Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Unique reference number SC033723 Inspector Pauline Yates Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

p.1

Registered person Leeds City Council Registered person address Leeds City Council 3rd Floor, St George House, Great George Street LEEDS LS1 3DL Responsible individual Stephen Banks Walker Registered manager Samantha Summers Date of last inspection 18/06/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 25/02/2015

p.1

Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

p.2

This inspection

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

p.2

This inspection

Since the last inspection the Registered Manager has left the home and a temporary manager is currently covering this role and is in the process of applying for registration. There are three recommendations as a result of this inspection. These relate to the maintenance of the building, the home’s location assessment not taking sufficient account of local agencies’ intelligence and training for staff. These areas do not currently affect the outcomes for the young people.

p.2

This inspection

The young people make progress across a spectrum of measures. They say they are safe and feel safe at the home. For the young people for whom missing from home and absences were a feature, these have reduced since living at the home. When young people do go missing or are absent the staff implement appropriate safeguarding processes and protocols and liaise with other agencies. This ensures that any risks are minimised and the young people’s welfare is promoted. One social worker commented, ‘They are quite relentless really until they get him back home.’ The staff demonstrate good insight into the vulnerabilities of each young person and individualise care planning and behaviour management approaches.

p.2

This inspection

Young people are active in contributing to their care and their views are clearly recorded. They say they feel listened to. There are improvements in the involvement and recording of the young people’s views about their care. This has been achieved with the recently introduced ‘About Me … My Plan’. These documents not only seek their views but are actively used to inform the local authority review and care planning processes. The young people are supported and prepared for their review meetings which ensures they can fully participate and influence the discussions. The young people confirmed that they knew how to make a complaint should they need to.

p.2

This inspection

Physical intervention is rarely used and the young people are supported to express 3 of 6 themselves in ways that are socially acceptable. The staff promote positive behaviour through a framework of reward and restorative approaches. As a result the young people learn emotional self-regulation and grow in confidence with their social interactions. The young people benefit from the trusting relationships they develop with the staff and these relationships support the young people’s emotional growth and resilience.

p.2

This inspection

The young people benefit from a range of leisure activities which the staff promote and support. These activities include gym attendance, swimming, pool, bike rides, scouts and choir. These activities enable the young people to positively engage in peer relationships outside the home, increasing their confidence and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

p.3

This inspection

All young people have suitable educational provisions and for the majority their attendance is very high. The young people make progress in their education and are actively supported by the staff to prepare for further education and training. For the few young people who struggle with daily attendance or arriving at school on time, staff employ creative and persistent means of encouragement. As a result the young people’s future opportunities in both work and training are optimised.

p.3

This inspection

The young people benefit from support and encouragement to learn age appropriate skills which they will require when progressing into young adulthood. For example, skills of budgeting, meal preparation, good hygiene routines and managing their laundry. 4 of 6

p.3

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.

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2014 Full good 14/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 26/06/2013 Full good 10/01/2013 Interim good progress

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

p.4

Recommendations

 Ensure that the home's location and design promotes children's health, safety and wellbeing and avoids factors such as excessive isolation and areas that present risks to children, with particular reference to the homes location assessment and appropriate use of local agencies intelligence (NMS 10.2)  ensure that the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel. With particular reference to the repair of garden fencing, cleaning of guttering and drains, removal of graffiti and repair and repainting of the damaged plaster especially the bathroom ceiling (NMS 10.3)  ensure that there is a good quality learning and development programme which staff and volunteers are supported to undertake. Staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the children and purpose of

p.4

Recommendations

the setting, and training keeps them up-to-date with professional, legal and practice development and reflects the policies, legal obligations and 5 of 6 business needs of the home. With particular reference to staff receiving training on young people who display sexualised behaviour. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.4

Recommendations

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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.

p.6