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 last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most young people make progress through living at the home. Following a sustained and successful period of living at the home, some young people are making successful transitions into adulthood and university education. One young person commented: ‘ They have done a lot for me. They have helped me when I have needed help.’ Young people new to the home have quickly settled and feel that staff are supportive. Comments include: ‘Staff are very good. Anything I ask they sort out, or if there is anything on my mind.’ Some young people, however, struggle with maintaining good day-time routines and with their attendance at education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a reduction in emergency admissions and emergency discharges. Those young people who have joined the home under these circumstances have either stayed or experienced planned moves to other homes. This has meant greater stability to young people’s lives, as their needs are subject to greater planning and consideration. As a result, a requirement set at the previous inspection has been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The managers and staff work with a wide range of professionals in order to address young people’s needs, such as local police officers, sexual health workers, drug and alcohol services, health professionals, the virtual school, youth offending services and independent visitors.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, all requirements set have been met. Staff have received training in the electronic filing system and can now access the information stored about young people. There is active consultation with young people, their families and professionals regarding the quality of care. Notifications made to the regulatory body are appropriate and are received in a timely manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people rarely go missing from the home and physical intervention to manage incidents is very low. Allegations are dealt with thoroughly and promptly by managers and in accordance with policies and procedures. Complaints, however, have not consistently received timely responses and investigations do not always meet the organisation’s timescales. As a result, a recommendation made at the last inspection has not been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, three other recommendations made at the last inspection have not been met. The home’s statement of purpose does not clearly inform social workers seeking to place children in emergencies of the information and paperwork that is required in order to ensure that young people are given safe and immediate care. A system for gathering and analysing information gathered from return-home interviews when young people have gone missing has not been established. In addition, delegated authority documents from social workers to staff are either absent or very poorly completed. The absence of this clarity results in decision- making, following requests from young people, being delayed and deferred to social workers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although the manager’s quality-of-care review report has been completed, this was not submitted to Ofsted. This reduces the regulatory body’s oversight of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned and operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for six young people who have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 31/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/09/2015 Full Good 24/02/2015 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) 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

7. (2) In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, with particular reference to any complaints being dealt with in a timely manner, that standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to– (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

12. (2) In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to taking account of information provided in return-home interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child, the registered person must ensure– (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. 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

14. (1) In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to staff at the home seeking clear and comprehensive delegated authority from social workers, the care planning standard is that children– (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. 30/04/2017

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The statement of purpose is of particular importance to this standard (regulation 6 (2)(a) and (b)(i)). Homes are required to develop and keep under review a statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) With particular reference to the statement of purpose providing clarity to the placing authority on the documents required in order to provide immediate and safe care to young people placed in emergency situations.

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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. Whenever 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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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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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