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

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of young people maintain positive outcomes and progress in particular areas. A number of young people’s attendance at school is very good, for others it improves. This supports their on-going learning. Young people continue to build on their life and independence skills. They thrive in the enjoyment and pursuit of hobbies and interests. For example, kick boxing and ice skating. Young people make sustained friendships and re-establish relationships with family members. This enables their confidence to grow, strengthens peer group and family support networks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support and care for young people very well. They demonstrate a good understanding of the diverse care needs of each young person. For certain young people, there are safeguarding and health concerns such as going missing, taking illegal substances and involvement in criminal activity. Staff work diligently to try to reduce, eliminate and protect these individuals. They strive to achieve this through direct engagement and discussions with the young people. In addition, they work in close collaboration with a number of agencies and professionals. This provides staff and young people with advice and guidance to support and implement further safeguards. The agencies involved are the police, youth offending officers, doctors, emotional and mental health services. A police officer said, ‘Staff are proactive when young people go missing; they go and search for them. Incidents are reported promptly to all concerned. We have a good working relationship.’ This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

multi- agency approach endeavours to keep these young people safer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people benefit from a homely environment. Staff instil clear expectations on daily routines and boundaries. School attendance is given high importance to provide them with an education that prepares them for the world of work as young adults. There is a strong emphasis on respectful relationships between staff and young people. Young people have very strong and positive relationships with staff. A young person said, ‘This is a good home where staff care for us and show us that they care.’ Meal times are a social event, when everyone gets together, shares the day’s events, jokes and engage in conversation. Young people take an active role in making decisions about their lives. This includes choices about menus and how they spend their free time and activities. A positive ethos of family life exists. This provides young people with a safe and secure environment to live and grow-up in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Action has been taken to implement the majority of the previous requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. Agency staff have undertaken fire instruction training and this is recorded. There has been prompt action to address concerns raised, which makes sure that suitable action is taken to keep young people safe. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. This provides staff with accurate information and guidance to support young people’s safety and wellbeing. All staff receive supervision at regular intervals including the senior practitioners. This provides staff with good support and allows time for them to reflect on their practice and areas for development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One recommendation has not been fully actioned. Accurate records are not always maintained following return home interviews with young people after an episode of being missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, young people’s case file records are maintained to a good standard and include the required information. Young people benefit from regular key work sessions to address areas where they require on-going support. However, young people’s case records do not fully evidence and evaluate all the progress they make.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the service continues to be thorough. It includes a number of monthly audits of records and health and safety matters. The regulation 44 independent monthly monitoring visits remain regular and provide robust analysis of shortfalls in the service. This enables the manager to address these ensuring the quality of care remains at a good standard.

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Information about this children's home

This is a children’s home run by the local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to seven 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

17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory progress

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home's records as 'living documents' supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 58 paragraph 11.19) In particular, that the records more clear set out and evaluate young people's progress.  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The guide to the Quality Standards, page 45 , paragraph 9.30) In particular, that young people

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Recommendations

are offered a Voicability advocate to discuss the missing from home episode and outcome of this must always be recorded

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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

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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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