Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

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The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 At the last inspection, this home was judged inadequate. A compliance notice and requirements were issued. They are all met at this inspection.  New up-to-date live risk management plans ensure that children’s and young people’s risks are identified. Staff now take action to reduce any risks to children and young people.  Children and young people benefit from individualised crisis management plans. These ensure that they receive the specific approach they need to help them manage their behaviour.  Staff office areas are now secure. As a result, children and young people have no access to confidential information or minibus keys.  Children and young people now have clean bedrooms. Bedroom cleanliness is well monitored by staff and managers.  No young people smoke in their sleeping area. Effective fire precautions are now in place.  Staff try their very best to maintain the environment. It remains

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The children's home provision is good because:

in need of a professional refurbishment as identified at the last inspection.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

With particular reference to evaluating the views of young people, the registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1) and (5)) 1 October

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard with particular reference to keeping the home well maintained, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(ii) ensure that staff protect and promote each child’s welfare 01/12/2016

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Information about this children's home

The home accommodates up to five children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19 November 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

25 February 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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people living in the home are

Since the last inspection, the manager and staff are working hard to improve the experience of children and young people living in this home.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people’s relationships with staff continue to develop. Children and young people now take a more active role in their care planning and in the running of the home. Their input provides an individualised approach to their care. Children and young people are additionally voicing their views in staff meetings. Staff now implement their ideas. For example, the introduction of star bedroom of the week gives children and young people a sense of achievement and value.

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people living in the home are

Concerns identified at the last inspection around adequate numbers of staffing to meet children and young people’s complex needs have been addressed. Additional staffing is now in place at key times of the day. In addition, staff are working an extra hour in the evening. As a result, this ensures children and young people receive the levels of attention they need.

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people living in the home are

Increased staff oversight now ensures that children’s bedrooms are clean and that they have appropriate furniture. New incentives inspire children and young people to take good care of their bedrooms. They help to keep them clean. This prepares children and young people to live independently.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people create their own menus. They learn to cook their chosen meals. Consequently, they understand the benefits of healthy eating and they learn valuable skills for later life. Children and young people benefit from activities which improve their physical health such as swimming, cycling and horse riding.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people’s emotional health is improving from working with professionals such as therapists. Through this focused input, some young people are sharing their past life experiences with staff for the first time. Staff actively seek advice from professionals such as therapists and behaviour consultants. They are keen to implement new approaches to support individuals’ specific needs. The successful methods used by staff mean that some young people have made good progress with their emotional and physical health. One therapist commented `She genuinely has a relationship with staff. She has progressed emotionally and the change in her physical appearance is positive too. This is such good progress.’

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people living in the home are

Some children’s and young people’s engagement in education has recently increased. Three out of four children and young people have achieved 100%attendance over the last six weeks. This is a significant achievement for those who have been out of full-time education for some time. Some children have recently gained college placements. This is developing their education and skills, and it prepares them for employment in later life.

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people are helped and protected

In response to a compliance notice set at last inspection, children’s and young people’s risk assessments are now fully up to date. These live documents now allow staff to effectively assess risks of harm and act accordingly. Following this review of risk assessments, leaders and managers evaluated that some individuals’ risks are escalating and are affecting others. Some risks were too high to manage safely within the home. Strategic decisions were made in order to ensure that all children and young people are managed safely.

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people are helped and protected

Children and young people have been fully involved in creating new individual crisis management plans. Their views on how they feel when they are upset and how they want their behaviour to be managed is working effectively. This helps children and young people to feel safe. In times of crisis, they receive predictable responses from staff.

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people are helped and protected

Staff engage with specialist professionals to help them manage children’s and young people’s behaviour positively. They work tirelessly to de-escalate situations without the use of physical intervention. Since the previous inspection, the number of incidents which involve all the children and young people in the home showing challenging behaviour together has reduced. This is due to the group dynamics being analysed. From this analysis, changes have been made, such as providing additional staffing at key times and improved placement matching. Separate and structured activities also help to reduce challenging situations. This demonstrates an effective approach to further reducing serious incidents which have previously put others in danger.

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people are helped and protected

Consistent monitoring by staff ensures that no children and young people smoke in their bedrooms. Fire detection equipment is now kept in good working order and is regularly checked. As a result, fire risks have significantly reduced.

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people are helped and protected

When children and young people go missing from home, staff follow relevant procedures. They search for children and young people who are absent or are missing. The manager and staff work closely with other services such as social workers and police to help keep young people safe. Regular reviews of risk assessments show that, for some young people, the dangers linked to missing from home episodes are escalating. The manager has now taken action to address this by undertaking a full assessment of the suitability of this placement for some young people.

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people are helped and protected

Staff demonstrate good knowledge of child sexual exploitation. They work well with specialist support services to educate children and young people about how to stay safe. One professional commented ` I feel that staff really understand young people’s risks. Staff are trying to keep everyone safe. Staff are all on board.’ Some children and young people benefit tremendously from this support. Some children and young people now show that they understand the signs of abuse and they report problems to staff to help keep themselves safe.

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leaders and managers

The registered manager has been in post since August 2012 and is appropriately qualified and experienced to undertake this role. She is working hard to improve the quality of care that children receive. She has made difficult decisions around the placement suitability of individuals in this home to ensure that all young people are safe.

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leaders and managers

The management are dedicated to continual improvement. They can now identify the strengths and weakness of this service. As a result, new, layered monitoring systems ensure that the quality of care is continuing to improve for young people. The registered manager is due to complete her next internal monitoring report. She understands the importance of listening to young people. More opportunities for young people to voice their opinions, such as in staff meetings, now exist because of her direct input. Effective external monitoring systems help the manager to focus improvement work.

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leaders and managers

The security of this home has significantly improved since the last inspection. Children and young people can no longer access the staff office. Confidential information and mini bus keys are now kept securely.

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leaders and managers

The manager and staff are working hard to maintain the upkeep of this home. The garden area looks well-maintained following staff input. This provides a safe and presentable outside space for children and young people to play in. Improvements have been made to children’s bedrooms, the new dining room, entrance and conservatory. Presently, however, not all areas provide a well-cared-for environment. Some parts of the building still await professional refurbishment following the last full inspection. Staff benefit from annual appraisal and regular management supervision. Consequently, they feel well supported by managers. This gives them confidence to undertake their role.

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leaders and managers

The manager maintains effective working relationships with external professionals such as the police, child sexual exploitation services and education. This ensures children and young people receive the specific support they need.

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leaders and managers

The home is now working within their statement of purpose. Consequently, children and young people are receiving a good standard of care.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 who it is trying to help, protect and look after. 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

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Information about this inspection

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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