Children's Home run by G B A Care Limited in Calderdale

Unique reference number SC462593 Inspector Monica Hargreaves Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person G B A Care Ltd Registered person address 2nd Floor Brian Royd Mills Saddleworth Road Greetland Halifax West Yorkshire HX4 8NF Responsible individual Jeremy Mark Siddall Registered manager David Craig Copping / POST VACANT Date of last inspection 26/09/2013 2 of 6 Inspection date 03/07/2014

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

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

Young people make very good progress in all areas of their lives from their starting point on admission to the home. They receive an excellent standard of care from a committed and enthusiastic team of staff who have a very good understanding of their individual needs. Professionals involved with the home comment on the quality of care and support young people receive and the progress they make. For example, one social worker said, 'Staff are warm and nurturing but firm with (name) which has really supported his progress'.

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This inspection

The majority of young people have benefitted from very long term settled placements. They enjoy excellent relationships with staff. This helps them to feel settled in their home and to grow in confidence and self-esteem. Young people are very confident that staff are concerned about their welfare and want them to do well. They report that their lives have improved as a result of living in the home. For example, one young person said, 'It's really good here. If I need staff they are always there' and another said 'I've really come on since I've been here.'

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This inspection

Admissions to and discharges from the home are managed very well. For example, since the last inspection, a young person has moved into independent accommodation. This move was undertaken at an appropriate pace for the young person. Young people who have left keep in touch with the home and let staff know how they are doing. This indicates that they value the relationships they have with staff and feel confident that staff remain interested in their welfare.

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This inspection

Young people move into the home in a planned way. The manager obtains detailed information about young people before a decision is made about their placement. Young people visit the home to meet staff and other young people before they move in. These arrangements fully support young people at a time of transition and help 3 of 6 them to settle into their new environment.

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This inspection

Staff work very effectively to ensure that risk is minimised and young people and others are protected. Staff supervise young people appropriately, in line with their individual risk management plans. The plans are regularly monitored and updated to ensure that they reflect young people's current and emerging needs. Young people state that they feel very safe in the home. They report that there is no bullying and that staff help them to resolve any difficulties that arise within the group.

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This inspection

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. This is a significant improvement for some young people for whom this had been an issue prior to moving into the home. The home has a clear protocol to manage any such incident. Staff have developed detailed plans for each young person that confirms the actions that should be taken to protect them if they are absent from the home.

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This inspection

Young people respond well to staff and generally behave well towards one another. Incidents of restraint are rare. This demonstrates very good progress for some young people whose behaviour had been very challenging before they came to live in the home.

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This inspection

All young people attend education very regularly. This represents significant progress for some young people who had struggled with education previously. As a consequence of their excellent levels of attendance, young people's level of attainment improves. Young people are proud of their achievements at school. They have aspirations for their future and plans in place for college and employment. One young person said, 'School has been really good for me. It's really helped me being here'. Young people are able to develop the practical, social and emotional skills they will need for future independence, at a pace that is appropriate to their age and individual needs.

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This inspection

All young people are involved in wide range of activities that they really enjoy including boxing, football, rugby, attending youth clubs and fishing. The activities support young people’s overall social and emotional development and well-being.

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This inspection

Young people are healthy. They eat well, they have good daily routines and they exercise through participation in sport. They have medications when they need them. Some young people have been supported to stop smoking since they came to live in the home. This has a positive impact on their health.

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This inspection

Young people report that they are regularly consulted about their care and the running of the home. They have the opportunity to contribute their views during regular house meetings and also in key work sessions. They understand their care and placement plans and feel that they are fully involved in all the decisions that are made about their care. 4 of 6 The manager and staff liaise very effectively with professionals from a number of different agencies including specialist therapeutic services, youth offending teams, health services, police and social workers. This partnership working ensures that there is a consistent approach to young people which supports their overall progress and ensures that they are safe.

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This inspection

Detailed monitoring reports confirm that the care and welfare of young people is kept under close review by the manager and independent visitor. The manager takes action on any issue that is identified through this monitoring activity in order to improve the service that is given to young people. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been appointed to the home. He has made an application to Ofsted for registration and this is being processed. The manager is experienced and provides good leadership to the staff team. There has also been an increase in the number of senior posts in the home. This means that there is always a suitably experienced individual to cover in the absence of the manager. Staff report that they feel they are well supported in their work with young people.

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This inspection

No requirements or recommendations have been made at this interim inspection. 5 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

This service is a privately run children's home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four male children or young people with emotional and/or behaviour difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2013 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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