Children's home run by Harmony Children’s Services

Inspection report children’s home: SC424759 1 SC424759 Registered provider: Harmony Children’s Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned and run children’s home. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager registered with Ofsted in 2013. She is suitably qualified and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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: 25 September 2018

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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: SC424759 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/09/2018 Full Good 15/01/2018 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/05/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC424759 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(ix)) 31/07/2019

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12) In particular, to continue with plans to develop the skills and knowledge of staff in relation to safeguarding risks posed by criminal exploitation and gang culture, substance misuse and epilepsy awareness.  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the above principles as set out in 9.35 are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Inspection report children’s home: SC424759 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are provided with a good standard of care from a stable and committed staff team. Children and young people have developed close relationships and bonds with trusted adults at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are well supported to maintain good physical and emotional health. The staff support the children and young people to attend regular appointments, such as doctors, dentists and to access specialist services. Children and young people with complex emotional health needs are being supported through specialist mental health services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who are preparing to leave the home to live more independently learn basic skills to support themselves effectively in adulthood. This includes budgeting, shopping and general household tasks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people access a range of positive activities, which have contributed to ensuring that there is good progress in their social development. Children and young people enjoy games, baking and crafts in the home. They also access community resources, such as visiting local parks and trips to the cinema.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational progress is mixed. One child has settled into a local mainstream school. Staff from the home communicate regularly with educational professionals to ensure that this child is well supported and attaining in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Another young person is not currently accessing further education, training or employment opportunities. There is insufficient structure to the young person’s daily routine. The staff team members could be more proactive in identifying opportunities that match the young person’s interests and in helping the young person to fulfil their economic potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people influence the care that they receive at the home. They have access to independent advocacy. Contact with family and friends is facilitated and promoted in accordance with care plans.

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

Leaders and staff work cohesively with other agencies to safeguard children and young people who are missing from the home or at risk of harm in the community.

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

Children and young people have accessed specialist support to help them to understand the risks associated with substance misuse and to encourage them to form healthy and appropriate relationships with peers. Inspection report children’s home: SC424759 5 Children and young people have been missing from the home. This behaviour has reduced. Positive and proactive strategies have been employed to help children and young people to return home safely and independent return interviews are undertaken to establish the reasons for this behaviour and to prevent recurrence.

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

The staff team has had safeguarding training and understands how to keep children and young people safe. Some staff team members have not had training on enhanced safeguarding topics, such as criminal exploitation, substance misuse and epilepsy awareness.

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

Young people have comprehensive risk and behaviour management plans. The staff implement agreed strategies and boundaries to provide a consistent approach.

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

Sanctions that are given are proportionate and appropriate. They are not always recorded in the manner expected by regulation. The observations of the manager are not always recorded, which does not allow for future analysis of patterns and trends.

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

Young people feel safe at the home. The physical environment in the home is well maintained and checked regularly for hazards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified manager who is competent and child-centred. Leaders give careful consideration to any new admissions to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager conducts regular, effective supervision. The staff team members report that they feel well supported in their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care planning processes are child-centred and demonstrate that the team is heavily invested in ensuring that the needs of the children and young people in their care are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The service is providing good-quality care that is meeting the aims and objectives as detailed in the statement of purpose. Leaders have fully met the requirements made at the last inspection.

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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. One social worker said: ‘The home has been excellent. I can’t fault them.’

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC424759 6 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: SC424759 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Harmony Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Grants, 11 Park Place, Leeds, Yorkshire LS1 2RX

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Inspectors

Nicola Thomas: social care inspector Jamie Richardson: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC424759 8 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

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

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