Children's home run by Keswick Care Limited in Wakefield

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last 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

Staff provide consistent, high-quality care enabling young people to make good progress in various aspects of their lives. Attendance at college is excellent as a result of the commitment of staff who provide practical assistance. There is a close working relationship with college staff to ensure the timely exchange of information. This offers further support, assistance and protection to young people. Staff effectively use incentives. Young people receive plenty of praise, encouragement and rewards to mark their achievements. This increases their confidence and self-esteem. Staff’s firm but consistent approach also results in a marked improvement in behaviour. Young people are in good health. This is attributed to how staff encourage and assist young people to attend necessary health appointments and they actively promote healthy living. Where they have uncertainties, advice and information is provided by the in-house dietician. This enables staff and young people to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

understand the impact of poor eating habits on their health. A specially designed book of easy and healthy recipes engages young people in learning the basics of cooking as part of their independent-living work. Young people are encouraged to stay active through the participation in outside sports and activities. This provides opportunities of socialising with other young people, assists them with weight management, as well as staying fit while having fun. Young people enjoy spending time with staff who offer a warm and nurturing environment. This promotes emotional stability for the young people. The stable and small staff team provides young people with the opportunities to develop trusting relationships with adults. One young person who has left the home said, ‘The best thing about the home was the staff, because they help you.’ Detailed and comprehensive care plans have input from young people, and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

encompass all aspects of their individualised needs. Staff take responsibility for regularly reviewing and amending care plans. This ensures ongoing progress for young people through close monitoring, team discussions and the review process in place. Staff are very intuitive and insightful. This is as a result of getting to know the young people well. The staff team members use their personal knowledge and understanding of the young people when considering risk management. They balance the age of the young person and their need for independence with their emotional age and potential risks. This results in comprehensive individualised risk assessments that reflect their needs and provide clarity to staff on how to keep young people safe. Missing-from-home episodes have decreased significantly as a result of the staff recognising the signs that young people may be attempting to abscond. Their vigilance, quick response and use of distraction techniques are successful in de-

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

escalating situations. However, when incidents occur, the manager is persistent in requesting strategy meetings. In addition, the manager has arranged for an independent advocate to offer return to home interviews as well as undertaking direct work with young people. This provides them with someone independent to speak to, following missing-from- home episodes. This consistency has enabled the young person to become more open and honest about her whereabouts. Staff then apply effective strategies to keep them safe. Close liaison with the police enables effective information sharing between the safeguarding agencies. This proactive approach ensures that the staff team is aware of dangers in the locality and enables staff to work with young people to address the risks. The manager and staff welcome family members to the home enabling a safe and familiar environment to facilitate contact. This has led to a much more enjoyable

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and natural experience for the resident young people. This also promotes relationships between staff and family members. One parent reported that she is, ‘very happy with the communication. I can easily talk to carers whenever I want.’ Since the last inspection, one young person has left. When the staff team recognise they are unable to keep young people safe, plans are made to move young people on to a more specialist placement. As a result of relationships built with young people this results in a positive ending for young people. Ongoing contact and emotional support can continue even after they have moved. There is a good working relationship with the local authority social worker. Staff provide weekly feedback. One social worker reported, ‘There is good cooperation between the LA and the placement in terms of working together to safeguard [Name].’ The registered manager was proactive in escalating a complaint to the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

local authority. Her tenacity led to an immediate response and positive outcome for a young person. The home is having a single-storey extension which plans to offer improved facilities for young people. The redecoration aims to freshen up the home and offer a more up-to-date feel reinforcing that young people are valued. The one requirement raised at the last inspection is met. Notifications are comprehensive and detailed, with evidence of clear actions taken by the provider. This helps to keep the regulator informed about potential risks to young people.

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or for two children when one child is the parent of the other. No young people were resident at the time of the inspection due to the building and redecoration work being undertaken.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/03/2015 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

6. In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to maintaining the premises in an acceptable condition, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. Specifically, the contract of works is completed by the beginning of August 2016. 01/08 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 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

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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