Children's Home run by Harmony Children’s Services in Kirklees

home are Inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected, their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and their care and experiences are poor.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Children and young people are restricted at certain times of the day from moving freely around their home. The kitchen door is routinely locked at night. Some children and young people are locked in their bedrooms during the time other children are in crisis.  A requirement has not been met in relation to maintenance of this home. The repairs identified at last inspection have been completed, however keeping the home in good repair has not been achieved.  Children and young people report they do not like it when senior managers shout at staff. This leaves them exposed to inappropriate adult behaviours. It can potentially impact negatively on children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.  Medication is not always stored appropriately. As a result children and young people are at risk of on-going health issues and potential upset stomach.  Significant incidents are not always recorded. During times of crisis

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

some children and young people are left alone due to staffing levels. All children and young people involved in crisis situations do not have the opportunity to explore their feelings with staff. This potentially leaves them feeling unsettled and alone.

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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

(2) In particular reference to paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (d) that the premises are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. In particular children have access to essential items such as a working fridge, good quality furnishing such as carpets with no stains; carpet’s that fit appropriately and a clean home in all areas. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular reference to paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure-(b) that the homes day to day care is arranged and delivered as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. In specific relation to children and young people not experiencing shouting from senior managers at staff and being expose to unpredictable inappropriate adult behaviour. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to (i) understand apply the homes statement of purpose. (Regulation 6 (2) (b)) 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to- (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. This relates to there being enough staff on shift to meet all individuals needs in times of crisis 21/08/2015 13 The Leadership and management

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to- (h). Use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. In reference to ensuring staff are recording significant incidents allowing a true reflection of behaviour patterns and progression and allowing effective management oversight and effective monitoring of staff practice. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into in the children’s home (Regulation 23 (1)). This is in reference to ensuring staff read medication labels and store medication appropriately. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that- (c) any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premise- (iv) allows children as much freedom as possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe (Requirement 21(c)(iv)). This is specifically in relation to not routinely locking the kitchen at night. It also relates to not locking the kitchen door during crisis and not locking children and young people in their bedrooms while others are in crisis. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must- (a) take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home; (Regulation 25(1)(a)). This is in relation to fire exits not being blocked by locked doors. The conservatory door being made into an accessible fire exit. 21/08/2015

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Requirement Due date

The Children's views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who- (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives This is specifically in relation to ensuring all children and young people’s views and feelings are sought after a significant incident even if they were not directly involved but witnessed. 21/08/2015 Full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matter in Schedule 2 (Regulation 32(3)(d)). This is in relation Schedule 2 point 4. 21/08/2015

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children home. Providing accommodation for up to three young people with emotional social behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2015 Interim Declined Effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

08/01/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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people living in the home are

Medication practice is poor. Procedures are not always followed and the monitoring system is ineffective. Consequently medication is not stored correctly. Medicine which requires storage in a fridge is placed in a cupboard. This is because the label has not been read correctly and there is no safe fridge. A fridge and new medication was obtained on the day of inspection following this finding. As a result children and young people are exposed to on-going illness, as the medication is not effective. They are also at risk of upset stomach from inappropriately kept medication.

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people living in the home are

A requirement around the maintenance of this home, was set at the last full inspection. Efforts were made to address the issues but shortfalls remained. This requirement was set again at interim inspection due to on-going maintenance problems. The repairs identified were completed, however since then new areas of concern have arisen and not been addressed. This requirement has not been met for the second time.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people have been without a working fridge for 14 days. It was highlighted it was broken, however there was no replacement or no attempt to fix it until two week later. A new fridge was ordered immediately after inspection. It has impacted on children and young people because no fresh food could be stored at a safe temperature. This is a poor experience for children and young people, as they have limited choice of food available. One young person commented ‘It means I cannot have what I want.’

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people living in the home are

Other maintenance issues include stained and raised carpets, some carpets are not fastened down causing trip hazards, specific areas of the kitchen require cleaning. This is not setting good standards for young people to aspire to now or in the future.

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people living in the home are

Despite staff efforts external educational placements for some, have taken 18 months to source. Individuals who have not accessed external educational placements have been provided with education in house. They have engaged and made some progress academically. They now have school places for September. This will promote children and young people’s academic ability and will enhance their social opportunities with peers.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people benefit from accessing services which promote their physical and emotional health. Staff use specific training techniques which support individual’s needs. As a result staff feel they are now providing a more stable approach for children and young people. One member of staff reported the `Solihull training has been really good and it has helped us work consistently. I think it is helping us build positive relationships, as there is not as much physical intervention.’

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people are helped and protected

All children and young people report they do not like shouting. They overhear senior managers shouting and speaking to others without respect. One young person reported `they are very rude, have no manners. I hear shouting at staff.’ One professional commented ‘children experiencing adults shouting is like the environments they were removed from and is not acceptable. I am concerned about this.’ The impact of adults shouting and behaving inappropriately towards others, can have significant negative impact on children and young people’s emotional wellbeing. It does not promote good behaviour for them to aspire to.

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people are helped and protected

At night children and young people are restricted from going into the kitchen as the door is locked. Not only does this limit their freedom to move around their own home, it places them at risk, as it prevents them from accessing the nearest fire escape. The kitchen door is at times locked when children and young people are in crisis This was addressed during inspection and the kitchen door has not been locked since day or night.

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people are helped and protected

When one individual is upset others are on occasion locked in their bedrooms until it is calm. The child could remove the lock internally. However the act of locking the door externally is used as a barrier. Social workers nor the management were not aware of this practice and it has not ceased at inspection. As a result some children and young people’s behaviours are significantly impacting on others. They feel they are prevented from moving around their home, due to others negative behaviour. Consequently this could affect children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and sense of value. One professional commented `I knew nothing about this; other people’s behaviour should not be impacting, especially when they are all funded for individual staffing, they should have this all the time. No one should be left alone or have to witness others behaviour. They are not managing it effectively.’

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people are helped and protected

Recording of behavioural incidents is not consistent. Some significant incidents are not recorded at all. As a result this limits the manager’s ability to monitor and safeguard children and young people. Without information she cannot assess staff practice and analyse the quality of care children and young people are receiving. Staff locking doors is a clear example of this. Due to this lack of recording it is not possible to identify the progress young people have made with their behaviour.

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people are helped and protected

Children and young people’s emotional needs are not always recognised by staff. For example after witnessing distressing behaviour incidents individuals are not consulted about their feelings. Consequently this leaves them feeling pushed out and angry.

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people are helped and protected

No children or young people go missing from this home. They are not exposed to child sexual exploitation. This is progress from some individual starting points.

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leaders and managers

The manager has been in post since May 2013. She is suitably qualified and has extensive experience to undertake this role.

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leaders and managers

Monitoring of this home is not fully effective. External monitoring systems have identified some issues raised at this inspection, in connection with educational time scales and the property maintenance. The internal monitoring of this home has not been effective. This has resulted in poor recording in some areas, incorrect storage of medication and a lack of identification of poor practice, such as the routine locking of doors.

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leaders and managers

The manager actively challenges senior managers in relation to opportunities for children and young people and the quality of the environment. The response is slow and all staff, children and young people feel that decisions take excessive time for requests to be considered and approved. One staff member commented `There is a level of frustration; we are always having to wait with the budget. It’s very frustrating. We have to always battle to get stuff. If anything goes wrong it should be replaced, no messing, look at the fridge it’s astonishing and it makes me cross. More autonomy within the house is needed, we are always left waiting.’ Consequently staff feel they cannot always provide the quality of care they would like. It impacts on children and young people’s sense of self-worth and feelings they belong in this home.

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leaders and managers

A recommendation was set at interim inspection to ensure all recruitment checks are completed before new staff start work. This has not been met. References have not been verified by telephone. Consequently safeguarding checks are not robust, leaving young people vulnerable because full information has not been obtained about new staff.

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leaders and managers

A recommendation was set at last inspection regarding effective decision making in regards to recruitment of staff. This has been met. Managers have received extra training and employment decisions since have been clear. As a result this ensures the staff move the skills to meet the needs of children and young people in this home.

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leaders and managers

Staff have regular supervision. They all feel well supported by the manager. One member of staff reported `I have excellent support from the manager, she is always supportive with anything and I can always go to her.’ As a result the staff team are confident to approach the manager to discuss problems and advocate on behalf of children and young people.

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leaders and managers

Multi-agency working ensures there is regular consultation with professionals such as health, education and social care. Consequently information is passed on effectively and this contributes to partnership working in the best interest of young people.

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leaders and managers

On the whole this home is not achieving its commitment to children and young people outlined in the Statement of Purpose.

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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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