Children's Home run by G B A Care Limited in Calderdale

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of young people continue to make good progress across a spectrum of measures through living at the home. For those young whose progress fluctuates, staff work hard with other professionals to bring about positive change. One social worker commented, ‘I am quite satisfied that the home are meeting his needs as much as they can. Here he has been the most settled since being in care.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy warm and positive relationships with staff. Over time, through these relationships and the positive role models that staff offer, young people learn essential social skills that they will require into adulthood. Staff are consistent and set clear expectations with regards to behaviour and educational attendance. One young person, reflecting on his time at the home, said, ‘At the other home I was naughty. Here I have buckled down and have improved. I don’t fight, don’t bully staff or kick holes in walls.’ When asked what had made the difference, he said, ‘Staff are stricter, but staff don’t need to be strict on me now because I am a lot more chilled out. They have stuck by me and proper help me.’ Another young person said, ‘I was an angry kid and now I am chilled.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people have made progress in education, both in terms of their attendance and the value that they place on it. They have developed aspirations for their futures, such as wanting to join the Royal Navy or go into the construction industry. For some young people who do not feel that the school is suitable for their needs, staff have worked extremely hard to identify alternative provisions that are better suited to their interests. An independent reviewing officer (IRO) commented, ‘They have considered his schooling and have considered how to modify this to his particular interests whilst him covering the core subjects.’ Young people, however, do not have access to a computer or internet that would support their learning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say that they feel safe at the home and that there is no bullying. For the majority of young people, missing from home is not a feature of their lives. Staff understand the risks associated with young people’s behaviour and are active in locating young people when missing from home incidents do occur. There is good information sharing from the staff to other agencies. One social worker commented, ‘Staff have been very active when he has been missing and go and visit where he hangs out. They are very good at keeping me up to speed and send me weekly logs.’ A professional from the safeguarding hub said, ‘Out of the children’s homes in (the area), this is one of the better homes for communication.’ Although staff are clear with regards to actions to be taken for each individual young person, the missing from home plans and protocols are spread over a number of documents and do not clearly specify these steps. These documents, for

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

new or agency staff, could lead to confusion or omissions. Particular strengths of the home are the relationships that staff develop with young people and their managing effectively any disagreements that may occur. An IRO commented, ‘Trust is an issue for him. If he feels that he is not listened to then he will not engage. They recognised this early on and, as a consequence, were able to win him over.’ Physical intervention is only ever used when all other attempts at diffusing the situation have been unsuccessful. However, following these interventions the documentation completed does not meet regulation. The manager or authorised person has not consistently spoken to the young people and staff involved in a timely manner. The manager and staff work well with other professionals and agencies in order to ensure that young people access appropriate services in a timely manner. One IRO commented, ‘They advocate very well on his behalf, particularly the manager who

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

has been quite tenacious pursuing his personal education plan.’ The manager leads a committed and enthusiastic team. It is dedicated to the care and progress of the young people at the home. It has good insight into their needs and is flexible in the approaches taken. At the previous inspection, two recommendations and three requirements were made. Of these, the recommendations are now met. However, the requirements relating to the manager’s quality of care review report has not been met. There has been delay in completing and sending this to Ofsted in a timely manner. In addition, when the manager has been absent from work, there has been confusion within the management team regarding notifications that have been submitted.

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Information about this children's home

This service is a privately run children's home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four male children or young people with emotional and/or behaviour difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/06/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/07/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least every six months (Regulation 45(1)). 31/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed (Regulation 45(4)(a)). 31/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person or person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure and has signed the record to confirm that it is accurate; and, within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure (Regulation 35(2)(b)(i)(ii)(c)). 15/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the missing child policy’) setting out the steps to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission, the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, absent (Regulation 34(4)(a)(b)). 15/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. Each home must have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is absent, off duty or on leave (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20).

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19).

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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 that 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 whom 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

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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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