Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC033723 1 SC033723

p.1

Leeds City Council

Monitoring visit 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 medium to long- term care for up to five children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit of this home took place on 27 October 2017. During the visit, a number of serious safeguarding issues were found. Due to the immediate risks, the home was suspended, three compliance notices were issued and two requirements were set.

p.1

This monitoring visit

At this inspection, it is judged that the compliance notices and requirements are met. However, the impact that the improvement will have cannot be fully assessed as there are currently no children or young people living in the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The service has established a new process for admitting new young people. This consists of a two-part staged induction for new young people. This is to help the young people settle in and to help the staff assess their needs against the needs of the other young people in the home to prevent placement breakdown.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The risk assessment system has been fully revised. Individual children’s risks will now be assessed using colours to rate the levels of risk. The staff team is receiving ongoing training around managing risk. The manager’s oversight of risk assessments and children’s progress is increasing through weekly managers’ monitoring meetings. This practice is not yet embedded and so the impact cannot be evaluated at this inspection.

p.1

This monitoring visit

The staff team has received specialist training in relation to conducting room searches. The staff are undertaking ongoing training to identify when searches are Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC033723 2 needed and how to make proportionate decisions. A room search protocol is now in place with recording sheets. This will assist the staff to evidence their actions.

p.1

This monitoring visit

A full review of the staff team’s skills is allowing managers to target training to ensure that the staff have the skills they need to care for children and young people effectively. The induction process for new staff is now more thorough. Managers envisage that this will strengthen the staff’s skills from the start.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The management team is strengthening its oversight of the home by introducing weekly management monitoring meetings in respect of all children and young people. This will give the managers good oversight of all the children’s plans and risk assessments. An improved structured staff rota now ensures that there is a manager or shift lead on every shift. Procedures now dictate that a manager sees and reviews all incidents within 24 hours, and that significant incidents are immediately escalated to the responsible individual and to the regulatory body.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Additional training has been provided to the independent visitors to improve the quality of their reports. The effectiveness of the training cannot yet be determined until the home accommodates children or young people and the visitor has been to the home to give their opinions on the care being provided.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.2

Recent inspection history

30/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/01/2017 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC033723 3

p.2

What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this monitoring visit.

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC033723 4

p.3

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Inspector

Jamie Richardson, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC033723 5 to 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.

p.4

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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5