Children's home run by Leeds City Council

home are

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

p.2

The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people have good relationships with staff. These attachments continue to develop.  All children and young people are attending education.  Children and young people are learning the life skills that they need to support them in later life.  Consistent boundaries are helping children and young people to improve their behaviour and daily routines.  Staff are quick to follow missing-from-home protocols to locate children and young people who go missing from the home.  Staff are confident to follow safeguarding procedures.  The new manager supports his staff team effectively.  The manager monitors the running of the home well. He is clear about the strengths and areas for development.  The manager has a child-centred approach. This ensures that children and young people receive a good standard of care and they make progress.

p.3

Statutory requirements

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considered to be serious; (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation (40)(4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)) 01/03/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

With reference to fire precautions and meeting the regulatory reform (fire safety) order 2005, the registered person must: (2)(b) ensure that the requirements of that order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. In particular, they must ensure that all fire practices are recorded accurately and detail who has been involved and the time it took place. (Regulation 25(2)(b)) 15/11/2016

p.4

Information about this children's home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a local authority.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

people living in the home are

This is the first inspection of the home since it re-opened in June 2016. The new manager and staff team are working hard and successfully to build positive relationships with children and young people. Children’s and young people’s education is highly prioritised. Some children and young people have good attendance at their education establishments. They are very proud of their achievements. They never have a day off school. Some children and young people, who have been out of formal learning for several months, are now making progress through gradual but sustained increase in attendance. Children’s and young people’s health improves as they learn the importance of healthy eating and exercise. Some children and young people are now choosing healthier meals and are starting to enjoy a range of exercise activities, such as walking and swimming. Regular attendance at routine appointments, such as with

p.6

people living in the home are

the doctor, dentist and optician, ensures that their basic health needs are met. Children and young people enjoy a range of activities, such as camping, trampolining and local clubs. These increase their life experiences and help them to build their social skills and confidence. Children and young people benefit from personal targets that help them to progress and improve their behaviour. They are motivated by rewards when they achieve. One young person commented: `My rewards, they keep me going and help me to get better.’ Children and young people are acquiring a range of skills that will help them as they move towards adulthood. For example, some individuals have passed their cycling proficiency test, and others are learning to travel independently on public transport.

p.6

people are helped and protected

Children and young people are responding well to the clear boundaries set by staff. Consistent approaches from the staff team enable them to understand positive behaviour and routines, such as returning home on time. Consequently, children and young people, some for the first time, are developing good sleep patterns. This has a positive impact on their health and overall well-being. Staff members use a positive approach when managing incidents of challenging behaviour. This successfully defuses situations without the use of any physical intervention. Individualised work sessions help children and young people to reflect on the consequences of their actions. This assists them to understand why their behaviour is not safe. Staff take appropriate action to find children and young people who go missing from the home. Staff ensure that children and young people receive independent return home interviews. This provides children and young people with opportunities

p.6

people are helped and protected

to share any worries and helps to identify any support that they need to help them to stop this behaviour. Staff follow safeguarding procedures. They have a clear understanding of the risks that children and young people face. Consequently, they are able to identify any signs that would suggest that children and young people are at risk of child sexual exploitation, bullying or online abuse. They are quick to react to any safeguarding risks. Staff work closely with other services, such as social workers and the police, to promote children’s and young people’s safety. Regular health and safety checks ensure that children and young people live in a home that is safe. Regular fire evacuation practice takes place, but the recording of these events is not clear. For example, documents do not provide details of who was involved, or the times when the drills were completed. This is a recording matter and does not affect the safety of children and young people.

p.7

leaders and managers

The acting manager has been in post since June 2016. He has the qualification and experience to undertake this role. His passion for improvement and his focus on a child-centred approach have brought a new culture to the home. He leads his new staff team by example, demonstrating commitment and ambition for children and young people to achieve. The manager recognises that this new service now has good foundations. He is fully aware of the strengths and areas for development. Effective external monitoring systems support his oversight of the home. The home is working within its statement of purpose, and children and young people receive good care. Staff feel well supported by the manager. One member of staff commented: `He is so approachable. Any little thing. If you ask for help he is there straight away.’ Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision. This gives them the opportunity to examine their practice and to ensure that good standards of care

p.7

leaders and managers

are maintained. As a result of this support, staff feel confident to undertake their roles. The manager is proactive in ensuring that children and young people receive the services that they need. He is confident about appropriately challenging professionals to make sure that children and young people receive good care. He has positive relationships with schools, the police and social workers. Consequently, information is effectively shared between services, and decisions regarding children’s and young people’s care is made in partnership. One social worker commented: `The manager is very good. He works with us. He makes sure there is excellent communication from the home.’ The regulatory body is not notified of serious events involving children and young people. This affects the regulator’s ability to monitor safeguarding practice.

p.8

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’.

p.9

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

p.9

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.9

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

p.10

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 .

p.10

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,

p.11

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.11

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.11

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

p.11