Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Unique reference number SC033723 Inspector Simon Morley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Leeds City Council Registered person address Leeds City Council, Department of Education 110 Merrion Centre LEEDS LS2 8DT Responsible individual Stephen Banks Walker Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 14/01/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 18/06/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

There is a pleasant homely environment in which young people are happy, go to school and have busy lives full of different activities. Young people living at the home have a range of diverse needs arising from their different backgrounds and experiences. The staff are committed and thoughtful in making sure all young people receive high standards of care regardless of their needs. The diligent and sensitive approach to providing young people with highly individualised care helps them experience positive outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's views and opinions are central to what happens in the home. They contribute well to decision making about their care, plans for the future and the running of the home. Young people feel safe living at the home and learn how to look after themselves. Staff fulfil their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding competently and are good at keeping young people safe.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are trained and competent in looking after young people effectively and make a positive difference to their lives. The home has had a recent change of manager which has had a big impact on improving the quality of management monitoring, reviewing care practice and driving improvements for the benefit of young people. Previous shortfalls from the last inspection have been addressed. 3 of 9 There are no required areas for improvement as a result of this inspection. The new manager is already implementing robust plans to build on identified strengths and tackle areas of weakness. There is good capacity in the leadership of the home to improve the service further. 4 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

This is a purpose-built children’s home which is operated by a local authority. The home provides medium- to long-term care for up to five young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 26/06/2013 Full good 10/01/2013 Interim good progress 21/06/2012 Full adequate 5 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people good

There are good benefits to young people from living in a nurturing, caring home where they can build safe and trusting relationships with the adults who look after them. As a result and in comparison to their individual life experiences before admission, all young people make good progress in developing their confidence, social and practical skills, resilience and education.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people go to school regularly, have very good attendance and benefit from extra support provided to improve their grades and catch up in areas where they are weaker. This helps young people develop their reading, writing and numeracy skills as well as learning how to tell the time and check their change when shopping.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy good health, learn about healthy lifestyles, improve their diets and exercise regularly. While young people develop a better understanding of how to be healthy they benefit from the constant encouragement that staff provide. Young people explore personal and health issues such as relationships, safety, sexual health and identity with staff. This helps young people develop a broader knowledge and understanding about healthy lifestyles as they get older. Young people engage well with staff and benefit from one to one time, praise, rewards and encouragement which boost their emotional well-being as well.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people like to be active and are happy pursuing a wide range of interests and hobbies. These include cadets, scouts, bike riding, football, choir singing, youth clubs and activity centres. Young people benefit from this high level of socialisation with others, developing their social skills and independence, and they keep fit from the amount of physical exercise. Young people also develop independence in other areas of their lives based on their level of ability and understanding. For example, young people make good improvements in personal care and hygiene, learning to travel independently, shopping and cooking.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are able to develop and maintain good levels of contact with relatives where this is agreed in their individual care plans with the local authority. This helps young people maintain important family relationships and reinforce their sense of identity.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy very good relationships with staff and appreciate the benefits of this. Young people said, 'This home is the best, staff help us and we have a good time’. Staff are passionate about helping young people do well and want the best for 6 of 9 them regardless of their individual needs. Young people enjoy a very homely, welcoming environment which is a safe place for them to grow up in. There is a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere which helps young people be themselves and contributes to their general sense of well-being.

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Quality of care good

Staff are sensitive and persistent in helping young people overcome barriers to their progress such as negative self-perceptions, personal hygiene, coping with adolescence and inappropriate behaviour. The staff work well with partner organisations and other stakeholders to ensure young people receive the support they need. This has helped young people develop their social skills, learn about healthy lifestyles, and plan their future education.

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Quality of care good

The manager and staff have improved young people's individual care plans. There is better evaluation of young people’s progress and reviewing of the levels of support they need. These plans provide a good account of how young people’s needs are met and prioritised. Young people contribute to these plans, and the inclusive approach to care planning helps young people to understand their achievements and future targets.

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Quality of care good

Staff are thoughtful and considerate in implementing individual plans and respect young people's lifestyle choices keeping them at the centre of care practice. Staff are patient and take time to talk to young people about their concerns, needs and views, for example worries about their appearance, personal safety and plans for activities.

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Quality of care good

Staff ensure there are good arrangements for young people to access routine, urgent and specialist health care to meet their individual needs. This includes counselling and support from the looked after children's nurse and dietician. This helps young people benefit from a home environment where their physical health and emotional well-being is actively promoted.

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Quality of care good

Staff also promote young people's individual education needs and work closely with schools to ensure young people are getting the support they need. Young people attend homework clubs, have extra books to improve reading and additional tutoring in particular subjects areas. This helps them progress with their education and improve basic skills.

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Quality of care good

Young people live in a suitable and safe home in a residential neighbourhood. There is easy access to local shops and the town centre. The Registered Provider has invested significantly in redecoration, new furniture, flooring and curtains. Young people have been fully included in choosing colour schemes and furnishings and are excited to see the completed work.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

7 of 9 Young people feel safe and protected from harm. Staff work proactively with young people to help them understand the risks of going missing from the home, being exploited and coming to harm. Staff encourage young people to keep out of danger, which helps them avoid behaviour that is risky to their welfare.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Effective working with other statutory agencies has significantly helped keep young people safe. This is especially so when there are particular risks to young people who continue to place themselves in situations of harm. The manager and staff work closely with other agencies planning and reviewing strategies to keep young people safe. Staff are confident about safeguarding procedures and how to report any concerns about a young person's safety should the need arise.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Practice has improved significantly with staff looking for young people when they are absent from the home and encouraging them to return. Staff are patient and take the time to engage with young people when they have left the home without permission. This includes sensible discussions with young people’s friends in the community and is successful with getting young people home and safe. Additionally staff work hard at engaging young people not to go missing in the first place and to benefit from all the home has to offer. As young people said, ‘It’s great here, loads of stuff to do.’

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There is good risk management and staff are thorough in promoting young people's safety while allowing them to take reasonable risks as part of their development. One social worker commented, ‘Staff have got a good balance between risks and independence.’ Risk strategies are regularly reviewed and kept up to date with young people’s progress. There are suitable assessments of new admissions to ensure all young people living in the home get on with each other as best they can.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff manage any negative and anti-social behaviour well, using planned individual strategies. This avoids the need for physical intervention and institutional sanctions. Young people have been included in developing a new rewards system, choosing their targets and individual incentives such as a scooter or new computer games. Staff have all been trained in restorative practice and use this well with positive parenting techniques to promote good behaviour. This contributes significantly to the homely atmosphere and good relationships between staff and young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

All staff employed in the home are subject to appropriate vetting to ensure they are suitable to work with young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager stopped working at the home seven weeks before this inspection. There is an acting manager in place who is experienced and working towards the required leadership and management qualification. In the short time she has taken over the management of the home she has made significant 8 of 9 improvements. These include important management functions such as the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of care, identifying strengths and weaknesses and implementing improvements. There is a strong focus on improving the quality of care and outcomes for young people. This includes assessment of the location of the home and potential impact on young people, the management of admissions and better evaluation of young people’s progress. Improvements are relatively recent but this is a good start by the acting manager.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager is supported well by the Registered Provider who also is also responsible for regular monitoring of the home. The quality of this has improved and previous shortfalls noted in the last inspection have been addressed.

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Leadership and management adequate

Overall the levels of management monitoring contribute to the high quality of care and good outcomes for young people. While some monitoring reports are short on views of young people, parents and social workers, there are other effective systems of consultation. This ensures that the views of young people and other stakeholders are central to the planning and review of care.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager has written a new Statement of Purpose bringing it up to date. This provides interested parties an appropriate range of information about the home and intended aims and objectives for young people. There is a separate child-friendly guide that lets young people know what to expect and how to contact external advocacy and support if they wish to do so.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staffing levels are good ensuring the individual needs of young people are met. In particular, high levels of support and supervision keep young people safe. Staff are committed to providing young people with good quality care. They undertake a wide range of training and use their skills and knowledge effectively to help young people succeed in life. The manager has started to evaluate the training programme to ensure staff keep their skills and knowledge up to date with best practice and are able to continue to meet the needs of young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff value their supervision and the supportive teamwork, which provide them with good opportunities for learning and reflective practice. Staff access to continuous advice and guidance benefits young people who are looked after by a competent staff team able to fulfil their roles. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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