Registered Manager has up-to-date information on, for example, school attendance and young people missing from home. Files are regularly audited ensuring they contain all the relevant information. Care plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed to ensure they are relevant and young people receive optimum care.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose is a comprehensive document and has been reviewed ensuring that all interested parties know what the service has to offer. Young people are involved in reviewing the children's guide making it a relevant and chid-friendly document; this informs new young people what they can expect when they come to live at the home.

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Leadership and management

Young people benefit from the thorough monitoring systems by the Regulation 33 visitor and the Registered Manager, ensuring the home runs efficiently providing excellent care.

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Leadership and management

Young people are cared for by a well-qualified staff team who have good training opportunities to expand their knowledge. The Registered Manager recognises the strengths and weaknesses of her staff team and helps them to develop their skills in order to work effectively with the young people. There is a sufficient number of staff to look after the young people. Shortfalls in the rota are covered by permanent staff working extra hours or regular bank staff who have worked at the home for a considerable period. This ensures consistency of care.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is good .

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