Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report children's home: SC066120 1 SC066120 Registered provider: Leeds City 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

A local authority operates and runs this home. The home provides care for young people who have complex needs, whose plan is to live in a long-term residential setting. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet registered.

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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 outstanding

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC066120 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2018 Full Outstanding 13/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/01/2017 Full Outstanding 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC066120 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people are happy living in this home, which is fully adapted to meet their complex needs. They make outstanding progress in all areas of their development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people have exceptional relationships with the staff. The staff know each young person very well. The staff use their knowledge of each young person to tailor care to their very individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people are all making excellent progress with their education. The staff work closely with schools to make sure that the young people are consistently well supported with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people’s complex health needs are highly prioritised. The staff are trained to support the young people’s specific medical conditions. The staff work with a range of professionals, such as consultants, general practitioners, dieticians, occupational therapists and physiotherapists, to make sure that the young people receive the vital healthcare they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff strive to ensure that the young people have the best support possible. The staff keep up to date with research to make sure that the young people have the best specialist aids to support them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people make excellent progress with their independence skills. The staff help the young people to take small steps. When taking into account young people’s disabilities, these small steps are frequently big achievements. The young people’s life experience significantly improves. The young people are supported to try a range of new experiences, such as holidays and speedboat trips. The young people’s social skills improve, and they learn how to spend their leisure time positively. The young people experience a variety of activities, such as attending social balls, trips to the theatre and visits to restaurants.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people’s opinions are highly valued. The young people are supported to communicate, whatever their level of communication ability. The young people communicate through a range of methods including sign language and symbols. As the young people’s communication and self-esteem improve, they start to make their own choices and successfully choose their clothes, decor for the home and their own activities.

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

The management of risk is robust. The manager is implementing effectively learning from research around risk assessments. The revision of the risk assessment process is Inspection report children's home: SC066120 4 helping the staff to understand risk better, and monitor risks related to each individual.

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

The young people thrive in a structured environment which is tailored to their individual needs. The young people’s anxieties reduce because of the clear routines and boundaries. The staff use their strong relationships and in-depth knowledge of the young people to help manage any incidents of challenging behaviour. Consequently, physical intervention is never used.

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

High numbers of staff ensure that the young people are always well supervised. The additional protective devices around the building, such as the visual door intercom, ensure that staff can monitor who is coming into the home to make sure that the young people are safe.

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

Procedures to keep the young people safe are effective. Additional innovative training opportunities are being utilised to help staff develop a more in-depth understanding of safeguarding procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy manager are ambitious for the young people to achieve their full potential. The manager and deputy manager ensure that the care for the young people is completely individualised. The manager and deputy manager are passionate about providing the best possible experiences for each of the young people. The manager’s and deputy manager’s enthusiasm and drive for high standards is mirrored by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team enjoys its work. The staff members are motivated to do their job because they feel valued as members of the team. The staff members reflect on their practice during regular supervision sessions. This helps them to identify areas of strength and areas they wish to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team has an excellent understanding of the care the young people need. The manager actively seeks a range of training courses and innovative development opportunities to further enhance staff’s knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The young people have access to all the services and specialist equipment they need. The manager works in partnership with a variety of professionals, such as mobility specialists, nutritionists, consultants, social workers, therapists and educational professionals, to make sure that the young people’s very complex needs are met. Inspection report children's home: SC066120 5

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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: SC066120 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Merion House, 7th Floor West, Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8TU

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Inspectors

Jamie Richardson: social care inspector Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC066120 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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