Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

Inspection report children’s home: SC061005 1 SC061005 Registered provider: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children and/or young people who have a range of social, emotional and/or behavioural needs. The registered manager has recently left and there is an acting manager in post who is not registered with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC061005 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

The registered manager has recently left, but prior to leaving had taken steps to address all the five requirements from the last inspection. This has led to improved recording by staff and the implementation of new monitoring systems. These help the staff team to recognise any changes in a child’s or young person’s risk-taking behaviours. Staff take swift action to address any concerns which helps to keep the children and young people safe. The quick action taken by senior leaders to appoint a new manager has ensured a smooth handover and transition. This provides the staff and the children and young people with reassurances that there is a manager in day-to-day control of the home. The new manager already has a good understanding of the children and young people. He has a hands-on approach, and this is helping the children and young people to get to know him. It is too early to see the true impact of the new

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager; however, the staff spoke positively about his management style and approach. Since the last inspection, three children and young people remain living at the home and continue to make progress. This is especially in respect of their attendance and engagement with their school or college. Three other young people have left the home in a planned way to live in semi-independent accommodation. Staff continue to provide ongoing practical support and remain in contact with them to provide advice and guidance. This gives the young people ongoing emotional support from someone that they know and trust. The new children and young people moving into the home have settled following careful planning and matching with the existing peer group. However, the change of group dynamics initially caused some instability. Some of the children and young people went missing together, but staff responded quickly following the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

implementation of individualised positive support plans. This helped to disrupt the behaviour and stabilise the group. The majority of children and young people are attending school or college. Staff provide informal learning opportunities if children and young people are not emotionally ready or able to engage in formal education. This includes cooking at the home and trips out. These educational activities are not currently recorded in a weekly planner to show the work that the child or young person is actually completing. Staff continue to build positive relationships with the children and young people. This helps them discuss sensitive issues to educate children and young people, such as about internet safety and safe relationships. There is improved working with the provider’s clinical team, and this has resulted in some of the children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC061005 3 people having improved emotional well-being. This is resulting in a reduction in self-

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

harming behaviour. The new manager has brought fresh ideas and developed new monitoring systems, including a daily shift planner. This added scrutiny makes sure that tasks are completed and any significant incidents are recorded. This also gives the manager better daily oversight of the home. Staff follow the strategies identified in the individualised and up-to-date positive behaviour support plans. However, children and young people’s input is not visible on these documents and they are not child- friendly versions. The staff team has developed good relationships with the social workers, school staff and police. Through meeting regularly, there is now improved multi-agency safeguarding planning. This joined-up working better protects the children and young people, especially when they are away from the home. Children and young people have been involved in the redecoration and choosing the furnishings in the home. The environment is looking more homelier and damage is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

quickly repaired. The children and young people take pride in their bedrooms which they have personalised according to their own tastes. Inspection report children’s home: SC061005 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC061005 5

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Recommendations

 For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC plan and recommendations from education and health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3) Specifically, to incorporate any educational activities within a weekly planner to demonstrate the work being undertaken by a child while they are not attending school.  Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see

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Recommendations

information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6) In particular, to prepare child-friendly positive support plans which children can add to and have regular access to.

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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: SC061005 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford BD1 1HY

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Inspector

Tina Ruffles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC061005 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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