Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are routinely benefiting from attending their breaks and consistently gain positive experiences. This includes participating in a variety of activities. For example, some children and young people have been go-karting, trampolining, to the theatre and also to the hairdresser’s. Children and young people are now able to bring their own bedding, and this familiarity supports their stay by helping some children and young people settle.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people continue to make progress and achieve recognised outcomes. For example, children and young people are developing their independence skills through staff encouraging children and young people to go shopping with them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are treated and cared for with dignity and respect, and the staff promote and encourage them to experience choice and control. The manager is continuing to strengthen this ethos and practice within the home through staff development. In addition, the manager is utilising various communication tools with the children and young people. This is to ensure that they are fully aware of the care processes they receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no new admissions to the home during this inspection period. When young people are no longer attending their breaks, staff support them with the transition out of the service. When transition plans are shared, the staff team works with agencies to ensure that they have the required information, so that young people continue to have their needs met. For one young person, the staff have developed ‘talking pictures’ to support her understanding about her upcoming move. The manager is taking active steps to strengthen the transition procedures for young people moving on to adult short-break services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are safe at the home during their breaks, because they are supervised when in the home and community. Close supervision, combined with effective procedures, means that the risk of incidents of going missing and exploitation of this vulnerable group of children and young people is minimised. Physical restraint is rarely used. When restraint is used, the recordings show that both the child or young person and the staff involved are debriefed. However, the recording of incidents does not clearly identify the timescale of these briefings and therefore it still does not meet regulatory requirements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Communication with parents and carers is a continued strength of the home. The staff ensure that they receive pertinent information, which enables them to meet the needs of the children and young people. For example, one parent identified that their child was displaying anxiety around particular noises; by receiving this information, staff were able to plan and take action so that the child’s stay was an enjoyable experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team are forward-thinking and in tune with the needs of the staff team. As a result, a staff member reports: ‘My confidence is building and I am making progress, and this is because of the commitment and support from the management team.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is continually reviewing practice to improve the service, and this has a positive impact on the care afforded to the children and young people. For example, dinner times are now split, which ensures sufficient time for children and young people to enjoy their meals. The manager is in the process of undertaking the six-monthly review of the home, which will incorporate the consultation with children, young people, parents/carers and professionals. This is not a finalised report and will require submission to HMCI.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met all of the recommendations raised at the last inspection and these are evident within the home’s practices. No further recommendations were made during this interim inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 12 children and young people who have learning difficulties, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. Children and young people stay at the home for short breaks and on a shared care basis.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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.

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care (2) Regulation 45, (2) In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating: (a) the quality of care provided (b) feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care that they receive.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The system referred to in paragraph 2 must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b) and (5)) 24/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records (3) The registered person must ensure that: (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’): (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

(c) within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i) and (c)) 11/04/2017

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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 0300 123 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 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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