Children's Home run by Catholic Care (Diocese of Leeds) in Leeds

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The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Children and young people make outstanding progress in all areas of their development.  Children and young people enjoy positive relationships with staff.  Children and young people benefit from a very nurturing approach to their care.  Young people are exceptionally well prepared with the skills they need to succeed in later life.  Children’s and young people’s behaviour significantly improves.  Staff are well trained and are confident to follow safeguarding procedures.  The registered manager is highly motivated, ensuring that children and young people achieve.  The staff are well supported in their daily roles and in their career development.

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a charitable organisation and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children and young people. The home provides care for children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home includes two one–bedroomed, self-contained flats for young people who are preparing to live independently.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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people living in the home are

The exceptionally nurturing and individualised approach to care helps children and young people to build strong attachments with staff. They benefit from relationships based on trust and respect. For some, this is a first-time experience. Consequently, children and young people engage positively and share their wishes and feelings. One young person commented: `Life just keeps rolling for me. They treat me awesome. They are amazing.’ Staff work hard to make sure that children and young people receive a good education. Some children and young people who have been out of education for two years are now attending school full time, and are achieving 100% attendance. One school professional commented: ‘They are his family now. Any issues at school, the staff are straight here. They bend over backwards to make sure he is supported in school.’ Children and young people benefit from attending routine and specialist medical

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people living in the home are

appointments. As a result, their individual health needs are fully met. Staff educate children and young people in the dangers of smoking and substance misuse. Through this approach, their use of cigarettes and illegal substances has reduced. When appropriate, staff employ specialist services to ensure that children and young people receive the right support. Children and young people benefit from going on holidays, both abroad and nearer to home. This considerably widens their life experiences. In particular, children and young people enjoyed a trip to Disneyland and a recent holiday to the south of England. These events have had a positive impact on individuals’ social skills and confidence. Some children and young people participate in local football clubs and community groups. As a result of their engagement in structured activities that they enjoy, their involvement in criminal activity has stopped. These hobbies also broaden

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people living in the home are

friendships and help to support healthy lifestyles. Children and young people develop an excellent range of independence skills. They learn skills such as budgeting, cleaning and cooking. Some individuals progress to living in their own self-contained flats where they learn the skills that they need for the next stage in their lives. This prepares them well for independence within the safe environment of the home. Some children and young people volunteer for local charities and have their own paid part-time employment. This shows regular commitment by young people to help others, work and earn. It helps them to aspire and consider their future employment and career options. Contact between children and their families is positive. Maintaining and developing family relationships is a high priority for staff. For celebrations, such as bonfire night, families and close professionals involved in children’s lives are invited to

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people living in the home are

share these experiences at their home. This provides a family feel to the home and it promotes children’s and young people’s sense of identity and belonging.

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people are helped and protected

Children’s and young people’s behaviour significantly improves as a result of the nurturing approach to their care. Significant incidents of challenging behaviour for some individuals cease and for others become rare. Staff successfully redirect any incidents of negative behaviour, without the need for physical intervention. Children and young people respond well to guidance and boundaries and enjoy their achievements and rewards for this. Staff pride themselves on having exceptional relationships with children and young people. As a result, staff fully understand each child’s risks. Staff use tailor-made plans, which provide children and young people with the skills and knowledge to help keep themselves safe. Incidents of children and young people going missing from home are rare. Some children and young people previously went missing regularly, but this has stopped since they came to live here. Staff are quick to respond to any situation in which a

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people are helped and protected

child or young person is missing. They work closely with the police and follow protocols correctly to ensure that children and young people return as quickly as possible. Regular training helps staff to understand positive safeguarding practice and the additional dangers that children may face, such as child sexual exploitation and online abuse. Staff are thoroughly vetted before they start work. This ensures that children and young people are not exposed to any adults who may pose a risk to them. Judgement grade

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leaders and managers

The registered manager has been in post since June 2015. She has the qualifications and experience to undertake this role. She is committed to providing outstanding care that focuses on each individual’s specific and complex needs. She leads her dedicated staff team by example and has high ambitions for children and young people to achieve. The registered manager has excellent relationships with social workers, police, health workers and school professionals. This ensures that information sharing is effective. As a result, any problems are quickly identified and addressed. She appropriately challenges others, when necessary, to ensure that children and young people receive the services that they need. Staff feel well supported by the manager through regular supervision and daily support. Consequently, staff are happy in their work and are confident in undertaking their roles. The manager strives for continual staff development, and

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leaders and managers

staff are supported with their career progression. This gives staff a sense of value and motivation to develop their practice. The registered manager has full understanding of the strengths of the home and areas for development. She focuses on continual improvement of the service in the best interests of children, young people and their families. Positive external monitoring further supports the registered manager’s oversight. This service meets its statement of purpose, and children and young people receive the outstanding care that they deserve.

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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 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 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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