Children's Home run by Care Management Solutions Limited in Kirklees

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 are provided with consistently good care which enables them to make progress.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are provided with a range of activities which helps them to build confidence and expand their horizons.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff support young people to attend their education and there is effective communication with education providers.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Improvements are required to be made to the Statement of Purpose to ensure if complies with regulation; to ensure that the Regulation 44 visitor visits the home monthly and submit the report to Ofsted and to recruit a new Registered Manager.

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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

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if- the registered provider- is an organisation. (Regulation 27(1)(b)) 01/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(1) and (7)(a)) 01/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement of purpose which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 01/08/2015

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/06/2014 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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good

Young people are provided with a good quality of care delivered by a committed staff team. All young people have made significant progress from their admission. One professional said, ‘I have been very impressed with all the staff and level of care provided to a young person who I am working with.’

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good

Young people have developed warm, trusting relationships with the staff team. This has enabled them to grow in confidence. This trust and consistent care provided ensures that they are prepared to welcome new experiences. For example, some go swimming and horse-riding, while others have joined a local football team. This has broadened their horizons and helped them to develop new skills and be an active member of their community.

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good

Young people’s views are sought in all areas of their lives, from them choosing what they would like to eat, to being listened to about placement moves. They consider that they have someone they can talk to if they have any concerns about their care or welfare. Staff are proactive in ensuring that young people are provided with an advocate and to access children’s rights to ensure that their views are heard.

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good

Young people’s education attendance is variable. For some who have had minimal school attendance at 26% prior to admission; now attend around 96%. Absences are a result of sickness. These individuals have had very successful work experience placements. These impact positively on their life opportunities. School staff say, ‘Overall I would rate them ten out of ten for the care, support and parenting skills of all the staff.’ Other young people who had been excluded from a number of college placements have recently successfully completed a short foundation course supporting them with Maths and English. Although this was a reduced timetable this is a significant improvement and achievement for them. These individuals speak positively about their intentions to attend a new training course in September. Young people who have recently come to live at the home have alternative education provision and with staff support have initially engaged.

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good

Staff support young people with their education when they are not in school by providing work sheets which they complete. This helps young people to develop an ethos of learning and also provides structure to their day.

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good

Young people are encouraged to develop skills they will need to make a successful transition to adulthood. For example, they maintain their personal space, undertake their own laundry and prepare some meals. For some young people who are reluctant to cook, staff look at ways in which to engage them so they can develop these skills.

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good

Young people’s health needs are well met. Staff work hard to address issues that may compromise their health, for example smoking and substance abuse. Those individuals who do indulge in substance abuse, work with services which support them to address their usage and there has been a marked reduction in this.

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good

Young people are safeguarded by staff who have a good understanding of their vulnerabilities. Individual risk assessments are identifying potential risks with clear guidance for staff to follow to minimise the danger.

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good

The incidents of young people going missing are minimal; despite this being a regular feature of their behaviours prior to admission. Staff are vigilant in taking appropriate action according to their vulnerability to ensure their safe return. The staff liaise with the missing person’s police co-ordinator to draw up a ‘trigger plan’ to ensure that prompt action is taken if there is a repeat occurrence. Following incidents of young people going missing the local authority safeguarding team undertake return interviews to try to ascertain why young people go missing. Professionals say, ‘Overall the home is meeting her needs by promoting her welfare and keeping her safe.’

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good

The Registered Manager has meetings with the local authority’s designated officer, (LADO), the local police safeguarding officer and managers from other homes within the area. The purpose of this is to share intelligence and discuss protocols to ensure that everyone working across the authority has a consistent approach to safeguard children and young people.

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good

Young people’s behaviours are well managed. The firm, but fair consistent boundaries support young people to self-regulate their behaviours well. Young people speak with pride about how they have managed to stay out of trouble and have settled down in this stable environment. Professionals say, ‘When he first arrived, he had to overcome some years of learnt behaviours, and staff have provided a level of care to him that has been above and beyond. They have worked with the young person at his level, given him consistent boundaries, guidance and support.’

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good

The Registered Manager is vigilant in addressing poor practice. This ensures that young people are cared for by people who are good role models.

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requires improvement

The home is managed by an experienced and appropriately qualified Registered Manager who is also the Responsible Individual. This is in breach of regulation. Where the Registered Provider is an organisation they cannot also be the Registered Manager. Therefore, a new Registered Manager must be appointed.

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requires improvement

The independent visitor does not visit the home monthly or promptly submit reports to Ofsted. For example, there were no visits undertaken in February or March; a report for the visit conducted in April was received to cover the period 1Jan to 31 March. The January visit report was not received until April; this does not comply with regulation. This does not ensure that the home is properly monitored neither does it give the regulatory body good oversight of the home.

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requires improvement

The Statement of Purpose is a comprehensive document which sets out what services the home has to offer. However, it does not cover all the requirements of the regulation; in particular details of staffing and the home’s approach to restraint.

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requires improvement

The requirements and recommendation from the last inspection have been addressed. Young people are administered medication as prescribed; these records are monitored and any refusals are recorded. The Registered Manager has made numerous attempts to gain further information with regard to references. When the Regulation 33/44 visitor does visit the home young people and their parents are spoken to and have their views on the care they receive recorded. The staff team have worked hard to support young people to access some education and have had some success with this. Young people’s records enable them to have an understanding of the time they have spent in the home.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The strengths being the support the young people receive and the opportunities they have to access a range of activities that enhance their life. The homes development plan includes how the shortfalls identified at this inspection are to be met.

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requires improvement

Young people make good progress. This is made possible by the commitment and care provided by staff who are appropriately qualified, experienced and are well supported. They have good training opportunities to ensure they have the necessary skills to meet the needs of the young people. The staff team work hard to build supportive and nurturing relationships with the young people. This enables them to become more confident young people. Professionals speak highly of support and care provided.

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requires improvement

The home has effective links with a number of other organisations and professionals. Professionals said, ‘I have to say they are very co-operative with us keeping us informed.’ When local authorities are lapse in their duties the Registered Manager will challenge them. For example, some local authorities have not given their permission for the Regulation 44 visitor to access young people’s records. This does not ensure that there is a good overview of these documents.

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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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