Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Unique reference number SC062573 Inspector Nicola McEvinney Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Wakefield Metropolitan District Council Registered person address Wakefield Council, County Hall Bond Street WAKEFIELD West Yorkshire WF1 2QW Responsible individual Mark Barratt Registered manager Tracey Anne Jones Date of last inspection 07/10/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 02/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

This interim inspection assessed the progress made since the last full inspection conducted in October 2014 when the home was judged to be good with adequate outcomes. Two requirements were raised at that inspection, only one of which has been addressed.

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This inspection

All casual bank staff are to commence the level 3 diploma. This will ensure that young people are cared for by appropriately qualified staff at all times.

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This inspection

The home is visited by an independent person to monitor how the home is conducted. However, parents views on whether their children are effectively safeguarded and their wellbeing promoted are not sought as part of these visits. This requirement has been repeated at this inspection, although it does not impact negatively on the care provided.

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This inspection

The manager appointed in late September 2014 is registered with Ofsted. She leads a team of experienced and committed staff who have good training opportunities and are well supervised. She has delegated some tasks previously seen as management tasks to individual staff members. This promotes staff development and empowers individuals. Some staff members have taken the lead on developing a young people’s independence programme. The home has access to an independence flat where young people can practice their life skills. The programme is more focussed on skills young people will need to make a successful transition to adulthood. For example, meal planning, ensuring young people know what they need and are able to provide for themselves on a limited budget whilst eating healthily.

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This inspection

Young people are enjoying a period of stability consequently there have been no incidents of physical intervention. Young people consider that they are well looked 3 of 5 after and feel safe. One young person said, ‘I am happy here, staff care about me.’

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This inspection

The majority of young people are attending school or college and are attaining well. This is a significant improvement for some young people. There is good communication between the home and educational placements and staff attend ‘parents’ evenings. Other older young people have not been attending their college placement and have not stayed at the home for a significant period of time, preferring to stay at their parents’ home. This is being addressed by social workers who are undertaking a Placement with Parents assessment. Staff from the home undertake daily safe and well checks. There are no safeguarding concerns regarding these young people.

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This inspection

Young people are safeguarded by the vigilance of the staff team in addressing any safeguarding concerns. There is good liaison with the local police who work with the home to protect young people from people who may pose a risk to them. There are no child sexual exploitation concerns and young people do not go missing from the home.

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This inspection

The home has effective links with other organisations to support young people. For example, the staff team have monthly consultation with the child and adolescent mental health service. This provides guidance and support to help manage the emotional needs of the young people. The looked after children’s nurse advises on a range of health issues including sexual health. The home works closely with the intensive support team who also works with the young people’s families to aid, if appropriate, the rehabilitation of young people back to the family home.

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This inspection

Staff have an excellent awareness of the rights of young people and will defend these rights even against parents who wish to impose their will on how their children should be sanctioned. This has led to good trusting relationships between staff and the young people as they feel safe and protected. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people, of both genders with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The main aims are to support young people to move back home with their families or successfully move to independent living.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/10/2014 Full good 13/01/2014 Interim good progress 20/06/2013 Full adequate 10/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress

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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 the regulation 33 visitor interview parents in order to form an opinion as to whether children accommodated are effectively safeguarded and their wellbeing is promoted. (Regulation 33 (8)(a)(i)and (ii)) 01/04/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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