Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

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 progress as a result of the homes compelling culture, which is, only the best is good enough. They are safer and have improved health outcomes.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 High importance is given to ensure young people access and achieve in education. As a result, the majority of young people attend education full time, which supports their academic progress. Staff have promptly secured an education placement for a new young person, who has come to live at the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make successful transitions into semi-independent accommodation and receive on-going assistance from the staff team providing young people with a strong support network.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit greatly from the exceptionally strong partnership working by staff to promote their wellbeing and safety.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff are highly committed, child-centred and have high aspirations for all young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The service has a diverse, stable, very experienced and well-trained staff team, who can meet the individual needs of young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Robust monitoring systems ensure the quality of care remains at a very good standard. Young people’s progress is closely scrutinized and reviewed to ensure that they make continual improvements.

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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

 Children should be supported to understand how to build friendships with other children. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 38, paragraph 8.7). In particular, undertake a conciliation process for those young people experiencing relationship difficulties.   Registered persons have a key role in seeking to develop the home’s effective working relationships with each child’s placing authority and with other relevant persons which may include services, agencies and organisations and that work with young people in the community. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52, paragraph 10.3) In particular, that shortfalls found in the police red flag system used for young people identified at risk to child sexual exploitation are addressed with the agency concerned.

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Information about this children's home

This local authority children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight young people who are experiencing social, emotional and behavioural problems.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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good

Young people make good progress, particularly relating to education, health, their safety and behaviour. Young people confirm that they have good relationships with staff and have key workers who they are able to share important information or their concerns with. These trusting relationships assists staff greatly to be able to support and care for young people. Consequently, young people are provided with a safe and secure environment where they start to thrive and make progress.

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good

Young people are cared for by a diverse staff team that reflects their ethnicity. This allows them to be cared for by people who have knowledge and understanding of their culture and individual needs. Young people’s views are sought. For example, weekly suggestions for menus, their special dietary requirements are catered for and activities they wish to undertake. Young people attend their own reviews and are involved in planning for their future. This demonstrates that young people’s views, opinions and suggestions are listened to and acted upon.

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good

Young people’s health is promoted, with routine check-ups which include dentists and opticians. Staff discourage smoking and provide advice and guidance to assist young people to understand the dangers and risks related to this. Young people benefit immensely from access to the mental health support services. In addition, the child and adolescent mental health team attend the staff meetings on a monthly basis. This significantly assists staff to better understand and meet the emotional health of the young people in their care. It provides young people with specialist care and they are supported well to maintain good health and wellbeing.

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good

Young people are continually encouraged and supported to attend education. This has been successful with all of them having improved attendance. In turn, young people make progress in their attainment. An education professional said, ‘I’m so pleased with X’s progress, she is attending more and more,’ and ‘I supported a young person with additional tuition to help them improve their grades in maths.’ This is of considerable value to young people to enable them to access further education or employment giving them enhanced life opportunities.

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good

Young people access a range of recreational activities including spending time socialising with friends. A young person said, ‘I really like going boxing,’ and another said, ‘We had a good summer holiday.’ This gives young people the same opportunities to take part in activities as their peers, promoting social skills and new experiences. Young people speak with pride about the independence skills they have gained. They have learnt how to do their washing, iron, make snacks, prepare meals and do chores around the home. Two young people have moved into their own flats recently and are doing well. Staff continue to give support to these young people and work with a housing support officer who said, ‘The young people have had brilliant support from staff. Staff make sure young people attend their link sessions and keep me well informed. Staff continue to give lots of emotional and practical support to the boys. This is really good.’ This ensures that young people have the

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good

necessary daily living skills to live independently. They continue to benefit greatly from a strong support network provided by the staff team.

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good

Young people’s safety is given a high priority. They benefit from being cared for by staff who are diligent to make sure their safety and wellbeing is upheld. Staff are clear on the individual vulnerabilities and risks posed for each young person. Immediate responses are made to reduce risks to young people and protect them from harm. This includes child sexual exploitation. Staff demonstrate well their understanding of the action they take to safeguard young people, which corresponds with the each young person’s risk assessment. Individuals from the police, youth offending, and child sexual exploitation team confirm that staff follow procedures and take instant action to protect and safeguard young people.

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good

Missing from home episodes have reduced significantly for young people who have a history of going missing. Staff actively undertake work with young people to assist them to understand the dangers related to going missing and not returning home on time. This is reinforced through partnership working with other professionals including the police and social workers. A young person said, ‘When we do not return on time, staff always phone us when we are out to check we are ok and when we will return home.’ Return home interviews take place to establish the reasons such events have occurred. As a result, young people more routinely return home and are kept safer.

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good

Safeguarding matters and allegations are promptly referred to safeguarding professionals. Staff take all action possible to make sure that young people are protected. However, a shortfall has been found with the police’s red flag system for responding to young people at risk to child sexual exploitation. This could affect and prevent young people from being adequately safeguarded.

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good

Young people benefit from positive behaviour being promoted. They have relevant individualised incentives devised to support this. Young people and staff confirm that no physical interventions have taken place since the last inspection in March 2015. Sanctions are proportionate and used in conjunction with a restorative justice approach. A young person said, ‘Staff are fair with us,’ and another said, ‘I trust all the staff and get on with them all.’

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good

Young people’s behaviour has improved since the time of their admission. For example, risk taking behaviour such as going missing, following boundaries and routines appropriate to their age. However, in recent weeks, the young people have not been getting on as a group. There has been an escalation of negative behaviour from some young people which is affecting others. A young person said, ‘I’m fed up with it all. ’Staff have taken swift action to address these behaviours. Some progress has been made however, this will take time to resolve and re-build all relationships fully. The manager is proactively involved with social workers in reviewing the strategies and support to ensure young people begin to show respect and consideration for each other.

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outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since 2013. She has nineteen years’ experience and holds the National Vocational Qualification, level 4 in Management. From January 2016, she has been seconded for three months to another post.

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outstanding

The assistant manager is covering the position for the duration of her absence. She has worked in residential care with children and young people for over nine years. She holds a National Vocational Qualification, level 4 in Health and Social Care and is currently undertaking the level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management.

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outstanding

Young people benefit immensely from the high aspirations staff have for them. This ethos has been established by the manager and senior team and cascades throughout the staff team, following the homes statement of purpose. There is an embedded culture of wanting the very best for young people and nothing else is good enough. Staff speak positively about the young people and share their achievements with pride.

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outstanding

Exceptionally strong leadership is demonstrated. The registered manager and the acting manager express with clarity the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Clear plans are in place to continue to develop the service and care provided with an emphasis on young people being the first priority. As a result, young people make good progress. For example, in relation to increased attendance in education, reduced risk taking behaviour and gaining suitable skills in preparation for independence. Excellent collaborative working has been built and established with all professionals and agencies. Professionals say, ‘We have a fantastic working relationship to best meet the needs of the young people,’ and another said, ‘The staff are very supportive and in daily contact. This means we keep all the same boundaries for X, it’s working well. X’s attendance is school has increased significantly.’ All professionals commented that staff communication is first-rate, they keep all

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outstanding

parties up-to-date with all relevant information. They are proactive to seek advice and the involvement of others when required. This makes sure that all agencies work consistently together to achieve the best outcomes for young people. Where young people have had a history of multiply placements, this way of working assists them to sustain their placement. As a result, young people have a stable home, where they continue to make progress.

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outstanding

Young people’s lives are significantly enhanced by a stable and diverse staff team that have a wealth of experience. The majority of staff hold the level 3 Diploma in caring for children and young people or equivalent. They have access to extremely good training opportunities. This includes regular routine refreshers in subjects such as child protection, food hygiene, first aid and behaviour management. In addition, staff have access to more specialist training. This includes self-harm, ligatures, hate crime, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. This level of training ensures staff are equipped with immeasurable skills and knowledge to be able to respond and meet the needs of young people.

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outstanding

Staff work within a very reliable and passionate team. They receive regular formal supervision, where they are able to identify development and training needs. This is further enhanced with informal support from the manager and senior team. In addition, weekly staff meetings and detailed daily shift handovers maintain good standards care. Staff continually reflect on their practice to bring improvements and make changes in the best interests of young people. This strong level of support, guidance and evaluation enables and ensures that staff work consistently to provide good quality of care to young people.

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outstanding

Previous recommendations relating to the locality risk assessment has been implemented taking into account other agencies intelligence. Staff are now working collaboratively with young people’s social workers and personal advisors to support their successful move to live independently.

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outstanding

Monitoring systems are vigorous with a range of audits to ensure all practice and records are up-to-date and reviewed. Young people and stakeholders are consulted to ensure that their views are gained to influence the care provided. Where safeguarding matters or shortfalls are identified, immediate action is taken to address them. For example, staffing levels have been increased to make sure that suitable monitoring and supervision of young people takes place. As a result, the quality of care remains to a good standard.

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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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