Children's Home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s progress at the home is variable. Some young people continue to make steady progress in relation to their starting points. Some, however, are making little or no progress. For these young people, daytime routines are very poorly established. They do not attend education and there are a lot of incidents in which self-harm occurs or damage is done to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A requirement made at the previous inspection has not been met. This concerned the response of the senior managers to the fact that the home is unable to meet some young people’s needs. Although the management team at the home has made representations, these have not resulted in a timely response to the growing concerns from staff at the home. There have been delays in the search for possible alternative placements for young people. As a result, other young people have experienced disruption to their sleep and damage has been done to the fabric of their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, a requirement was made with regard to ensuring that young people’s risk assessments are updated and that they reflect known risks. This has not been met. Omissions from the risk assessments include drug use, incidents of missing from home, the downloading of pornography, and behaviours that result in self-harm. Consequently, these risks are not being evaluated or analysed and the systems that are used to inform staff of these risks are being compromised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For some young people there has been a delay in the identification of support services that will suitably address their self-harming behaviours. Conventional resources, such as child and adolescent mental health services, have been offered to young people and have been rejected by them. However, alternatives that have been suggested by health professionals have not been considered or explored. As a result, young people’s emotional health remains a concern to staff and incidents of self-harm continue.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, work has started to fully embed a restorative approach to managing conflict or incidents in the home. Managers have been active in seeking advice and support from outside providers and training has taken place for staff. Greater collaboration and the sharing of skills and knowledge regarding this area of work have been established between the staff and the youth offending team. As a result, a requirement that was made at the last inspection has been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has undergone substantial refurbishment in the last few months. This has included the fitting of a new kitchen, repairs and repainting of woodwork and some renewal of carpets. Young people’s rooms are yet to be refurbished. However, the managers are aware of this and there are plans to complete the outstanding work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people have moved on from the home, the staff and managers have been appropriately involved in the planning of the transition. For some young people, the transition process has included regular liaison with family members prior to the move and ongoing support following their move.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 14/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/06/2015 Full Good 16/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

12. In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the timely updating of risk assessments and the need for this information to be evaluated and analysed, the registered person must ensure- (2) (a) that staff- (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.* 21/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

13. In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to the management team responding within an appropriate timescale to concerns regarding young people’s suitability to be placed at the home, the registered person must- (2)(f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.* 21/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

10. The health and well-being standard is that – (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to – (a)(ii) understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well- being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; (c) ensure that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. 21/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of children, they will, in most cases be homely, domestic environments (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). With particular reference to the repair and redecoration of young people’s bedrooms.

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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 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, work based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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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