Children's home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

Inspection report children’s home: 1236540 1 Registered provider: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

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Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are making good progress in all areas of their lives. They benefit from effective care planning. All of the children are now in full-time education and they are all making good educational progress. The staff support the children in maintaining the routine of school. Since the last inspection, there has been a reduction in the number of incidents of children going missing from the home. On the two occasions this has happened, children were quickly located and missing procedures were followed effectively. Following each of the incidents, an analysis of the event was thorough to ensure that learning took place.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are safeguarded effectively. After an increase in restraints following a child’s therapeutic intervention, consultation with specialist services took place to support and educate the staff supporting the child. The impact of this is that restraints are now vastly reduced. Inventions are robustly analysed and staff constantly change their approach to defuse behaviour. Inspection report children’s home: 1236540 2 All of the children have their health needs met. Proactive interventions are employed to ensure that children can access health services. An example of this is the use of cognitive behaviour therapy to help a child access the dental treatment they need. The staff work in partnership with other services to ensure that the children benefit from specialist support when needed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Family contact is well managed and supported by the home’s staff. The staff work closely with children’s families, where appropriate, to make sure that contact time is positive and that children benefit from seeing important family members. The children attend a wide range of activities in their local community, such as girl guides and swimming. This increases their engagement with the local community and has physical and mental health benefits. The children have a comprehensive record of the time at the home. This is in the format of a bound storybook, which is well presented and colourful, showing the wide range of activities that children are involved in as well as special times, such as summer holidays.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has robust systems in place to track and monitor the progress of children’s care plans. Effective recording makes sure that all staff understand the children’s needs and work with a shared understanding to support them. The home’s development plan outlines areas of improvement, which is ongoing. The home’s management promotes a continuous learning culture. The staff have accessed a range of training, both individually and as a group. Staff report that they feel well supported and have regular supervision.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent visitor report is an area for improvement. These are often not timely, and therefore any actions that arise from the visit cannot be followed through efficiently. This hinders the manager’s ability to ensure that there is continuous improvement. In addition, on one occasion, the person carrying out the visit is the independent reviewing officer of one of the children, and the subsequent report outlines the child’s confusion of the dual role. This conflict was not outlined in the report as stated in the regulation.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is a strong advocate for the children. The children benefit from having their views and wishes well represented; examples of this are numerous. The children’s long-term care needs are upmost in the planning for children. Life skills, family relationships and socialising in the community are all promoted.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/04/2017 Full Good 11/10/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: 1236540 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

If the independent person becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest (whether under regulation 43(3) or otherwise) after a visit to the home, the independent person must include in the independent person’s report details of the conflict of interest and the reasons why the independent person did not notify the registered provider of the conflict of interest before the visit. (Regulation 44(6)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI. (Regulation 44(7)(a)) 31/01/2018

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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

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

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: 1236540 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northgate House, Halifax HX1 1UN

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Inspector

Rachel Holden, Her Majesty’s Inspector (HMI), social care Inspection report children’s home: 1236540 5 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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