Children's home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 1 SC034953

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Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to five children or young people aged 12 to 18 years. Care is provided for children and young people who need a stable placement until they can achieve independence or until their 18th birthday. The home also accommodates children and young people who are in the process of being reunited with their families or carers.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has recently been appointed to the home and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

At the inspection on 10 July 2019, the home was judged inadequate. There were a number of significant breaches of regulation. These included deficiencies in following the safeguarding policies and procedures, the response to safeguarding concerns made by other professionals, and the monitoring and evaluation of incidents. This placed children and young people at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

As a result, two compliance notices were served on the provider relating to regulations 12 and 13 of The Children’s Homes Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to inspect the progress made in relation to the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The level of presenting risk identified at the full inspection has reduced. One young person who was previously missing from the home regularly has significantly reduced this behaviour and is engaging well with the staff team at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has taken appropriate steps to ensure that staff have refreshed their knowledge and understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures. There are Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 2 new reporting and recording mechanisms in place to ensure that any concerns or safeguarding matters are managed appropriately and evaluated swiftly by leaders of the home.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual and manager of the home have worked with external partners to ensure that any identified concerns are recorded and shared with other professional partners. Appropriate action is taken to reduce the risk of harm to the children and young people at the home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken appropriate action to mitigate risks to the safety and well- being of children and young people. The compliance notices that were served in relation to regulations 12 and 13 have been met.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/07/2019 Full Inadequate 04/12/2018 Full Outstanding 17/10/2017 Full Outstanding 09/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vi)(vii)) 11/08/2019

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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 to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; 11/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 4 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to continuing to promote school attendance for all children and providing formal and informal learning opportunities and engagement when children are not in school.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 11/08/2019

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 11/08/2019 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 5 registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(f)(h))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Calderdale School Effectiveness Service, 2nd Floor, Westgate House, Westgate, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 1PS

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Inspector

Nicola Thomas: social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC034953 7 to 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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