Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress. They are cared for in a warm and nurturing environment by staff who have a good understanding of their needs and vulnerabilities.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are vigilant in their supervision of young people and ensure their safety at all time

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have good training opportunities and are well supervised. They have the necessary skills to meet the complex needs of the young people placed.  Improvements are required to be made to the content of the home’s Statement of Purpose and the managers monitoring reports. The home needs redecorating as it does not provide a homely environment for young people.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that in order to complete an quality care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; ascertain and consider the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff (Regulation 45 (2)(b) and (5)) 01/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed (Regulation 45 (4)) 01/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (the statement of purpose) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI. notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision (Regulation 16 (1)(2) and (3)(b)) 01/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child (Regulation 6 (2)(c)(i)) particularly to redecorate all areas of the home 01/01/2016

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure that where young people come from is understood and recognised. (The Guide, Page 16, paragraph 3.14)

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is run by a local authority and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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good

Young people develop warm and trusting relationships with the staff. All young people are relatively new to the home within the last six-months. They have responded positively to the structure and consistent boundaries that are in place which provides for their stability. This stability has enabled them to make good progress in all areas of their lives. Parents are very positive about the structure and support offered to their children, and say, ‘It is overwhelming the bond he has with his key worker.’

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good

Young people are keen to share their daily experiences with staff. For example, on arrival from school staff on duty are young people’s first port of call with them sharing their day. Young people feel well cared for and are able to share any concerns they may have. They are aware of how to make a complaint and are confident that they would be listened to. Regular house meetings ensure young people’s views are heard on a range of topics including the pending refurbishment of the home; activities; holidays they wish to participate in and menus. The use of the ‘My Plan’ ensures that young people have their wishes and feelings heard. Children’s rights are regular visitors to the home and they seek young people’s views and will advocate on their behalf if necessary.

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good

Young people are well supported with their education. For example, extra tuition is provided for some young people to enable them to catch up for missed education or to provide extra support in some subjects. Their attendance has significantly improved since their admission which impacts positively on their attainment. Staff work effectively with education providers and are good advocates for the young people. They will challenge education providers when they are not acting in the young people’s best interests, for example, by challenging exclusions.

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good

Young people enjoy participating in a range of exciting and rewarding activities, ranging from playing tennis to weekends away. This really extends young people’s learning experiences, for example, one young person has learnt to swim. Friends and family are made welcome in the home and siblings are frequently encouraged to join in with the planned activity which encourages family ties.

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good

Young people are encouraged to develop skills they will need to make a successful transition to adulthood. They undertake age appropriate chores; for example, they do their laundry, help with meal preparation and maintain their personal space. Some have learnt to bake and are privy to the ‘secret ingredient’ which makes for a very special cake.

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good

Young people’s health needs are well met. Staff manage young people’s health conditions sensitively ensuring their privacy and dignity is maintained at all times. Other professionals consider that the stability provided by the home has enabled young people to settle and are engaging more effectively with their service. One professional said, ‘He is much more settled here, he is in a good routine with lots of activities for him.’ Their regular visits to the home enable young people to become accustomed to them and willingly accept their intervention. This promotes their health and wellbeing.

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good

The detail of young people’s individual ethnicity is not fully explored by staff. This does not ensure that all parts of young people’s identity is recognised and valued. However, wherever possible keyworkers reflecting young people’s broad heritage is allocated. This enables needs relating to their culture and heritage to be provided for appropriately.

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good

Good routines are in place ensuring young people are kept busy and occupied fruitfully. Individual incentives are identified to support young people to self-regulate their behaviours and manage their routines. These incentives are constantly under review to ensure they continue to be effective.

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good

Young people are provided with healthy and nutritious meals which they help to prepare. Young people speak enthusiastically about the culinary skills of some staff in particular those that bake cakes, which is a great favourite. They say, ‘(name of staff member) bakes cakes and lovely teas.’ This enhances their life experiences.

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good

Young people are safeguarded by staff’s understanding of their specific vulnerabilities. Young people actively engage in developing their own behaviour management strategies. As a result the incidence of exploitation and going missing has now ceased. These strategies are regularly reviewed to ensure that they continue to be effective.

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good

The individual behaviour management plans identify triggers to unwanted behaviours with guidance in place on how to de-escalate potentially volatile situations. The firm consistent boundaries that are in place and the effective use of restorative practices have helped young people to modify their behaviours and provides a stable environment where they thrive. There have been a few incidents of physical intervention which were appropriate and are correctly recorded. Adherence to individual risk assessments helps to minimise potential dangers.

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good

Staff are vigilant in ensuring that they know the whereabouts of the vulnerable young people at all times. Although there are no incidents of young people going missing. However, there is clear guidance in place to advise staff what action to take in the event of a young person failing to return when expected.

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good

Young people are protected by effective working together of the staff, senior managers, the police and other organisations involved in the protection of vulnerable children. This ensures pertinent information is shared and reduces the potential risk to young people by staff being aware of potential threats to their welfare.

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good

Young people feel safe and are safe they say there are no of incidents of bullying.

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good

Young people’s safety is enhanced by the staff ensuring that all health and safety checks are carried out regularly. This includes young people’s involvement in fire drills to ensure they know what action to take in the event of a fire.

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requires improvement

The home is managed by an appropriately experienced and suitably qualified Registered Manager who has been in post for over two years. She leads a stable staff team who are highly committed and well trained and provide good quality of care to young people in a nurturing environment. Good staffing levels enable young people to have individualised care.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager undertakes regular monitoring of the home but does not consult with young people, their parents or other professionals to enable them to share their opinion of the care provided. These reports have not been forwarded to Ofsted as required by regulation. This does not enable the regulatory body to have good oversight of the home.

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requires improvement

The Statement of Purpose does not give a clear picture of what services the home has to offer or reflect the new regulations. For example, the admission criteria needs to be more specific as it is confusing; the age range of young people it proposes to admit is also misleading. Ofsted have not been sent a copy of the Statement of Purpose since June 2012. This does not enable the regulatory body to have a clear understanding of what services the home intends to offer.

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requires improvement

Although there are plans to refurbish the home there is no clear date set. The home is in a poor state of repair; many areas are shabby and it does not provide a homely environment for the young people.

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requires improvement

Young people’s individual needs are well met. The home is in the process of adopting the ‘My Plan’ as a way of identifying the individual needs of the young people. This care plan format ensures that young people’s views are captured and that they have a clear understanding of their plan of care.

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requires improvement

There is effective communication between professionals working with the young people. Parents speak highly of the contact they have with the home. They say, ‘I think they go over and above for me, if I have a problem I can always pick up the phone.’ They are made welcome in the home and this in turn promotes the relationships young people have with their families. The home enjoys good relationships with the local community. Friends are made welcome and some young people enjoy activities with other local children with their parents transporting them. This gives a sense of belonging.

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requires improvement

Young people’s life chances have been enhanced by their admission to this home. Prior to their admission they experienced a number of placement breakdowns, were involved in risk taking behaviours and had poor school attendance. A parent said, ‘They have turned my son around.’

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requires improvement

Effective supervision ensures staff have a clear understanding of their role. They consider that they are a supportive team and are confident that they can challenge practice if required. Regular staff meetings ensure good communication where practice is discussed. A therapeutic social worker attends some staff meetings and advises and supports staff to manage some of the complex behaviours young people present.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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