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

Unique reference number SC462591 Inspector Stella Henderson Type of inspection Full 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 Byron Drew Smith Date of last inspection 20/08/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 07/10/2014

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Previous inspection inadequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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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

This is a re-inspection of the home following the inadequate judgement made in July 2014. The provider responded promptly to the actions set at the last inspection and the requirements are now met. As a result the overall effectiveness of the home is now good.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people continue to make good progress. This is especially the case for young people who have recently arrived at the home. Young people feel that their lives have improved since being here.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are safe and supported with clear safeguarding strategies and boundaries. They are provided with good quality care underpinned by effective care planning. This helps young people to stay healthy, successfully engage with their education and better manage their behaviour and emotions.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager has a sound understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Monitoring is generally good and effective. Plans to develop practice and improve the running of the home are in hand. However Ofsted were not alerted to a notifiable event. This had no direct impact on young people but a requirement is set to address this shortfall. 3 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties and young people with learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/08/2014 Full inadequate 24/10/2013 Full good

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if, in relation to a children's home, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30)(1) 07/11/2014 4 of 7

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have made, and continue to make, good progress since the last inspection. One young person commented that they felt their life had improved since being at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people are engaged in education. Some young people had inconsistent school attendance in the past. They are now fully engaged in education and are making rapid progress. They say they are enjoying their college courses and have clear plans for their future careers.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people continue to enjoy good health. In some cases the differences are very apparent, for instance in self-presentation and weight gain. Gaps in health care are swiftly responded to and young people are now up to date with essential immunisations. As older teenagers, young people are beginning to take more responsibility for their health. They are aware of key health messages such as the importance of good diet and the dangers of substance misuse and have good information on which to base their decisions.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged and supported to pursue leisure activities and keep fit. They enjoy outdoor pursuits such as camping and climbing. Holidays tend to have an active, physical element to them which young people enjoy, although trips to theme parks indulge their sense of fun. This contributes to young people enjoying good emotional health. Overall they have a good 'sense of self' and feel a sense of self- worth. This is evident in their investment in their education and willingness to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are of an age where they make their own decisions about contact with family. Staff are alert to sometimes difficult family dynamics and how these may impact on young people. In these situations young people are protected and supported.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people feel very confident about their skills to manage the practical tasks of day to day living. They are well supported during their transition to adulthood. Independence plans are responsive to their different levels of age and accomplishment. These are regularly reviewed to ensure young people are not struggling with new responsibilities.

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Quality of care good

5 of 7 The quality of care young people receive continues to be good. This is because care planning is well targeted, responsive to diverse needs and under constant review. Young people are very involved in their care planning arrangements. They have a real say in matters such as activities, daily routines and planning for the future.

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Quality of care good

Staff know young people well. Planned and opportunistic key working is frequently undertaken and well recorded. It is clear that staff have meaningful discussions with young people about difficult topics, their experiences, hopes and wishes. Staff tailor these interventions to meet the particular needs of young people and to help them overcome their adverse experiences.

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Quality of care good

Effective collaborative links exist with a range of agencies, such as the local police and missing from home co-ordinator, health and education professionals and local safeguarding children board. In addition there is close working with agencies who specialise in child sexual exploitation and substance misuse. This makes available helpful guidance and support for young people when they need it. These arrangements also provide an effective 'team around the child' which has resulted in good outcomes for young people.

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Quality of care good

Staff understand the needs and presenting behaviour of young people very well. They set consistent boundaries and young people say they are clear about what is expected of them. The occasional testing of these boundaries is managed well.

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Quality of care good

Young people live in a home is well maintained and attractively presented. All areas of the home are clean, tidy and appropriate to the needs of the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe at the home and care professionals expressed a clear confidence in the home’s ability to keep young people safe. Staff have a good understanding of how young people’s previous experiences impact on the decisions they make and influence their behaviour. These historical factors are taken into account when assessing risk. As new or increased risks emerge, action plans are quickly updated and implemented.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Good arrangements are in place to protect young people if they go missing from the home, particularly when child sexual exploitation is an issue. Staff consistently and constantly liaise with local safeguarding agencies to ensure these young people are noted as being in the locale and remain high profile. For example, they are logged as being at risk on police and local authority systems. Their risk status is discussed at a weekly child sexual exploitation panel. Packages of support are very well coordinated in these instances. This has proved effective in reducing young people's exposure to danger.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people's behaviour is managed well, through negotiation and compromise 6 of 7 rather than sanction. The action raised at the last inspection to address shortfalls in restraint has been successfully addressed. The home no longer uses 'front ground recovery' techniques. At the time of this inspection all staff were participating in a three day refresher course on restraint.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Regular health and safety checks are carried out. This ensures a prompt response to any hazards or repairs within the home that may require attention.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager is experienced and was registered to manage this home in June 2014. He possesses a degree in social work and is undertaking relevant management qualifications.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager displays a good understanding of the individual needs of young people at the home. He is a visible presence in the home and strives to make continual improvements for the benefit of young people. He sets clear expectations for staff. This has resulted in young people achieving good outcomes and enjoying good quality care.

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Leadership and management adequate

Partnership working is effective. This helps to get a prompt response and the right help for young people when they need it. Placing authorities and other professionals comment positively on the home's ability to make a difference for young people. They also value the home's ability to work together with them to achieve good outcomes and they feel that the quality of communication is particularly good.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staffing remains sufficient to meet the needs of young people. Staff competence and experience is well established. Staff are trained and have regular supervision and other opportunities for sharing information about young people. This ensures care plans are fully adhered to.

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Leadership and management adequate

The provider and manager have responded promptly to the requirements set at the last inspection. Improvements have been made to restraints, monitoring activities, lone working risk assessments and the statement of purpose. These actions result in a service that better protects and promotes the welfare of young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

In meeting these requirements the manager demonstrates his capacity to change and improve. However leadership and management is judged as adequate as Ofsted were not alerted to a notifiable incident. Although this had no impact on young people, the omission impedes the regulator from taking action if required. 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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