Children's home run by Radical Services Limited in Leeds

Good

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:

 The home provides a warm and caring environment where young people achieve good stability in their lives. They make good progress from their starting points and for some, progress is excellent.  Young people share meaningful relationships with staff and develop considerable trust in them. They say that they feel safe and understand that staff are concerned about promoting their safety and protection.  Staff effectively promote positive behaviour, taking time to talk through problems and difficulties while encouraging young people to understand the home’s boundaries and expectations.  The home adheres to safe recruitment practice, ensuring that young people are only cared for by adults deemed suitable and not exposed to those that may do them harm.  Mangers and staff share a clear understanding of young people’s individual histories and needs. This enables them to plan effectively, identifying appropriate resources and support that will best promote their needs.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 The registered manager and her deputy provide strong leadership to this home. They are confident in their roles and consistently advocate for young people to receive the highest standard of care and support.  Staff are ambitious for young people and positively encourage them to maximise their potential. Young people are helped to develop positive aspirations and receive high levels of practical and emotional support to realise these.  Staff receive extremely good support and guidance. They are highly motivated and share a common vision to provide highly individualised care. This effectively supports young people to achieve and make good progress during their time in this home.  The home has developed highly effective working practices with partners and parents. This promotes good working together practice and ensures that planning and support is well coordinated.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. This relates specifically to widening opportunities for staff training and resources concerning child sexual exploitation. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  Decide what each six-monthly review should focus on based on the specific circumstances of the home and any areas of high risk to children. The review does not need to address every part of the Quality Standards but should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)  Ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant

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Recommendations

contribution to their life history. This relates specifically to ensuring that key-worker records are maintained to a consistently good standard that clearly reflects young people’s contribution. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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Information about this children’s home

 The home is registered to accommodate up to four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.  It is operated by a private provider.  The home offers emergency, medium- and long-term placements for children and young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people receive individualised and good-quality care. Staff provide them with positive experiences, guidance and support. As a result, young people are developing their skills and for some their progress has been excellent. For one young person who has been living at the home for some time, there have been significantly improved outcomes. This includes being extremely settled in placement, achieving well educationally and developing emotional resilience. Another young person who is new to the home has settled well and staff are aiming to achieve positive outcomes in relation to addressing her self-esteem, ensuring that appropriate relationships are maintained as well as developing her life skills.

p.6

Good

Young people develop very positive relationships with staff who know them well, and relationships are built on mutual respect and trust. Staff have high aspirations for the young people and this is reflected in the planning, care and support provided. One young person said: ‘I’m happy here, I’m not around people that put me down. If I am down they [staff] take me out to see the horses or to the shops. They are really nice people here. When I kick off they let me calm down and talk to me after.’ Another young person says, ‘They [staff] are really nice actually. No favourites, they are all the same, all equal. Staying here until I’m 18 and I am happy about that. Staff are just so helpful. They helped me to revise.’

p.6

Good

Young people make excellent progress in their educational attendance and attainment. Young people have completed their GCSE examinations and are actively planning further education with the staff who are supporting them to do this. Positive comments from a virtual head and local school include, ‘The care home manager keeps me updated of any educational issues’ and ‘I have had no problems communicating with the home and they do inform me of relevant information.’ One young person has enjoyed all of the planning and preparation for her prom night. When another young person was unable to attend her prom night, the staff arranged a prom night in the home, with all the glitz and glamour.

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Good

Young people’s physical healthcare needs are well met through local services. Where required, staff engage specialist services, for example child and adolescent mental health services, who support young people’s emotional, social and psychological well-being. Robust procedures are followed for all medication, ensuring that storage is secure, administration is recorded and all medication in the home is accounted for. Young people make a significant contribution to how this home is run. They feel confident in speaking with the staff and manager about any concerns or issues they may have. Regular meetings enable them to discuss their views. Their feedback is considered in team meetings and formal responses are given to them on any issues or requests they raise. While individual key-worker sessions support young people’s views, wishes and feelings, some of the written reports are variable, lack clarity and direction. As a result, a recommendation is made. This is

p.6

Good

to ensure that following all key-worker sessions young people’s progress can be monitored, recognised and show a contribution to their life history in the home.

p.7

Good

The manager has implemented new processes that ensure that staff complete individualised and detailed care plans in relation to young people’s needs and how they will be supported. Staff implement these plans effectively, with regular updates and reviews to reflect young people’s changing needs and progress. This demonstrates that staff are consistent in their approach and that young people’s daily routines are met in line with their plan of care. A social worker says, ‘I chose this home out of three homes offered as there is good access to horses and I liked the rural location. The young person will benefit from this.’

p.7

Good

Young people’s participation and engagement in activities are an integral part of the home’s approach. Young people have opportunities to participate in new experiences so that they develop social skills, confidence and a sense of identity as they pursue their individual interests. This also helps to promote positive relationships with staff and their peers. One young person is involved in horse riding and dressage while another is a member of the local army cadets group. Young people are afforded the same opportunities as their friends and go on holidays with the staff.

p.7

Good

Staff ensure that young people are supported to develop independence and life skills that are appropriate to their age and understanding. This includes development of self-care skills, such as shopping and preparation of meals. Staff ensure that eligible young people have pathway plans, setting out who will support them as they move on from the home. Staff understand the importance of transitions for young people, both into and leaving the home, and the impact that this can have. Staff worked closely with a young person and her next placement to ensure a successful move. She has contacted the home, saying she likes her new placement.

p.7

Good

Staff enable young people to maintain contact with their families, when appropriate, and provide transport and support where needed. Young people are provided with an advocacy service so that they have someone independent of the home. This ensures that they are supported when decisions are made in relation to contact arrangements and have a relationship with someone outside of the home when contact is restricted. Judgement grade

p.7

Good

Young people are safe living in the home. They say that they feel safe and trust the staff to know how to protect them. Bullying is not an issue and does not feature in the young people’s relationships. Staff are good role models, and have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of young people’s perception of peer pressure and staying safe.

p.8

Good

The manager works well with other agencies and takes a proactive approach to ensure the involvement of other professionals in keeping young people safe. This provides young people with a good and consistent level of support that is designed to reduce any risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing, and self-harm incidents.

p.8

Good

Staff understand how to refer any safeguarding concerns and are aware of the designated safeguarding personnel. No allegations or referrals have been made. Staff training in safeguarding is completed. Staff have yet to complete training about the risks of child sexual exploitation. Training in this area broadens the knowledge of the staff team, in line with the specific needs and risks of the young people living in the home.

p.8

Good

Young people’s risk-taking behaviours have reduced since their admission, but this work is ongoing. There are no absences or missing from home incidents, and episodes of self-harm have significantly reduced. Each young person has a detailed plan, with strategies for staff to follow to reduce these behaviours, and the actions staff should take when these behaviours occur. Young people’s risk plans are understood by staff and are closely adhered to in practice.

p.8

Good

Young people’s behaviour management plans and risk assessments all contribute to meeting young people’s needs for safety and protection. The staff team works together very effectively to present consistent messages to the young people about expected behaviours. They spend time talking with them on a daily basis and help them to explore their feelings about relationships with others, and the potential barriers that they face due to their life experiences. Behaviour is managed well, with restraint not being used and incentive and rewards being the preferred option. Young people respond positively to these measures and the home is very settled.

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Good

Thorough recruitment processes protect young people from unsuitable adults working with them. All checks on prospective employees are undertaken before they start working at the home. All visitors to the home are required to produce identity documents and are not left unsupervised with the young people. This further safeguards young people. The manager ensures that the home is well maintained and provides young people, staff and visitors with a safe environment. She ensures that there is regular servicing of the home’s utilities and portable appliances. Fire alarm systems are checked and fire evacuation procedures are carried out. Young people respect their environment and have personalised their bedrooms and were proud to show these to the inspector.

p.8

Outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers is identified as a key strength in this home. The registered manager and her deputy work in close partnership to ensure that the home operates in accordance with its statement of purpose document. This provides young people with a safe, structured and nurturing environment that enables them to achieve security and stability. As a result, young people are well supported to make good progress from their starting points.

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Outstanding

As a management team, they have considerable experience in working in residential care settings and both are appropriately qualified. The registered manager possesses the level 5 award in leadership and management in health and social care. They demonstrate care in assessing the appropriateness of those young people that may be admitted to the home to ensure that staff have the skill and experience to meet their needs and to avoid any disruption to those already living in the home. This process includes appropriately challenging placing authorities to provide full and comprehensive information. This ensures that managers and staff achieve a thorough understanding of young people and their needs and can plan accordingly.

p.9

Outstanding

A staff member commented, ‘We understand the importance of matching children. We have previously been able to identify when age or dynamics are wrong. We read and discuss referrals. We take account of the staff team’s knowledge when planning placements. Planned introductions are best to help it to work.’

p.9

Outstanding

Staff operate as a cohesive group and are highly reflective in their practice, ensuring that young people’s safety and well-being is appropriately prioritised. Staff meet frequently as a team and receive regular supervision and support discussions, ensuring that good opportunities exist to share information and ideas as well as addressing staff performance. As a result, young people’s progress is frequently monitored and tracked and staff have a good understanding of the impact they are making in young people’s lives. Staff report considerable improvement in morale and support since the current managers were appointed. Of their managers, one staff member said, ‘They want the best for young people and it shines through the staff team.’

p.9

Outstanding

Managers and staff are ambitious for young people and strive to ensure that they access all available opportunities that will fulfil young people’s needs and ambitions. Staff work successfully in close partnership with a wide variety of professionals, agencies, parents and local organisations to promote young people’s inclusion and ensure that they receive well-coordinated and planned support.

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Outstanding

Placing authorities and professionals speak highly of the home, identifying staff care, commitment and communication as key attributes of the home in helping young people to move forward in their lives. One professional commented, ‘She feels safe and happy in this home and has a massive opportunity to flourish. It is a fantastic environment.’ Another said, ‘My first impressions are that they appear really organised. There is good communication. I am really impressed.’

p.10

Outstanding

Managers and staff share a realistic view of their strengths and can identify where further developments and improvements can be made. For example, although the company offers a wide selection of good training opportunities, staff recognise the benefit of exploring other options, including research, to further enhance their knowledge and professional development, particularly in working with young people that have been the victims of child sexual exploitation. They identify this as a means to strengthening their expertise and skill in supporting such young people.

p.10

Outstanding

The home’s monitoring arrangements are sufficiently robust, enabling managers to derive sufficient information to promote continuous improvement of the home. Ofsted receive regular reports sent from the independent person and the manager’s six-monthly review of her monitoring activity. These promote transparency and ensure that Ofsted is kept up to date between inspections. The registered manager’s reporting style tends to be more narrative than evaluative. This does not enable the reader to have a clear report that helps them understand the impact the home is making to the young people living there.

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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’. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 harmed or at risk of harm or that 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 whom 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 0300 123 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, work- based 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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