Children's Home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 1 SC033367

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Registered provider: Kirklees Council 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 a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children or young people aged between 10 and 18 years. Young people are able to stay at the home beyond the age of 17 while going through a transition, with a clear timescale and permission from the head of service. The manager has been registered at this home since 2003.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children‘s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 November 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/11/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 2 22/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/08/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 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

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (―the independent person‘s report‖) which sets out, in particular, the independent person‘s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children‘s well-being. (Regulation 44(2)(a)(4)(a)(b)) 30/06/2018

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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.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children‘s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(b)(c)(5)) 30/06/2018 Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 4

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concerns emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home‘s manager. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality

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Recommendations

standards‘, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Staff should be familiar with the home‘s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. (‗Guide to the children‘s homes regulations including the quality standards‘, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has had a recent programme of redecoration and repair. Young people have personalised and decorated their rooms. The environment is homely and welcoming and young people are proud of their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between young people and staff have improved greatly. The group of young people residing at the home has reduced in size. This has helped staff to focus on building positive and secure relationships with the young people that are based on trust.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions in and out of the home have been suitably planned and well managed. Two young people have been supported to learn skills for independence. They have moved in a positive manner into semi-independent living arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who have been out of education for a considerable period of time have been provided with a variety of opportunities and alternatives to academic pathways. Young people are developing their ambitions for the future. One young person with a high level of anxiety was recently supported to enter an educational setting. He has engaged with teaching staff and other young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy balanced, nutritious diets and lead active lifestyles. Most young people attend local gyms, and have improved their self-esteem and emotional well-being by learning good self-care skills. Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 5 Young people with a history of refusing to engage in health appointments have been supported to access dentistry. Staff have worked with healthcare professionals to adopt a less formal approach to ensure that young people have their healthcare needs assessed on an annual basis.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are asked for their views on their day-to-day care arrangements through house meetings. A recent consultation has taken place about the reduction in the number of young people living at the home. This is a clear demonstration that the wishes and feelings of the young people are taken into consideration to influence the development of the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are learning to budget, cook and undertake basic household tasks. One young person who moved into the home at short notice has been supported well to settle into the home‘s routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and support regular contact with the families of young people and others who are important to them. One young person has enjoyed increased contact with siblings. Another young person is being encouraged and supported to maintain friendships developed while living in another area.

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

Staff have had recent training in a restorative approach to behaviour management. This has contributed to developing a cultural and practice-related shift in the home which has resulted in a reduction in challenging behaviour in the home.

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

On occasions there are incidents of challenging behaviour. Staff use restorative practice to encourage young people to reflect on their behaviour. If records of these constructive and positive discussions were routinely made, they could evidence the positive progress young people are making in learning to behave in a more socially acceptable manner‘.

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

There has been one incident when staff have physically intervened. This was an appropriate intervention and the young person was debriefed. There has been a significant reduction in sanctions. The few sanctions given have been appropriate, but all behaviour management strategies should be evaluated and this is not fully reflected in the records made.

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

Missing behaviour has reduced. Positive and proactive strategies have been employed to help young people to return home safely without the need to involve other agencies. An independent return interview is always requested and carried out.

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

The young people have historically been, and continue to be, involved in anti-social behaviour in the community, some of which has resulted in criminalisation. The young people are engaging with youth justice services and have recently expressed wishes to leave those negative influences behind. Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 6 Staff have made efforts to provide positive activities, such as quad biking and attending local gyms. Young people have begun to spend more time at the home and enjoy one- to-one time with staff. Staff are using the strength of their relationships with young people to discourage anti-social behaviour and criminality.

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

Staff are aware of the vulnerabilities and risks associated with young people in their care, and recognise when there is a risk of exploitation. A referral is being made for a young person considered to be at heightened risk of radicalisation.

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

Staff have access to a programme of safeguarding training. This covers enhanced topics, such as internet safety, child sexual exploitation and self-harm. These courses are not always freely available as places are limited. The staff team makes the best use of what is available and discusses these topics in team meetings to raise awareness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The service is being managed by an experienced and qualified manager who is competent and child centred. She is supported by two newly recruited deputy managers. They work as a team to prioritise and meet the needs of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders give careful consideration to any new admissions to the home. Impact risk assessments are completed comprehensively. Sound decision-making ensures that the safety or stability of care for young people is not placed in jeopardy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision and support have increased in frequency. Regular team meetings are taking place. Staff and young people report that the service is well managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders are acutely aware of the service‘s strengths and areas for development. Monitoring and evaluation of the service are carried out frequently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent visitor to the home does not routinely consult with stakeholders or make an effective conclusion on whether young people are safeguarded and whether their well-being is promoted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager‘s quality of care review does not consider and reflect the views of young people or outline the actions being taken as a result of any feedback.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of the staff are experienced and qualified. The workforce development plan needs to be updated to include details of the training completed by all members of the staff team, including casual members of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders work well with other professionals and partners. Placing social workers and other partners have provided positive feedback about the home. Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 7

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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: SC033367 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre, 3 Market Street, Huddersfield HD1 2EY

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Inspector

Nicola Thomas: social care inspector Inspection report children‘s home: SC033367 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 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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