Children's Home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report children's home: SC033657 1 SC033657

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Registered provider: Leeds City Council Interim inspection

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. The home uses an integrated treatment model and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). These are used to support young people to develop emotional resilience and build the skills they need to live independent lives. The home prepares young people for semi-independence. This home can accommodate a maximum of four young people irrespective of gender between the ages of 15 and 17 years old with varying abilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC033657 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people benefit from a caring and nurturing environment. They develop good relationships with the staff and respond well to the routines and boundaries that the staff encourage. Consequently, the young people increase their resilience, their behaviour improves, and they become more independent.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people cook regularly, they cycle or use public transport and find employment. They develop individual coping strategies to manage difficult feelings, for example regular exercise at the gym, relaxing baths and the use of essential oils.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff support the young people’s education and help them to plan their future careers, such as footballing and joining the police.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people have a good say in the running of the home. They choose the decor, help assemble new furniture and have negotiated not having the wi-fi turned off. The timing of dialectical behaviour therapy DBT sessions has been altered to fit in with the young people’s social and leisure activities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has complied with four out of the five requirements from the last inspection. The quality of matching assessments is better and shows that there is a good level of consideration about young people moving into the home. This helps minimise any potential negative effects of a group of young people living together.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of diary records is better. In conjunction with the records of key-working and DBT skills sessions, the diary records now demonstrate the lived experiences of the young people. Their wishes and feelings are recorded and acted on. For example, the young people request wake-up calls and are supported to organise charity events that they have initiated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff supervision now includes a discussion about the young people’s needs, their progress and experiences. This helps keep the staff fully informed of young people’s care plans and gives the staff opportunity to raise any concerns that they have about the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager notifies Ofsted appropriately of any significant incidents affecting the welfare of the young people. He seeks advice from other registered managers and senior managers about this in order to comply with the regulation. He is open and transparent and shares information appropriately with other agencies. Social workers commented about the good level of communication from the staff and that there is good partnership working. Inspection report children's home: SC033657 3 A formal management review of the (DBT) used, including consultation with the young people, has still not taken place. Although DBT is discussed regularly in residents’ and team meetings, the lack of suitable evaluation means that the manager cannot evidence if it is having a positive effect or not.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have only been a few occasions when the young people have been missing from the home or been under the influence of alcohol. The staff take appropriate action by implementing the young people’s individual risk management strategies to help keep them safe. Discussions between the manager and the staff involved in two recent incidents have not been recorded. This limits the opportunity to share with the rest of the staff team any relevant lessons learned and whether future incidents could be avoided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff review and update the written risk assessments relating to the vulnerabilities of the young people. The manager has not ensured that one of these risk assessments has been reviewed in relation to a specific risk about a new young person moving into the home. Although staff are aware of the risk, it is not clear what actions they are taking as a staff team to keep both young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager addresses concerns about staff practice. In one case, sufficient action has not been taken, which potentially leaves a young person and staff member at risk. During the inspection, the manager undertook to resolve this as soon as possible. Inspection report children's home: SC033657 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/04/2019 Full Good 12/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/11/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC033657 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, 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

that staff 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) and (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that written risk assessments include the potential risks that young people represent to each other and how staff are reducing the risks. 30/03/2020

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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 registered person to—

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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) and (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

 Undertake a review of the impact of DBT and include in the review the children’s views and opinions.  Record debriefs of staff of their care practice when managing incidents in which children are at risk, and share any lessons learned with the staff team. 15/04/2020 Inspection report children's home: SC033657 6  Ensure that the children, including children who have moved out of the home, contact staff via appropriate means and not by using staff personal mobile telephones.

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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: SC033657 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Merrion House, 7th Floor West, Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8TU

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Inspector

Simon Morley: social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC033657 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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