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

Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 1 SC486606 Registered provider: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. The home can accommodate children and young people aged between 10 and 18 years old. The home offers emergency, short or medium- term placements until plans are agreed to either return home or to an alternative placement.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is currently vacant. Successful recruitment has taken place and confirmation that the new manager is to commence shortly.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 20 November 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/11/2018 Full Good 04/07/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children and young people arrive at the home in an emergency due to family or placement crisis. All children and young people settle quickly as the staff provide a warm, nurturing and welcoming environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people receive good-quality care from an established and stable staff team. The staff provide routines, boundaries and meet the individual needs of all the children and young people at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people have been supported to continue in their education placements, this has provided stability with education. For some children and young people who have not been in education prior to arrival at the home, bespoke education packages have been created. This has led to their successful transition to an appropriate education placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children and young people in all aspects of their health needs, and with attending health appointments. The staff team works closely with the on-site psychologist, occupational therapist and speech and language therapist. This ensures that the staff have a good understanding of each child’s overall health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people participate in a variety of activities, both in the home and the wider community. This means that they are having new experiences such as playing traditional games and has led to a reduction in the time spent on electronic devices. The children and young people interact with their peers, this has built their confidence, self- esteem and developing their communication and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff consult with children and young people daily. These conversations make the children and young people feel listened to and respected. Key-work sessions take place with children and young people. This gives the children and young people a better opportunity and understanding about things affecting their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The dedicated staff team supports children and young people. The staff prepare children and young people for moving on from the home. Staff work closely with all professionals to ensure that the children and young people have a positive experience and a smooth transition.

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

The staff have a good understanding of each of the children and young people’s individual vulnerabilities and associated risks. Risk management and positive support plans are documented to a good standard. This ensures that staff can minimise and reduce risks for children and young people.

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

Children and young people have an individual protocol that staff follow in the event of a child or young person going missing. Incidents of going missing have reduced with the Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 4 manager reporting no known concerns for any of the children and young people living at the home currently.

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

The staff have good communication with the police community support officers who visit the home frequently. Joint discussions by the staff and police take place with the children and young people about their safety and risks when out in the community.

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

The staff work using a restorative approach with children and young people. The focus is on promoting positive behaviours, which children and young people respond well to. As a result, the home has not used sanctions since the last inspection.

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

Recruitment processes are good. This means that staff are vetted and deemed safe to work with children and young people. New staff receive a well-structured induction programme and probationary period. This gives them clear expectations of their roles and responsibilities which are regularly discussed in team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home has not had a registered manager since April 2019. There has been a couple of interim managers during this period which has impacted on the stability of the management arrangements at the home. The responsible individual has also been absent from October 2019. Recent recruitment has identified a new manager who is due to start shortly at the home. A senior manager is now covering the absence of the responsible individual and is providing good leadership and oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The management and staff team have good professional working relationships. They all have a shared commitment to make a difference for children and young people. A professional said, ‘This staff team can look after any child. Staff understand the needs of children and young people and how to support their individual needs.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home’s ‘Be Positive Pathway’ model consists of an in-house multidisciplinary team. Children and young people benefit from the holistic approach which has the children and young people at the heart of their practice. This has resulted in good outcomes for children and young people with some returning home and others on to a permanent placement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The management and staff are good advocates for children and young people. They have appropriately challenged professionals to ensure that children and young people receive the best service to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular supervision and training from the management team. The members of the management team are approachable and offer guidance and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The management team has full oversight of the day-to-day running of the home. Its members have a good understanding of the strengths and areas for development of Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 5 the staff team and the home. This ensures that children and young people receive a high standard of care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Monitoring of the home includes independent visits and the manager’s six-monthly quality of care review. This ensures that there is a good quality assurance system, that keeps the staff team fully informed with any amendments which will impact on the children and young people’s lives. Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 6

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Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we inspect. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of Coronavirus by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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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: SC486606 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sue Hatton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC486606 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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