Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 1 SC033370 Registered provider: Leeds City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is operated by the local authority.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account Good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Requires improvement to be good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress in all areas of their development.  Young people start to enjoy positive relationships with their families as a result of the support they receive. Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 2  Young people’s risks reduce and they start to learn how to keep themselves safe.  Staff are committed to helping young people attend education and achieve their personal goals.

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The children’s home’s areas for development

 The environment of this home needs to be well maintained and the décor needs to be of a high standard.  The registered manager should keep the regulatory body informed of significant events.  The manager’s monitoring report should evaluate the views of children, professionals and their families. This will enhance the analysis and monitoring of the service, thus helping practice to improve.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2016 Full Good 10/05/2016 Full Inadequate 19/11/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/05/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet 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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, with particular reference to keeping the home well maintained while waiting for the refurbishment, the registered person must: (2)(b)(vii) Provide children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. 08/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if: (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 08/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1) and (5)). With particular reference to evaluating the views of young people, other professionals and families. 01/11/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: Good

Young people benefit from good relationships with a staff team that knows them well. Young people are involved in planning for their future and their personal choices are supported. As a result, young people develop self-confidence and have positive aspirations. Young people’s relationships with their families are prioritised. Consequently, some young people are enjoying positive contact with their families and building relationships with them for the first time. Young people enjoy a range of activities in the community such as tennis, meals out and attending local youth clubs. This enhances their life experiences and helps them to gain essential social skills. Young people enjoy good health and attend all of their routine health appointments. They are helped to understand the importance of being healthy and to avoid alcohol and substance misuse. Young people’s emotional health improves because of the nurturing

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: Good

approach that staff take to caring for them. Young people who need extra emotional support benefit from receiving specialist therapy. Staff work closely with therapists to ensure that they deliver the individualised approach some young people need. One therapist commented: ‘Staff show a good understanding of young people’s needs. They are willing to ask questions and ask for help to support them.’ Young people are prepared well for later life because their education is prioritised. Some young people who did not attend school now have good attendance. They make progress and they are proud of their achievements, and their confidence and self-esteem is growing. One young person commented: ‘I like school now. I go every day.’ Previously homeless and traumatised young people, who live far from home, start to build new lives. They experience safety and a sense of belonging for the first time.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: Good

Up-to-date risk assessments assist staff to maintain a good understanding of the challenging behaviours of young people and the risks they face. Individualised work with young people helps them to recognise danger. This helps young people to keep themselves safe and reduces risks. Staff are consistent in their approach to managing behaviour. They use effective methods to de-escalate challenges. Consequently, incidents of physical intervention are rare. One professional commented: ‘Staff stay consistent with their messages. They are good at managing challenges.’ Young people do not often go missing from the home. When they do go missing from the home, staff follow agreed procedures and immediately go out in search of the young Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 5 person. This helps young people to be quickly located and returned to the safety of the home. Staff have wide knowledge of other risks that children and young people may face, such

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: Good

as child sexual exploitation, bullying, and radicalisation. Consequently, they are able to identify the early signs of possible harm and respond appropriately to keep young people safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has the required qualifications and experience to undertake her role. She leads by example and has high aspirations for all young people. She is directly involved with the daily care of young people and has a good understanding of individual needs. The home has been awaiting refurbishment for several years. Progress is slow and maintenance of the property is poor. This leaves young people living in a less than ideal environment. At the time of inspection, the home had no working oven for more than two weeks, and a broken shower, sink and bed had not been repaired or replaced. The provider took steps to remedy this during the inspection. The regulator is not always notified of significant events. This hinders the regulator’s oversight of young people’s safety and staff practice. Young people have the opportunity to voice their opinions. For example, the introduction of new care plans allows staff and young people to work together to achieve their

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Requires improvement to be good

individual ambitions. The manager is not capturing the voice of young people or others in her analysis of practice. This is potentially hindering her review of the quality of care and the progress of this service. Regular supervision helps staff to feel supported and confident in their role. One member of staff commented: ‘The management support is good. I am not afraid to ask any questions, anytime.’ Staff have excellent relationships with professionals such as social workers, therapists, education, and the police. This ensures that there is regular communication, which allows any issues to be shared and quickly resolved. One social worker commented: ‘They always contact us about everything, daily sometimes. When we share concerns, they always react accordingly.’ The manager is not afraid to escalate concerns where necessary and bring professionals together to make sure young people are safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Leeds City Council, 40 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3DL

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Inspector

Jamie Richardson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC033370 8 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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