Children's Home run by Kirklees Council 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:

 Children and young people receive enjoyable and purposeful experiences at the home. This supports their quality of life and improves their outcomes. The service is valued by both parents and professionals.  Children and young people are kept safe in a stimulating environment. They are encouraged to develop within their abilities and are offered opportunities to develop their personal and social skills.  Staff provide individualised care which accommodates the children and young people’s complex health, physical and emotional needs. Staff are both knowledgeable and skilled in providing care for a diverse range of presenting needs.  Staff communicate openly and consistently parents, which contributes to good planning. This ensures children and young people receive responsive and appropriate care.  The wishes and views of families and children and young people are taken into account when planning subsequent stays at the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Areas for improvement are identified. These do not currently impact upon the welfare of children and 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

The registered person must keep under review and revise the placement plan as necessary (Regulation 18, (7)). In particular, that documents relating to progress and outcomes for children and young people are reflective of the individual work that is on-going. 02/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

13 The Leadership and Management Standard 13. In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference that staff receive regular good quality supervision, the registered person must: (2) (a) lead and manage a home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and deliver outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose. 02/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

13 The Leadership and Management Standard

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Requirement Due date

13. In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to the system used by the manager being robust and shortfalls identified being followed up, the registered provider must: (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 02/10/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least every 6 months

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Requirement Due date

(a) supply to MHCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care 02/10/2015 review is completed (Regulation 45, (1), (4) (a)).

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42, paragraph 9.5). In particular that the generic risk assessments are updated in a timely manner.  The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 31, paragraph 6.5).

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and run by a local authority. The home provides short breaks for children with learning and physical disabilities and sensory impairments.

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ecent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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ecent inspection history

20/02/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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good

Children and young people new to the home are given good quality and thoughtful care. This care is underpinned by detailed planning with the children and young people, parents and other professionals. This reduces or eliminates any distress or worry that they may have due to the initial change in their routine. One social care professional described the benefit the service had made to one young person’s life as ‘Massive,’ adding ‘They did such a good transition which is why it worked.’ A parent commenting on the planning for her child to begin visiting the home said, ‘The first visit we went through a huge list of staff getting to know her … as soon as I came to look round I was put at ease – all the adults and children have such a good rapport.’

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good

The positive experiences at the home contribute to improved outcomes. Children and young people’s highly complex needs are such that progress is measured in small but significant changes. For example, learning to positively tolerate and enjoy the company of other young people, sit at the table to eat a meal, increased self- care, toileting and group play. Children and young people’s confidence grows as a result of the consistent warmth and positive regard they receive from staff.

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good

During their visits to the home children and young people have access to a wide variety of resources that supports their physical and emotional development. For example, sensory stimulation is provided in a quiet room which is specially equipped with lights and mirrors. Children and young people also enjoy well- resourced outside spaces that are both safe and maintained to a good standard. They are also encouraged by staff to take-part in craft based activities and group games. One social worker commented, ‘In terms of independence it was a bit of an eye-opener. They have a touch screen TV there and he was using it which I wasn’t aware he could do.’

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good

Children and young people are treated as individuals and the care offered is tailored to meet both their needs and strengths. Staff are pro-active in problem- solving and identifying resources and approaches that may assist a child or young person’s development. For example, a specialist sensory chair was purchased for one young person and new sensory toys for another. One social care professional commented about the commitment and care from the staff, ‘They go above and beyond, can’t praise them highly enough really.’

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good

Staff are highly sensitive to the vulnerabilities of each child or young person and they adjust their responses, pitch of voice and overall approach accordingly. Staff are vigilant and attuned to non-verbal communication. As a result, children and young people feel safe, are understood and enjoy their visits. Children and young people are supported to spend time with peers and increase their ability to manage change. One social care professional commented, ‘When I first met X at the family home, he stripped all his clothes off and shoved a pillow down the toilet because he was distressed at meeting me. I’ve just seen him now here, he presented really well, showed me his bedroom and was pointing out different things, which just shows. I am really pleased, this (home) has been really good for opening up his routines.’

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good

Parents hold primary responsibility for key decisions about their children’s welfare. Partnership working is a key feature of the home. This ensures that children and young people’s needs remain central to the running of the home and that their health and educational needs are met. All professionals spoken to commented that the communication between the home, parents and themselves was timely, appropriate and very supportive. One parent commented, ‘Each time he has had a really good time – I am kept informed of his stays and how he has been – I know he has enjoyed it as last time I went to collect him he didn’t want to come home. He feels very secure there. We have taken him to some places in the past and we couldn’t get to go through the door.’

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good

Children and young people are offered nurturing and positive experiences during their stays at the home, however the majority of these activities are home based. Greater opportunities from appropriate community based activities would offer a greater scope of experiences.

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good

The service is good at keeping children and young people safe and making them feel safe. Due to their high level of need and vulnerability there are appropriate levels of security at the home and high levels of staffing.

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good

The preparation that takes place for children and young people to begin using the service results in immediate care that is of a high quality. The knowledge and experience of staff ensures that they are able to communicate effectively with children and young people. Staff are attuned to small gestures, body language and physical presentation. This ensures that any changes which may indicate distress are quickly understood and responded to.

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good

Children and young people experience consistent care that provides guidance with regards to behaviour. This guidance is individualised and reflective of their complex needs and levels of understanding. Young people are supported through the transition into adolescence by careful consideration of their understanding and the use of appropriate specialist resources. Staff work consistently well with parents, social care professionals and education to ensure that approaches are consistent.

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good

Staff are vigilant with regards to children and young people’s whereabouts and the potential for accidental or deliberate self-harm. They respond with thoughtful consideration to prevention and cause. For example, one social worker considered that the staff had gone beyond his expectations in their response to one young person’s self-harming behaviour. They had spent time researching possible physiological causes, adapted clothing to ensure that the harm caused by certain behaviours was significantly reduced, bought additional sensory toys and increased one to one time. This has reduced the incidents of self-harming behaviour.

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good

Any complaints or safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately and shared with relevant agencies. There is careful consideration given to the planning of children and young people’s on-going visits to the home. As far as is practical, individual abilities, needs and interests are taken into account. This ensures any potential conflict of needs are minimised and their social learning experiences are positive.

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good

Risk assessments are thorough and detailed in their consideration of children and young people’s vulnerabilities. These however are not consistently updated in a timely manner.

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requires improvement

The Registered Manager is suitably qualified, experienced and has been manager of the home since 2007. He leads an experienced and knowledgeable team, who are dedicated in their role to provide good quality to care to children and young people. At the previous inspection a recommendation was made for staff to have access to the electronic recording system. This has now been achieved. Additional areas that require improvement were identified at this inspection

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requires improvement

Day to day ‘Daily Living Plans’ are thorough and detailed. They reflect the complex needs that children and young people present. However, there is no uniformity in recording the progress made by children and young people. Particular aspects of work with some children and young people are not clearly recorded nor captured. There are no dedicated and distinct means of recording specific one to one work with children and young people. The work recorded is combined with meetings and telephone contacts with family and other professionals. This limits the management oversight, review and comprehensive understanding of progress children and young people make.

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requires improvement

The manager’s monitoring of the quality of care given to children and young people is not sufficiently robust. For example, shortfalls in updating risk assessments are not later followed up by the manager to ensure their completion. The manager does not address such non-completion of tasks as his previously identified shortfalls are not cross-referenced. This results in ‘roll-over’ of incomplete tasks from one six monthly audit to the next, limiting the manager’s overview and ability to plan future improvements.

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requires improvement

Staff are given on-going and regular informal support and feedback. The manager is available to the staff, professionals and parents. Team meetings are focussed on the needs of children and young people. However, staff do not receive regular and formal good quality supervision. In some cases staff have not had formal supervision for five months. When supervision does take place the recording of discussions is limited. This limits the ability to use supervision to ensure consistent good quality care, address practice issues and make improvements.

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requires improvement

The manager has good insight into the needs of the children and young people who use the service. He takes an active role in their care and leads staff by example. Through his regular interest in their daily care, he has established positive and open relationships with the children and young people.

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requires improvement

Careful consideration is given to the management and allocation of short-breaks. This ensures that children and young people and their families are given good levels of on-going support and that the service is also responsive to fluctuating levels of needs. Parents feel confident in the care their children receive and the information which is communicated to them.

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requires improvement

The manager and staff are well-regarded by professionals and they have good levels of liaison established with schools, health and transitional services. One social worker commented, ‘They have good links with local nurses and health professionals – all professionals really – they are a very well established service. Staffing is stable, hardly ever changes.’

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requires improvement

Staff are suitably skilled and experienced. They work effectively as a team and this ensures that children and young people receive consistent care. Professionals in social care consider the staff to be very knowledgeable in responding to the complex needs of the children and young people. One social care worker commented, ‘When I lack some experience I can call them up and pick their brains as to what to do – they are a useful resource – they know their stuff.’

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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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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