Children's home run by Keswick Care Limited in Wakefield

Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 1 SC067865 Registered provider: Keswick Care Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people, on a short-term or long-term basis. The home offers a flexible approach to meeting the needs of the children and young people, and provides a range of services for short-term support that will lead to the child or young person returning home or to foster care. There is a manager in post who has applied for registration.

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Inspection date: 20 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 20 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new manager and deputy manager are in place. The manager is applying to register with Ofsted. The manager has begun to make changes to improve the oversight of the home, and the quality of recording. These changes have yet to become embedded in practice and therefore their effectiveness could not be evidenced at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home had recently suffered significant damage. The manager has ensured that this has been repaired and redecorated, and the home now feels homely and inviting. Bedrooms have been prepared for new children and young people and the young person who has come to live in the home very recently was choosing new wallpaper and carpets to his taste.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has expanded. Decisions around recruitment have considered the relevant experience of the staff, which means that the current team is a varied workforce with a mix of experience. In addition, all staff have either completed or are undertaking training required by regulation. Those staff members who have previously completed level 3 qualifications are joining new staff members to undertake level 4 training. The staff have also completed a range of additional training. The learning is validated through supervision and team meetings. This mix of experience and learning will give the staff the skills they need to meet the needs of the children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are supported by a therapist who regularly comes to the home. She is able to help staff understand the children and young people’s histories and how to help them manage their emotions. This is helping the children and young people to build resilience. Staff are also helped to manage their own emotions and well-being, and to reflect on how incidents have affected them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have managed concerns appropriately. Missing from home protocols have been followed and feedback from the police has been positive. Allegations from children and young people against staff have been escalated quickly and advice and guidance provided by the designated officer have been followed. Steps are taken to ensure that children and young people are provided with a safer environment, and the risks around staff are well managed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous requirements have been met. The recording of information to support staff in managing incidents of missing from home has improved. Handbooks containing key information about children and young people have been prepared, and these can be shared easily with other agencies to support finding the young Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 3 people quickly. Steps have been introduced which enable young people to confirm they are safe and well even if staff are unable to make contact.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Notifications are now made in time and the reports from the independent visitor identify shortfalls. However, the visitor does not use the initials of the children and young people in the reports. This makes it very difficult to understand who the visitor is referring to, and whether it is the same child or young person from one report to another.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments were incomplete for one young person who had recently been admitted. Some of their known behaviours are high risk. Although the manager could explain what steps to take in the event of an incident, the assessments did not fully reflect the steps that staff should take. This increases the risk to the young person if staff have no written strategies in place to manage the concerns. At the time of the inspection, there had been no incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some doors in the home are routinely locked. This does not give children and young people as much freedom as possible when there are no concerns around safety. Door alarms on bedroom doors are continuously active. This also applied to bedrooms that were not in use. Monitoring or surveillance should be no more intrusive than necessary, and should take into account actual risks and whether it promotes the welfare of a child or young person. Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/12/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 5

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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 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that risk assessments are completed timely and that they contain specific actions for staff to take if a risk occurs. 28/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)) 31/03/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; 31/03/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 6 the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(d))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendation

Ensure that the report identifies each child or young person appropriately.

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Information about this inspection

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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC067865 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Keswick Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hylton House, 150 Barnsley Road, Hemsworth, Pontefract WF9 4PQ

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Inspector

Mark Broomhead, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC067865 8 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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