Setting in Kirklees

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness . A period of instability has disrupted home life since the last two inspections, which links to a deterioration in the home’s previous management. The provider has since applied to Ofsted to voluntarily cancel the home’s registration and cease operation by 13 October 2016. The reasons for closure predominantly relate to the chronic short staffing and the provider’s inability to recruit suitable staff to ensure a safe rota. In addition, an anonymous complaint of a safeguarding nature was reported to Ofsted and the placing authority in August 2016 and this has exacerbated the decision to close. In recognition of stabilising the boys’ needs, the provider has vetoed further placements to the home. The new responsible individual took over leadership responsibilities in March 2016.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

He was supporting the registered manager in addressing a number of improvement areas. However, the lack of progress led to the registered manager’s subsequent departure from the organisation in May 2016. A newly appointed acting manager, working at the home since May 2016, is suitably experienced and qualified. She has the experience and skills to tackle the inherited poor management and unsatisfactory staff practices found at the start of her employment. Consequently, she has introduced a number of new systems. For example, introducing and implementing new monitoring systems, improving the boys’ care planning documentation, taking seriously the issues of concern in relation to the group dynamics and bullying and challenging the wider systems to ensure that the boys’ needs are holistically met. The acting manager’s involvement in internal investigations into staff conduct and performance issues has included

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

allegations of bullying behaviour from senior staff towards care staff and other practice concerns, which has led to disciplinary proceedings being invoked and the end of their employment. Action taken to improve the aesthetics of the home has been limited. Despite the acting manager’s determined efforts, made with the support from the responsible individual to lead the staff team, revive good staff practices and promote a strong child-focus, a number of factors have undermined this process. This has led to a failing service that currently does not fully operate in accordance with its statement of purpose. Safeguarding children lacks robust and transparent management oversight, with respect to reporting incidents of concern to the local authority. For example, an anonymous complaint made about some of the boys of a sexual nature was made to Ofsted and the children’s placing authority in August 2016. Although the

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

provider had prior knowledge of the incident since May 2016, the matter was not formally communicated to the local authority for them to consider what, if any, further action was to be taken or agree it to be appropriate for the provider to investigate the matter. It took a complaint for this issue to resurface and the provider’s delay in taking decisive action has inadvertently impeded a full investigation because most of those involved have since moved on. The concern was not notified to Ofsted. Similarly, a staff conduct issue was not referred to the local authority designated officer to seek their advice about the next steps by way of good practice and checking if the matter met safeguarding thresholds. Again, Ofsted was not notified. The independent visitor has not reported on these incidents during their monthly monitoring visits, which makes it unclear what information has been shared with them to assess whether appropriate action has

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

been taken to safeguard children. These shortfalls do not effectively promote children’s safety and welfare. The inconsistent reporting of serious incidents to Ofsted does not enable Ofsted to monitor safeguarding practices and provide a challenging mechanism to the provider that satisfies all parties that children receive consistent safe care and protection. In spite of these concerns, children confirm that they feel safe and can identify adults to approach with any worries. Disruptive behaviours presented by the boys have had a detrimental impact on their progress by introducing those with no previous criminal record into the criminal justice system. As a result of limited engagement, this has led to further court appearances. In one incident, some of the boys took a large amount of money without consent when they broke into the staff office. On occasions, the police have been called to the home in response to very serious incidents, such as

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

the damage to the property and assaults on staff. Threats made by a young person towards staff with a dangerous weapon resulted in their arrest and overnight detention in police custody. An alternative placement was identified soon after in recognition of the severity of the incident. It fully transpired on the older young person’s departure that the existing younger boys had been the subjects of bullying behaviour. This issue had gone by without proper address under the previous management and consequently placed the boys at risk of harm. The use of restraint is monitored to ensure that the measures are proportionate and safe and the need for less restraint shows that behaviours can be managed without staff needing to physically intervene. However, not all children’s ability to regulate their moods and emotions can be managed safely by the staff team, especially when some behaviours present as unpredictable and highly risky. The

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

acting manager has made representation to the provider, along with the independent visitor who has lodged his concerns with Ofsted about the safety of one placement, which due to the impending home’s closure has resulted in newly identified placements. Fundamentally, the home is in a declined state of repair and homeliness. The work undertaken to remedy the damage caused by the boys has done little to improve the overall ambience of the home. Despite requests made by the acting manager to respond to improvements, the speed at which damage is repaired and items replaced is inadequate. For example, outstanding repairs requested with urgent priority by the acting manager, such as re-installing window restrictors, securing the banister to prevent young people from swinging on it and completing joinery work remain unmet. Some redecoration of rooms is notable, but the carpets look tired and worn in parts of the home, such as the hallway and staircase. Specifically,

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

the bedrooms have not been checked to ensure that they are maintained to a consistently safe and high standard, in line with individual care plans. Furthermore, the boys’ health and safety have been compromised by the hazards of some of them smoking in their bedrooms. They have also removed the window restrictors on several occasions and incidents have involved them exiting the house through the window, going on to the roof and fire starting. A firm assurance given by the owner at the time of the inspection confirms that the new window restrictor will be fitted to minimise this risk. The attic, previously used as the office, has remained unlocked for several months and is in a cluttered and disorganised condition. Contained in this room are confidential documents and items that belong to those young people who have moved on from the home. The boys have accessed this room, which in its poor condition presents a significant health and safety risk and exposes the

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

confidentiality of other people’s information. Action taken since the inspection has ensured a more secure environment. Staff shortages, caused by, for example, the outcome of disciplinary proceedings and staff leaving due to contractual changes, have resulted in a depleted staff team. The current team is working tirelessly, at times for long hours, to ensure that the boys maintain consistent adults in their life with the use of agency staff when existing staff cannot fulfil the rota. However, this arrangement is not sustainable long-term due to the risk of staff tiredness and burnout. Staff actively encourage the value of education to the boys through their interactions with them, but not all of the boys buy into the experience of good attendance and attainment. Home tuition provides alternative learning experiences for some of the boys, while the acting manager continues to challenge the relevant authorities to ensure that all young people receive the right education that meets

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

their learning needs. The one requirement raised at the last full inspection is not fully embedded. This relates to the Regulation 44 visitor giving their explicit opinion in their reports that children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes their well-being.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/12/2015 Full Outstanding 17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2014 Full Good

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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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met In meeting the quality standards, with particular reference to promoting good safeguarding practices by ensuring that safeguarding and staff conduct concerns relating to childcare practices are shared with the placing authority in a timely and transparent manner to help influence the decision making processes, the registered person must ensure that staff— (a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; (d) seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. 31/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, specifically in relation to effectively promoting and monitoring children’s safety and welfare— (2) the registered person must ensure— (d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to ensuring that repairs are promptly completed and the home, including the young people’s bedrooms, is maintained to a high standard and that confidential information is consistently secured— (2) the registered person must— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— (a) children are effectively safeguarded; and (b) the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

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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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