Children's home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 1 SC431696 Registered provider: City of Bradford Metropolitan District 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

This home is operated by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation under short-break arrangements for up to 10 children or young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities, some of whom have complex and/or life- limiting conditions.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager and the staff provide highly individualised care to the children and young people receiving respite care.  The diverse and complex health needs of the children and young people are clearly understood and well met by the manager and staff team.  The children and young people are cared for by a well-established, stable and very experienced staff team.  Trusting and secure relationships have developed with the children, young people and their families. Parents are reassured and have confidence in the quality of care provided by the staff.  The children and young people are exposed to a wide range of experiences. They participate in activities in the home and in the local community.  Excellent safeguarding practice ensures that the children and young people are protected. The safety and well-being of the children and young people is paramount.  Transitions, both in and out of the home, are well planned for and are

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Key findings from this inspection

responsive to the individualised needs of the child, young person and their family.  The manager is motivated, knowledgeable and has high aspirations for the children, young people and the staff team.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager needs to ensure that case records, the updating of daily living plans and the recording of achievements of the children and young people are consistent across the staff team.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Good 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people who receive respite care at this home have diverse and complex health, disability and learning needs. Highly individualised planning ensures that children and young people have a smooth and welcoming transition into the home. Their fears and anxieties are managed well, parents and carers are reassured and have confidence that their children are being cared for by a highly experienced and motivated staff team. Testament to this, a social worker commented: ‘The manager and key worker have really engaged well with the parents and their child. They have completed the referral and introductions at their pace, which the parents have really appreciated.’ Equally, a parent noted: ‘At all meetings our views are seriously taken into account and thoroughly discussed.’ This approach facilitates the best starting point for children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A particular and significant strength of the home is the well-established and stable staff team. The children and young people have effectively ‘grown up’ in the care of the same staff group. For some, this spans over 10 years. Secure and trusted relationships and attachments have been developed. The children and young people have a nurturing and warm experience during their stay. One member of staff commented: ‘We are a very cohesive staff team; we have all been here a long time. The children are fantastic. I admire their strength and resilience.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Each child and young person has an individualised health care plan that ensures that the staff are fully appraised with their complex health and medical needs in the administration of safe and consistent care. Staff are fully trained in a range of medical procedures, such as enteral and gastrostomy feeding techniques, moving and handling, and managing epilepsy. The children and young people’s access to additional services and their quality of care are promoted as a result of the relationships that the staff have with health care professionals. The linked named nurse enthused: ‘It’s an absolutely brilliant service. The staff work within the health care plans that are in place. The care they give to the children is of an exceptionally high standard.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Activities in the home, outings and overall experiences that the children and young people are exposed to are creative and innovative. The manager and staff plan activities and celebrate diversity that meet the range of needs and choices of the children and young people. The home is well equipped with sensory rooms, a hydrotherapy pool and an abundance of craft activities. The children and young people have the opportunity to develop friendships and socialise with their peers in a safe environment. A visitor noted: ‘There was lots of laughter and jesting between the young people and staff. The overall feel of the home was that of a youth club where young people come to have fun, socialise and engage in positive experiences.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The whole ethos of the home is one of participation and inclusion. At the time of the inspection, the children and young people had decorated the home for Halloween, and this themed event was to be open to all family members, children and young people past Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 4 and present. The manager and staff go ‘above and beyond’ to give the children and young people opportunities and experiences that they do not often get exposed to. The home’s environment allows the children and young people to safely ride bikes, scooters and play on the range of adapted apparatus. The children and young people are learning how ducklings hatch, through an organisation that supplies the eggs and hatching equipment. A children’s farm will be bringing animals to spend a day at the home. There are pictures and memorabilia around the home that remind the children and young people of their fun times and special memories. The manager told the inspector: ‘It’s not

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

all about going out and about, it’s about the quality of care and experiences within the home.’

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

The safety and well-being of the children and young people is given high priority. The home has recently seen a number of new children accessing the short-break service. The manager has been proactive in appropriately matching the children, to ensure the delivery of optimum care and to protect the more vulnerable children. Exceptional and flexible planning and preparation with young people, parents and professionals ensures that they are ready for their transition to adult services. A social worker for one young person commented: ‘The manager and key worker did an excellent job in supporting [name of young person] through those changes at such a crucial time. They were instrumental in facilitating [name’s] transition plan and created a visual calendar which greatly reduced his anxieties.’

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

High staffing ratios guarantee that the children and young people have the right level of care and supervision that enables them to not only feel safe, but ensures that they are safe and protected from themselves and others. The management of complex health conditions, and for some children and young people limited life expectancy, is undertaken with competence and expertise. There is a robust and transparent safeguarding culture in the home, and the staff are fully trained to respond when there are concerns about the safety of a child or young person. Any incidents of concern are thoroughly investigated and escalated using the home’s process and procedures. The manager uses learning from such incidents to enhance practice and to support the continuous professional development of the staff team.

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

The physical environment is safe and secure. Measures are in place that protect the children and young people from harm. They are comfortable in their surroundings, and their interactions with the staff are testament to the familiar and trusting relationships that have been developed. Risks and vulnerabilities are clearly understood, and the staff are adept at anticipating predictable behaviours and implementing techniques that avoid any form of physical restraint.

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

Protective measures are in place to ensure that the children and young people are effectively safeguarded, both in the environment of the home and in the community. The impact on behaviour pertaining to each child or young person’s level of learning need and/or disability is assessed and managed by an experienced and trained staff team. Staff supervise and support the care and activities of the children and young people Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 5 exceptionally well, enabling them to enjoy and participate in a range of activities and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is suitably qualified and has extensive experience, spanning a number of years working in residential care. She leads a highly motivated and committed staff team. Professional and safe practice, in the delivery of individualised and personal care, is highly effective, seeing a sustained improvement in the lives of the children and young people receiving respite care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly respected. Reassuringly, parents have absolute confidence in her management of the home and the high standards of care that she aspires to. As one parent commented: ‘Over the last few years that [name of young person] has been going to the home, I would say they have been the best respite that [name] has gone to. It is like a second home for [name] and he has loved going. The staff are just lovely, kind and understanding.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is very clear about her responsibilities towards the children and young people in her care, and her staff. The longevity of the staff team is testament to how well they feel supported. The delivery of regular supervision, training and annual appraisals ensures that they remain skilled to fulfil their roles. As one member of staff commented: ‘It speaks volumes, the length of time staff have worked here; staff really care. We support each other and have a great manager.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals involved with the children and young people are extremely positive about the manager and her staff team. They described the service as ‘fantastic’ and ‘absolutely brilliant’ in the quality of care and support that it gives to the children, young people and their parents. This holistic approach demonstrates the effective and meaningful relationships that the manager has built with partner agencies, professionals and parents. The manager’s passion and determination is inspirational, having a significant impact on the staff, children and young people in her care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager utilises research-informed practice in developing a range of tools and approaches in communicating and engaging with the children and young people. Staff have received specialised training in the use of visual aids, intensive and interactive communication techniques and Makaton. The result of the training is very effective communication and engagement with the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager adopts a very robust monitoring and auditing process that underpins the delivery of high-quality care. Recent file audits have identified some inconsistencies in recording activity, and actions are in place to address this shortfall. Survey reports, feedback from stakeholders and independent visitors are given high priority in evaluating the service provision and contribute to the safety and well-being of the children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 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 differences 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 whom 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: SC431696 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 1HY

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC431696 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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