Children's Home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Assurance visit report: SC033326 1 SC033326

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for four children and young people between the ages of 10 and 16. The service strives to offer a secure, stable environment where children and young people can live and be assisted to reach their full potential until they either are ready to live independently, can return home to their family or live in an alternative provision. The home is operated by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has considerable experience of working with children and young people in residential care. He has been registered by Ofsted as the manager of this home since May 2013.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 13 November 2019

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC033326 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Children and young people receive good-quality care. The registered manager and staff team are committed to improving outcomes for all children and young people who live in the home. Consequently, children and young people are happy, settled and thriving.

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The care of children

The staff support the children and young people to maintain their identity and promote contact with their family members in a safe and planned way. Where possible, family time has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The care of children

Staff have made sure that children and young people understand the impact of COVID-19. Children and young people are provided with a wide range of information and guidance. This helps them to understand what they need to do to promote their own good health.

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The care of children

During lockdown, children and young people have continued to enjoy a range of activities. This has helped them to develop new interests and hobbies.

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The care of children

Staff maintain close partnerships with teachers and the virtual school to ensure that children and young people can access appropriate education. Good daily routines and clear lines of communication between the staff and teachers have led to good outcomes for children and young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The safety of children

Staff understand children and young people’s risks and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are comprehensive and kept under review. This means that staff understand the strategies that they must use to keep children and young people safe.

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The safety of children

Staff manage incidents of children and young people going missing from home well. There are clear procedures in place that staff follow, for example looking for children and young people and contacting all relevant professionals. Clear records are kept, and the manager undertakes an analysis of each incident. This helps to highlight triggers and informs care practices within the home.

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The safety of children

Staff work in a proactive way with partner agencies, and safeguarding plans are clear. As a result, children and young people reduce their risk-taking behaviour and their outcomes improve. Assurance visit report: SC033326 3 When there are incidents of bullying, the staff respond effectively to resolve concerns quickly. Where appropriate, the manager deploys extra staffing to ensure that each child or young person is supported.

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The safety of children

Managers and staff undertake a range of training in safeguarding practice. This supports the learning and development of staff. However, not all training reflects the children and young people’s needs. As a result, staff do not always have the skills to assess and manage complex behaviours.

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The safety of children

On at least one occasion, a serious incident relating to the protection of a young person was not reported to Ofsted. This is a breach in regulation and hinders the regulator from carrying out its safeguarding responsibilities effectively to ensure that the children and young people are protected from harm.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has been in post since July 2013. He provides strong leadership for staff. He is visible to children and young people and plays a major part in ensuring that their care is delivered in a way that prioritises their needs.

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Leaders and managers

The manager works well with the deputy manager and together they have a good insight into the home’s strengths and areas for development. There is a realistic development plan in place, which identifies areas for continued improvement. The manager’s regular monitoring and use of independent visitor reports also serve to develop, progress and continually improve the home.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and deputy manager respond effectively to complaints and take the views of others seriously. Complaints are addressed in agreed timescales and the children and young people are given written and verbal feedback from the management team. This helps to ensure that the children and young people feel that their views are valued.

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Leaders and managers

The statement of purpose was recently updated, but not shared with Ofsted. A requirement has been raised to address this shortfall.

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— 31/01/2021 Assurance visit report: SC033326 4 mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(i) and (xi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that members of staff are provided with the skills to manage behaviour effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 31/01/2021 Assurance visit report: SC033326 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kirklees Metropolitan Council, Civic Centre 3, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 2EY

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Inspector

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC033326 6 The for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects 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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Inspector

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