Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 1 SC033389 Registered provider: Leeds City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children‟s home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children‟s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children‟s home requires improvement to be good because:

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers do not actively and effectively monitor the progress Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 2 children make to help them to achieve their goals.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Partnerships with the police are not sufficiently well established to further protect children, especially with regard to children who go missing.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Case records are not always clear and up to date, and therefore do not fully inform staff practice.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers do not use learning and feedback from practice to analyse the experiences of children in their care.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Children are building secure and warm relationships with the staff team.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Staff understand the effects of children‟s previous experiences on their behaviour, and manage behaviour calmly and consistently.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records („case records‟) for each child which-

p.3

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in schedule 3 in relation to each child:

p.3

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 01/09/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who understand the home‟s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children and use this understanding to deliver care that meets children‟s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to – provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably (Regulation 6 (2) (vii))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is with reference to the need to carry out repairs and re- decoration to the shower room and all downstairs living areas. 31/08/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

p.3

Requirement Due date

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”)

p.3

Requirement Due date

Has spoken to the user about the measure; and 01/08/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 4 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 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. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is with reference to the recording, dating and management oversight of physical restraints.

p.4

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to-

p.4

Requirement Due date

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home (Regulation 13 (2)(f)(h)) 01/09/2017

p.4

Recommendations

 Regulation 40 requires the registered person to notify HMCI if a situation specified in regulation 40 (4) (a)–(d) occurs.

p.4

Recommendations

The home‟s record of the event must include a description of the action taken and the outcome of any resulting investigation. Following a notifiable event under regulation 40 the home should contact the placing authority to discuss the need for further action. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 63, paragraph 14.14). Specifically ensure that notifications contain sufficient detail of the actions taken to protect and promote the welfare of the child.

p.4

improvement to be good

Children build warm relationships with adults on the staff team, and are beginning to learn to trust them. The staff know the children well, and invest time in listening and Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 5 responding to them.

p.4

improvement to be good

The health needs of children are identified, and they have access to local health services. They enjoy a varied diet of home-cooked meals, and fruit is readily available to them. They engage in physical activity such as playing outside on their bikes and scooters.

p.5

improvement to be good

All the children attend education that is tailored to their needs. However, leaders and managers are not able to evidence that children are making good progress because they do not have arrangements in place to obtain and monitor precise attainment levels.

p.5

improvement to be good

The staff team works hard to help children develop the skills and strategies they need to deal with their frustrations and anxieties. Some children are finding it difficult to live in the group environment, and staff engage them in individual activities to prevent their frustrations spilling over into negative behaviour. For example, staff might read to them or take them for bike rides.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children are supported by staff to have direct and indirect contact with their families, who are important to them. This helps children to maintain a sense of self identity. There are plans for some children to be integrated back into their families.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children‟s views are gathered, and actions taken in response are fed back to them at monthly meetings. A requirement made at the last inspection regarding this item is met. Examples of children‟s requests include extended bedtimes, different activities, wi-fi access and outdoor play equipment. Children‟s most positive view about living at the home is with regard to their relationships with staff. However, they also comment on the poor state of décor in the home.

p.5

improvement to be good

The upstairs of the home has been redecorated, and as a result a requirement from the last inspection is met. However, the intended refurbishment of the whole home has not taken place, and the general state of repair and decor throughout the home is of poor quality. One child commented that the wallpaper is hanging off in the dining room. This environment does not demonstrate to children that they are valued, nor does it teach them respect for their surroundings.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children are protected by up-to-date risk assessments which address their known vulnerabilities. Staff are clear about these risks and the agreed ways of managing them. A requirement in respect of this is met.

p.5

improvement to be good

Actions to be followed when children go missing are documented, and staff look for children and report them to the police. However, the staff team is not always aware of the outcomes of multi-agency strategy meetings, convened to reduce risk. The incidence of some children going missing is increasing. Positive working relationships have not been developed with the police, which may help reduce the risk of children going Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 6 missing.

p.5

improvement to be good

Children receive help and support to manage their behaviour safely. Staff know the signs to look for indicating that children are becoming upset or frustrated. They patiently de- escalate these situations where possible. Physical restraint is sometimes necessary. However, these incidents are not always reviewed by the registered manager, and it is not clear that children‟s views are sought within the required timescale.

p.6

improvement to be good

Staff understand the risks that the use of the internet may pose for children. They have strategies in place to keep children safe, and support them in learning how to keep themselves safe through individual discussions with staff.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers have not taken effective action to address all of the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The manager does not have effective systems in place to actively and regularly monitor the standard of care and outcomes for children. A requirement in respect of this is not met. For example, details of children‟s educational attainment and progress are not collected and monitored.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The requirement to have a system in place to ascertain the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff is met. However, the six-monthly review prepared by the registered person lacks evidence of children‟s progress. The review lacks analysis of the feedback from children and others. It fails to identify adequately developments that will improve the lived experience of children in the home.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The evaluation of the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children is further compromised by the poor quality of the reports from the independent visitor. These lack clarity. They do not demonstrate rigorous evaluation of evidence to support conclusions.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The standard of record-keeping is weak. Records are kept both electronically and in paper files. The result is that staff are unsure of what documents are kept where. Staff are not aware of all the documents relating to the children‟s care that are held electronically. For example, it is unclear where to find delegated consent information. This results in gaps in staff knowledge which could impact on the care and safety of children.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

A requirement to ensure that notifications to Ofsted contain sufficient detail is not met. This compromises effective monitoring by the regulator of the safety of children.

p.6

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 differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 7 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.6

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: SC033389 8

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Janet Black, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC033389 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9