Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

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 manager and staff team have shown capacity to improve by suitably addressing all of the requirements raised at the last inspection. The routine of switching off the electricity from the sockets outside the young people’s bedrooms has stopped. This prevents restrictive practice and promotes alternative behaviour management strategies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has satisfied herself through her monitoring systems that staff adhere to the agreed actions to monitor young people so that incidents reduce. Room search documents have improved because they contain the necessary details. This promotes transparent practice and complies with individual placement plans. Young people’s risk assessments are kept up to date, which keep staff fully apprised of the risks and strategies required to keep them safe. All staff supervision records undertaken by the deputies are accessible to the manager, which gives her proper over sight of staff practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The interface between the manager and independent visitor is better due to their improved communication. This prevents the inaccurate reporting of care practices in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Appropriate notifications of significant events are sent to the regulator within reasonable timescales. This enables the regulator to effectively carry out its safeguarding duties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the resilient staff team has been tested by some young people’s extremely challenging and high-risk behaviours. This has led to a turbulent period in them caring for some young people. Concerns relating to child sexual exploitation, increased missing from care incidents and drug and alcohol misuse have been responded to. An additional concern related to some young people visiting an unsuitable address in the locality. This resulted in the team alerting the police and social care services who have since intervened. Allegations made by a young person following incidents in the community have been swiftly reported to the police. The outcomes of the investigations are not yet known. Consequently, not all young people’s outcomes, such as their education, health and socially acceptable behaviours have progressed at the expected pace. In spite of the obstacles, their good quality of care and relentless support from the staff team

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

has remained a consistent theme throughout their difficulties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the supportive interventions and plans to help and protect a disengaged young person, her increasingly high-risk behaviours ended when she committed a serious offence. This was the subject of a court case and she has since been moved to secure accommodation. A small team of staff with whom the young person has a strong bond remain in contact with her. A staff debrief confirmed that the team did a good job and on reflection they could do no more. A lesson learned was that a move sooner may have changed the course of events for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A young person who was spending time with unsuitable adults in the neighbourhood and further afield has returned to his family with a clear plan in place. The move has been positive for the young person who no longer engages in self-destructive behaviours. Outreach support from the staff team illustrates their strong commitment to continue to improve his life chances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An emerging period of stability has paved the way for a new placement. Good planning and careful introductory visits have enabled the young person to be well prepared before they moved into the home. His parent commented that her child was made to feel welcome and she was impressed that his room was quickly decorated to his tastes prior to him moving in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding young people is taken seriously by this staff team. Recent changes to the group dynamic have significantly reduced the risks related to drugs, alcohol, child sexual exploitation and missing from care incidents. Young people say they feel safe and there are no new safeguarding concerns. The manager said, ‘We are aware and working on it.’ A significant strength of the home is the quality of their partnerships and relationships with families, professionals and agencies. Of vital importance is their strong relationship with the police and child sexual exploitation teams who express complimentary views about the home. A child exploitation professional said, ‘They are really quick to report missing from care incidents’ and, ‘They know what they are wearing and will report to the police, giving them a head start.’ Another said, ‘Staff are straight on the phone to report incidents. They attend multi-agency child exploitation meetings’ and ‘They will ring for advice and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

get in early.’ Members from the child sexual exploitation team visit the young people to talk to them about keeping safe. This helps them to build relationships with young people and provides an independent means for them to discuss any worries.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Planning for independence has been variable for those young people who are approaching adulthood, with some showing more capacity to live independently than others. Those young people who are spending time or have plans to stay in the ‘taster’ flats get experience of what is like to be less dependent on the adults around them. A firm undertaking from the staff team to provide outreach support means that no young person will be left unsupported and isolated when they eventually move. The manager is addressing some issues with the leaving care team to ensure effective transitional planning that will help young people to be sufficiently prepared to live independently. This shows that the manager challenges other professionals when they do not deliver satisfactory services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s awareness about the home’s strengths and weakness is good. She has an in depth knowledge of the young people and strong relationships with them. Her leadership has also influenced how the team has managed to quickly respond, learn lessons and move on from the incidents and strive for continuous improvement. Monitoring reports inform about the performance of the home. However, they do not incorporate the feedback following consultations with young people, social workers and staff. Although this does not present a detriment to the young people’s welfare, it does not show how others influence service developments. A new requirement has been raised at this inspection to address this shortfall.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to benefit from a strong staff team who are very stable and committed to their improved outcomes. Their diverse skills and experience are enhanced by their continued professional development. This ensures that they broaden their knowledge and keep their practice current. For example, the manager has completed training on radicalisation and this is planned for staff. Other training has included young people’s participation and voices, further ‘signs of safety’ research based training and behaviour management refreshers. The manager is well underway to complete her management qualification. One staff member is due to commence their vocational course, which will complement a fully qualified staff team. The provider’s commitment to training invests in the workforce. This promotes safer practices that place young people’s needs at the centre of their work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people maintain that life at the home is a positive experience and they identify themselves as ‘one big family’. A young person summed up this assertion when she said, ‘If I could live here forever, I would’ and ‘It feels like a family here.’ Their wishes and feelings are listened to through a range of mediums and their reasonable requests are acted on. A young person described expressing their views as, ‘Being close and feeling able to speak up and them not judging you.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is a warm and welcoming environment for young people to live. It is maintained to a high quality. This values young people and promotes their sense of security and belonging during their stay.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven young people, of both genders with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The main aims are to support young people to move back home with their families or successfully move to independent living.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children. They system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2(a)(5)) 31/05/2016

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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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