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

Inspection report children’s home: SC033628 1 SC033628 Registered provider: Bradford Metropolitan District Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority operated children’s home. It is registered to provide short-break care and accommodation for up to six children or young people who have physical, learning and/or sensory care needs. There is a manager in post who was registered in January 2018.

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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: 26 September 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC033628 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2017 Full Good 13/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC033628 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people have positive experiences when they come to stay at this home because the staff know them very well. Staffing ratios and activities are planned individually to ensure that children’s and young people’s stay is as safe and enjoyable as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff make good use of the time that the children and young people spend at the home to help them make progress. The children and young people grow in self- confidence and independence through the activities that they undertake. One parent said that her child’s confidence had also increased since visiting the pantomime and the circus with the staff. She now feels able to take him on a wider range of outings. Children and young people develop increased self-care skills as a result of their growing independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people are truly central to the practice in the home. The staff ensure that all the children and young people influence their care, including those who cannot communicate verbally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff, led by the whole-hearted commitment of the manager, ensure that the children and young people and their families are seen as a part of the community. A ‘family and friends hub’ has been established through partnership with a local community organisation. This is providing parents and carers with both practical and emotional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The complex health needs of the children and young people are well catered for by the staff team. Specialist training promotes the staff’s knowledge and skills, enabling them to meet the complex health needs of the children and young people. For example, training in gastric feeding, communication techniques and environmental awareness. The arrangements for managing medication are safe and effective.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The parents and carers are very confident in the ability of the staff to meet their children’s medical and emotional needs. One parent said, ‘Everything that has been thrown at them, they have dealt with.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Thoughtful planning for children and young people who are new to the service ensures minimum stress and anxiety for both them and their families. The staff also provide good support to children and young people and their families with the transition from the service at 18 years of age.

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

The staff maintain a clear focus on the protection of the children and young people. Child protection concerns are immediately shared with appropriate people in line with safeguarding policies and procedures. The children and young people are protected well Inspection report children’s home: SC033628 4 by this quick response.

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

The staff are attentive to the complex health and behavioural needs of the children and young people. Up-to-date risk assessments and care plans provide clear guidance to the staff on ways to manage these.

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

Close supervision, combined with effective procedures, means that the risk of incidents of going missing and exploitation of this vulnerable group of children and young people is minimised.

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

The parents and carers are very confident that their children are safe when they stay at the home. Several parents and carers commented that they would not leave their children anywhere else.

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

The staff seek to understand in minute detail the triggers for behaviour arising from the children’s medical conditions. By using their in-depth knowledge of the children and young people, and being flexible in their approach, staff are successful in reducing and preventing incidents of challenging behaviour. The staff only use physical restraint as a last resort and the need for it is rare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led effectively by the registered manager. He is currently completing the required leadership qualification and was registered in January 2018. He uses his considerable knowledge and experience to ensure that the children and young people are happy and safe during their stay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children and young people receive highly personalised care through a very stable and experienced staff team. Due to vacancies and staff sickness, the home has been operating with reduced staffing in recent months. The staff have responded to this flexibly and have been successful in minimising the impact on the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes very child-centred decisions around groupings of the children and young people to ensure that they receive the maximum benefit from their stay. Consistent groups with similar developmental needs enable the staff to plan activities that are most suitable to the group. The children and young people are able to form friendships with their peers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have good partnerships with all those involved in the lives of children and young people. Staff make regular home and school visits. The families feel extremely well supported by the manager and staff team. One parent explained how the staff had been visiting her child in hospital and keeping in touch with her to offer support. Another said that staff were ‘part of the family’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision. This provides them with the support that they need to undertake their roles. It is also used effectively to challenge and improve the Inspection report children’s home: SC033628 5 performance of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses internal monitoring systems and the external visitor’s detailed and evaluative reports to identify areas for development to build on the home’s strengths and to address any improvements.

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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: SC033628 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bradford Metropolitan District Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sir Henry Mitchell House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford, Yorkshire BD5 0QL

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Inspector

Janet Black: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC033628 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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