Children's home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Young people continue to make very good progress, relative to their starting points. Several young people have joined the home since the last inspection. These transitions have been successful because they have been carefully planned, with consideration of how new admissions will affect the compatibility of the group. Before the young people move to the home, they and their families or carers are visited by staff to help to prepare them for living at the home. On the rare occasions when young people are admitted to the home in an emergency, their need for safety and security is immediately met and their health and cultural needs swiftly identified. All young people attend some form of education provision. This again is an area of significant improvement for some young people, who previously have had little or

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

no engagement in education. Although attendance can still fluctuate occasionally, all young people are in the type of provision that best meets their needs. Young people are protected because there is an excellent awareness of the risk factors associated with missing from home, drug use and child sexual exploitation. When such risks emerge, they are quickly addressed and, as a result, are significantly reduced. Young people’s challenging behaviour is, slowly but surely, being brought under control, and the number of violent incidents is diminishing. The strong emphasis on restorative justice continues to have real impact, helping young people to develop empathy and insight into their behaviour, and so arrive at better decision-making. The use of physical restraint is kept to a minimum. A contingency plan is now in place for a senior manager to review those physical restraint incidents in which the manager may be involved. This is a requirement

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

from the last inspection that is now met. Staff make good use of tools such as ‘time lines’ to graphically illustrate young people’s significant life events, and the often negative effect of those events on young people’s emotional responses and psychological development. This innovative practice gives staff a greater understanding of young people’s behaviour and attachment needs. It helps to inform staff practice and produce more effective behaviour management strategies. Young people have enjoyed further positive developments since the last inspection, such as an increase in the frequency of contact with family and improvement in the quality of those relationships. Some have had ‘first time’ experiences, such as joining a football team. Staff continue to provide support for young people once they have left the home, extending this help to their families if required. This is an example of the highly

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

effective partnership working between the home and parents, carers and other professionals. The manager knows each young person, their circumstances and personalities very well. He exercises clear leadership and closely monitors young people’s progress and development. He and the staff team respond swiftly and often creatively to any areas for development that will improve the quality of care for young people. This includes learning from inspection and the independent visitor’s assessment of the running of the home. As a result, all the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection are met, leading to improvements in life-story work, internet safety, staff training, the independent visitor’s report and the notification of significant incidents.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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, 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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