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 judges that it has improved effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people that live in the home have profound learning and physical disabilities in addition to very complex healthcare conditions. The staff team are dedicated and provide high levels of care. As a result, the outcomes for the youngsters they look after are good and they have all made progress since the last inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a warm, affectionate and loving relationship with the young people they look after. Where possible, and within the limits of their disabilities, young people are involved in all aspects of their care and how the home is run. One member of staff said, ‘We really do care for the young people we look after. Sometimes they make their needs known through facial gestures or by making specific sounds. Just because they can’t speak fluently doesn’t mean to say they can’t be involved in things.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health care needs of some children and young people are complex and, if not monitored closely, they can be life threatening. Individual healthcare plans are comprehensive, detailed and up to date. Staff have the skills, expertise and experience necessary to ensure all children and young people remain well cared for and safe. One staff member said, ‘We ensure the children are well cared for. If they need to see any health care professionals then we make sure it happens quickly. We really do need to keep them healthy.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Activities are a strength. Children and young people enjoy a wide range of leisure pursuits that include, trips to the pantomime, going to the park or using the home’s hydrotherapy pool. Additionally, staff involve young people in home based activities. For instance, arts and crafts and painting. Young people have made decorative mobiles using coloured materials, as well as pictures from hand prints. These activities provide young people with sensory stimulation.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions to and from the home are very good. The home’s manager undertakes a comprehensive and detailed pre-admission assessment of all children and young people referred to the home. This ensures that the home is a suitable place for the young person to live and that the staff team can meet their assessed needs. One member of staff said, ‘We’re fully involved in the pathway planning and transition process. We sit in meetings with community paediatric nurses, transition workers and social workers from adult teams. Where necessary we express our concerns about any proposals they have but we also support them when we believe them to be the right option for the young person.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has also progressed by meeting two previous requirements. The first requirement was to ensure that the progress each young person is making is fully recorded within the home. The registered manager has introduced a daily achievement record for each young person. Achievements, no matter how small are now fully recorded. For instance, one young person lifted their head when prompted whilst personal care tasks were being attended to and another young person shared their toy with another child. The other requirement was to have a locality risk assessment in place for the home. The registered manager has now written a locality risk assessment, which can be reviewed annually.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, a recommendation made at the last inspection was to ensure a risk assessment is in place for all activities enjoyed by children and young people. This recommendation has also been met. The registered manager retains a file of all activities undertaken by young people and ensures that risk assessments associated with those activities are kept up to date.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Keeping young people safe is a paramount concern of all staff at the home. Notifiable events are quickly addressed and, where necessary, notifications to Ofsted are made in a timely manner. This shows the home operates in an open and transparent way.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal monitoring systems continue to be reviewed. The registered manager has robust systems in place for identifying any concerns and the action taken to address those concerns. However, the reports produced as a result of external monitoring process do not always comment on the overall safety and well-being of young people.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has also introduced a system for tracking the progress of each young person’s transition plan from the home as they near adulthood. The tracking system ensures that all agreed actions are monitored, members of staff, social workers and other professionals are held accountable and timescales for action are closely observed.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The local authority children’s home is registered to provide short breaks for up to 10 children and young people. Children and young people using the short breaks service have physical and/or learning difficulties. In addition, many have other very complex health needs and sensory impairment.

p.4

Information about this children's home

The building is specifically adapted to meet the needs of children and young people with disabilities. The building is on one floor and has two sensory rooms and a hydrotherapy pool. There is a large, secured garden area and generously sized bedrooms and bathrooms.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

11/06/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the independent person produces a report about a visit which sets out in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being (Regulation 44 (4) (a)(b)) 31/05/2016

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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,

p.6

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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

p.6