Children's home run by Partners in Care Limited in Leeds

Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 1 SC053145 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who display a number of antisocial behaviours and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted on 21 March 2019 and is working towards the relevant qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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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 one requirement from the last inspection has been met. In addition, managers have considered the four recommendations and have adjusted practice accordingly. This has improved practice and consequently the outcomes for children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has had a change in management since the last inspection. The home has a new responsible individual, a new registered manager and a new deputy manager. Managers have worked together to meet the shortfalls from the last inspection and drive good practice forward.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide a nurturing and calm atmosphere for children. Children like living here. Staff have good relationships with children who receive consistent help and support. Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 2 Staff support children to develop interests and friendships outside of the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know the children well and are consistent in their approach. Clear assessments inform good plans and strategies. This is a much-improved area of practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support children to understand and manage their behaviour well. Children receive clear and supportive boundaries that enable them to self-regulate their emotions. Staff manage incidents effectively. Staff are able to reflect on these incidents to help to reduce the number of future ones. This approach works and the number of incidents has reduced considerably.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children attend education. Staff work in partnership with the schools to ensure that children make good progress in their education. When children disengage from education, staff support children to re-engage or explore alternative educational opportunities. Staff also support children to secure part-time employment when appropriate.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding practice relating to the access of age-appropriate films and computer games is not robust enough. Managers should review this area of practice and have a clear understanding of what impact this may have on the child. Furthermore, clear records of decision-making, risk assessments, plans and monitoring need to be made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children experience good transitions when they arrive at or leave the home. Staff work well with local authorities to ensure that these transitions are timely and supportive. However, when there is drift and delay in transitions, managers do not escalate the issues quickly enough. Consequently, some children have been in situations where they are unsure about their placement plans.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When children leave the home, staff keep in touch with them. This supports children to make positive transitions to adulthood or to new placements. Children are keen to keep in touch with the home. This shows that children have formed positive relationships and connections with the home and the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have varied amounts of experience and qualifications. However, it is not always clear if staff have the relevant or equivalent qualifications to fulfil their role. Learning and development are important to managers and staff. Managers and staff are supported in their professional development. This is evident in the progress the home has made since the last inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2018 Full Good 05/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 3 16/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/09/2016 Full Outstanding

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Recommendations

 Children’s home staff should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements, based on the individual child’s needs and developmental stage, about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. Staff should discuss the decision with the child’s placing authority where appropriate. If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk-taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7). In particular, that any decisions for children to have items that are not age appropriate are recorded. Furthermore, that a clear assessment and plan is in place and that this plan is regularly monitored and reviewed.  The term ‘equivalent’ as used in the Regulations in relation to qualifications will

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Recommendations

be a judgement for the registered person based on whether the content of any qualifications held by the individual closely corresponds with the qualifications set out in regulation 28(2)(c) (for managers) or regulation 32(4) (for those in a care role). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.13)  Where the registered person considers that a child is at serious risk of harm, such as being persistently missing from their placement, they must contact the local authority to request a review of the child’s care plan (regulation 14(2)(e)). Local authorities must give serious consideration to such requests. Where a review does not take place, the Registered Person must escalate this concern under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’,

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 4 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rouse House, 2 Wyther Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS5 3BT

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Inspector

Lisa Gregoire-Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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