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 Full 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 have emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager is new in post. An application to register as the registered manager was received by Ofsted on 22 December 2019. The current manager is working towards the relevant qualification.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/05/2018 Full Good 05/12/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 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, 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there or if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 4(c)(e)) 28/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that the health and well- being needs of children are met, children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; understand the child’s health and well- being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(b)(c), (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 28/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect and sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular, provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response and describe the measures which may be necessary to protect children following an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34(1)(a)(b)(d), (2)(d)(e)) 28/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 28/02/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 4

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) In particular, ensure that assessments and plans take into account how to manage and monitor risk-taking behaviours and associated hazards.  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and that the training available meets the needs of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should develop and implement an internal quality

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Recommendations

assurance monitoring and reviewing system to ensure that practice is consistently good and ensure the continuous improvement of practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) In particular, the quality assurance of practice should be regularly monitored to identify shortfalls and enhance practice.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm, caring and supportive home. Children respond well to the structured, yet nurturing, routines. They also enjoy the opportunities available to them. Children have excellent relationships with staff and enjoy living here. Staff know the children well and help them to achieve good outcomes. Consequently, children make good progress living here.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children arrive, they are not always engaged in education. Staff are proactive and endeavour to secure educational provision that meets their individual needs. In addition, staff support children to make informed decisions about their futures. This helps them to understand the implications of any decisions that they make. This supports children to develop independence skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive help and support to understand their feelings and emotions. This is particularly evident in supporting children to regulate their behaviours. This helps children to make good progress. This area of practice is a strength of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff seek specialist support and advice when needed. However, staff do not always act in a timely way or access support that is readily available to them. As a result, there are missed opportunities, and thus drift and delay in helping children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to a range of activities, including holidays and days out. They have the opportunity to explore their interests and to experience new things. These opportunities enrich children’s lives. Furthermore, they support them to develop their social skills and grow in confidence.

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

Staff are clear of their roles and responsibilities to keep children safe. Staff empower children to make good decisions. Furthermore, staff help children to explore the reasons behind their risk-taking behaviours and how to manage and minimise them. This has a positive effect on children’s lives.

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

Children’s risk assessments and plans are clear and reflect the individual children. However, they do not always consider the wider implications of the risk and the associated hazards. In addition, some risk-taking behaviours are not seen as a risk and, as a result, there are no assessments or plans in place. This particularly relates to children’s physical health.

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

Staff safeguard children well. However, the policies and procedures relating to safeguarding are not always followed. Information reviewed on inspection showed that complaints and subsequent investigations have not, in their entirety, been managed in line with policy and procedures. It is important to report, however, that this has not had a negative impact on the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 6 When staff understand the risks, they manage them well. They work in a proactive way with partner agencies, and the multi-agency safeguarding plans are clear.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers and staff have high expectations of themselves and high aspirations for children. They are passionate and committed to the work that they do.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work well with other professionals. Professionals speak positively about the partnership working and the progress that children make. One social worker said, ‘I am extremely impressed with the management at [name of the home]. They are professional and approachable, and have a good knowledge of looking after our most vulnerable young people’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to mandatory training and complete this in a timely way. This helps them to develop, both individually and as a team. However, staff have not undertaken training that is specific and focused on meeting all the children’s needs. The manager recognises this gap in knowledge and plans to explore the training and advice required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and quality assurance are not yet consistent across all areas of practice. Furthermore, they lack analysis. Subsequently, they do not always identify areas of practice that need some attention and development. Neither are the recording standards consistent. In some instances, information is unclear, inaccurate or contradictory. However, there are pockets of practice where quality assurance and recording are undertaken to a high standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff are committed to developing the home and enhancing their practice. They are able to reflect and learn from their experiences. This provides them with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and abilities further. Inspection report children’s home: SC053145 7

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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 difference 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: SC053145 8

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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 9 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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