Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Building on the strengths from the last inspection the manager and staff continue to improve the quality of life for young people. Young people have moved out successfully to foster care and independent living. Both requirements raised at the last inspection are met and there are plans for future improvements. Overall, this is demonstrating good capacity to improve. No breaches of regulation were identified at this inspection. The approach to engaging with young people, their families and friends is stronger. This puts young people at the heart of care practice and strengthens their social networks. Young people feel valued and cared about. They recognise staff also value their friends and family. The quality of support helps young people improve their family contact. When there are difficulties, various strategies are used to overcome this to re-build relationships. Staff will engage directly with parents, encourage contact by

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

providing tickets to local events and are supporting one young person to help her sibling decorate a new flat. Parents are responsive to this support, for example one parent no longer sits in the car outside but comes into the home. Staff work effectively in partnership so that parents feel listened to and are also supported with their own parenting style. One parent commented, ‘This is the best placement he has had.’ Young people like having their friends to visit and cook them meals. Staff welcome their friends and support their joint leisure and social activities. This encourages young people to engage with staff and what the home has to offer. Whereas in a previous placement, one young person was always missing with his girlfriend. The positive and inclusive approach promotes normal family-like patterns of behaviour with friends coming round for meals and playing games. Staff build on this, using individual incentives such as hair and beauty products to reward and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

encourage good behaviour. Staff are effective in building relationships with young people and bringing about change. Their commitment and investment in young people helps break down previous barriers to progress. For example one young person is building up her education, has significantly reduced her missing from home behaviour and risks of exploitation are now lower. Another young person no longer gets involved in fighting and risks from offending behaviour are much lower. Staff consider education a priority for young people. They support young people to improve their attendance and focus on their future life chances. Issues around previous non-attendance are addressed, helping young people back into education. They benefit from careers advice, relevant work experience and progression into further education. Young people are free from bullying. Incidents of challenging behaviour are rare making it a safe and pleasant environment to live in. There is a new car for the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home. Young people benefit from the flexibility this provides in getting home when it is late. It also makes it easier for staff to look for young people if they are out without permission. Missing from home behaviour is of much lower frequency and safeguarding practice is good at getting young people home safely. The strong relationships staff have with young people and the way young people are encouraged to invest in the home reduces missing incidents. There is effective partnership working with the placing authority, schools and other agencies, which promotes young people’s needs. One parent commented, ‘He is being encouraged with everything, he is getting everything he needs.’ Other professionals commented, ‘Staff are supportive, encourage participation, there is extremely good communication, they do not give up and are professional.’ Since the last inspection, the management of admissions has been in line with the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

statement of purpose. This document is now clearer about the age range and needs of young people the home is suitable for. This helps guarantee that young people who move in will have their needs met. The whole staff team have started a training programme about attachment, brain development and needs of young people. This is helping them understand and build relationships with young people. There are plans to continue this training and enhance it with additional therapeutic support and advice.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is owned by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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