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 in all areas of their lives. They are well supported with their education.  Young people are safe. They do not go missing overnight; they are not involved in taking drugs or smoke cigarettes.  Young people are cared for by highly committed stable staff team that provide nurturing care where they thrive.  Young people participate and enjoy a range of stimulating activities that enhance their life experiences.  There is an excellent approach to behaviour management. The restorative practice approach is an integral part of the relationship building between the young people and staff. These relationships are built on mutual respect which creates a harmonious environment.

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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 person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ('the statement of purpose') which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) In particular be specific about the age range and the needs of children who are to be accommodated. 01/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) In particular to have training on the impact of trauma and neglect. 01/11/2015

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority. It provides medium to long- term care 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

25/02/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

14/01/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Young people make good progress at this home. This is made possible by the support and guidance they receive from staff that provide a stable nurturing environment where they thrive. Young people say, ‘This is a good home. It’s a happy home. It’s a nice place to live, nice staff, great people.’ Relationships are built on trust and mutual respect. Staff offer good guidance to the young people who listen and act upon it. For example, an incident where a young person was going to sell his computer game, his key-worker discussed this with him. The young person realised that he would be lost without it and decided against selling it. This sort of trusting relationship promotes young people’s sense of well-being.

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good

Individual care plans and daily routines ensure that there is a consistent approach to the care young people receive. Each young person has regular key-work sessions where they spend one-to-one time with their key-worker exploring a range of topics or issues that may be pertinent at the time.

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good

All the young people attend school, although one is more reluctant. Staff have worked tirelessly to promote their good attendance and were successful in ensuring that they sat their exams. Other young people enjoy school, they go to after-school homework clubs and some have extra tuition to support them with particular subjects. Effective communication with education providers ensure that all necessary information is shared. For example, school and home will liaise with regard to issues that may impact on behaviours. This ensures that a sensitive approach is taken which supports young people in their learning environment. School reports indicate that young people have made exceptional progress from their starting points. This impacts positively on young people’s future life opportunities.

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good

Young people’s health needs are well met. None of them smoke. The looked after children nurse is a regular visitor to the home. She says, ‘Staff contact me if a health issue arises with any of the young people and are keen to address any issues they may have.’ For a young people who has a phobia of dentists she has identified one who works with such young people and the staff are supporting the young person to have the necessary orthodontic work. Young people have access to the therapeutic social work team to support them with their emotional behaviours. Staff may also seek guidance from this team to help them work through the emotional issues that some of the young people have. However, issues relating to the impact of neglect should be further explored to enable young people to come to terms with their past experiences.

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good

Young people access the local gym to enhance their fitness and to prepare them for their forthcoming adventure, walking up Snowdon. This is another raft of activities planned for them over the summer; having completed Scarfell Pike and future plans of conquering Ben Nevis.

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good

These young people lead very busy lives; they enjoy a vast range of exciting and challenging activities. For example, some do contemporary dance and partake in ‘flash mob’ shows in the city; others attend local explorers; play pool; go bowling and the cinema. Staff speak highly of the ‘Pavarotti’ voice a young person has who is part of a local choir. Activities over the summer include camping trips which staff are fully involved in. This further builds on the existing trusting relationships and the self-confidence of young people. It is evident that staff enjoy the company of the young people. A social worker said, ‘The staff like the young people, he is very happy there.’

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good

Young people feel listened to. They all attend their child-care reviews and are able to share their views. They know how to complain, although say, ‘You don’t complain if you are happy, but we have children’s rights.’ Some are part of the in- care council group and meet with local councillors. Not only does this positively impact on their self-esteem it gives them a voice.

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good

Young people are supported to learn skills that they will need to make a successful transition to adulthood. The older ones budget and prepare a couple of meals a week and they are taking pride in their culinary skills. All undertake their own laundry and maintain their personal space.

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good

Young people are supported to maintain rewarding contact with parents who live a long way from the home. For example, a member of staff is taking a young person down south to see his father for his sixteenth birthday. Staff work hard to support young people to build constructive relationships with their families; recognising that these networks will be important to them once they have left the care system. Judgement grade

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outstanding

Young people are safeguarded by staff who have a clear understanding of their individual vulnerabilities. This, and staff’s adherence to detailed risk assessments identifying potential dangers with clear strategies outlined, ensures that this is a safe place to live.

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outstanding

There are no incidents of young people going missing overnight. There have been a few incidents when a young person failed to return to the home when expected. On these occasions, staff are vigilant in ensuring they take proactive measures to ascertain their whereabouts and ensure their safety. Each young person has an individual missing person’s protocol with clear guidance on what action staff are to take in the event of young people’s whereabouts not being known. This guidance includes staff going out looking for them, well before their expected return time. On the occasions when young people are late home, return interviews are conducted. These interviews highlight where young people have been and action taken to prevent a reoccurrence. For example, staff visiting the places where young people have been and discussing the seriousness of young people’s actions. This demonstrates the caring approach staff have which young people respond to.

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outstanding

Young people say that they feel safe. Any incidents of bullying are quickly dealt with. Young people’s behaviours are well managed. They respond positively to the incentive scheme in place which young people are involved in identifying their individual targets. The incidents of physical intervention have only been used to prevent situations escalating and guiding holds have been utilised. The restorative approach that pervades in the home is used to build relationships amongst the young people and also between staff and the young people. This makes for trusting and respectful relationships creating a harmonious environment.

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outstanding

There are no incidences of child sexual exploitation. The home accesses the services of a sexual health worker and undertakes sessions with the young people on e-safety. This worker states that the staff team support these sessions and young people are safeguarded. Young people are supported to explore their sexuality in a safe nurturing environment and are able to access groups to enable them to have an understanding of their individual identity. Judgement grade

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good

This is a well-managed home. Although the manager is a temporary appointment. She has submitted an application to Ofsted to become the Registered Manager. She holds a level 3 in caring for children and young people and is embarking on the Level 5 Diploma, imminently. She has worked at the home for 10 years; two of which in a senior care role responsible for the supervision of staff. The manager is a passionate individual who instils enthusiasm in the staff team. They feel consulted and are committed to the ethos of the home. Staff speak highly of the skills of the manager, they feel well supported and have good training opportunities. Their annual appraisals are a true reflection on their skills and areas for development. However, their skills would be enhanced by them having training on the impact of trauma and neglect. Staff say, ‘Her open door policy brings out the best in people, she is very passionate and this cascades,’ and, ‘she is aware of

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good

our strengths and weaknesses and supports us.’ Staff also say, ‘I enjoy coming to work; I come to work with a smile on my face.’ This provides for a happy home.

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good

Young people are central to how this home functions. All have made good progress. They are cared for by a stable, highly committed, staff team who provide warm nurturing care where young people flourish. The staff team reflect the ethnicity of the city providing good role models.

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good

The Statement of Purpose is a comprehensive document clearly setting out what the home has to offer. However, the inclusion of a rider stating that they will take anyone at any age in an emergency negates this whole document.

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good

Effective monitoring systems ensure the home operates efficiently. Young people’s files are well maintained, easy to follow which would enable young people to have a good understanding of their time spent at the home.

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good

The staff work well with other professionals; social workers commend the good communication they have with the home. Professionals consider that this is a well- run home where young people’s needs are well met.

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good

The manager is proactive in addressing any shortfalls in the actions of other departments where the young people’s plans have drifted or changed without any consultation. The staff work hard to build community relationships. To this end they have invited the neighbours to a summer barbeque and work out compromises with regard to parking arrangements.

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good

All the recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. The location risk assessment was drawn up in consultation with the police; there has been some redecoration and the outside area has been overhauled; staff have undertaken training on a range of issues relating to sexual health and awareness.

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good

Young people enjoy living in this well-maintained home; they have helped in some of the redecoration. They are proud of this and their efforts in supporting the gardening project which has resulted in a very pleasant environment.

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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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