Children's home run by Keswick Care Limited in Wakefield

Assurance visit report: SC067865 1 SC067865

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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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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 20 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Improved effectiveness

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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:  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: SC067865 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

The young people live in a nurturing and homely environment. Staff place the well- being of the young people at the centre of their practice. As result, young people have developed positive relationships with staff they trust and know well.

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The care of children

There are many opportunities for the young people to express their views through individual sessions, everyday discussions and meetings. Staff are genuinely interested in what the young people have to say and value their opinions.

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The care of children

Staff support young people to maintain, rebuild and improve their relationships with their parents and relatives. This support has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The care of children

Activities are encouraged and promoted. Young people access a range of leisure pursuits to increase their social and recreational opportunities. This helps them to develop their friendships outside the home and gain additional skills and interests.

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The care of children

The young people have been supported by the staff to access education throughout COVID-19. Young people have a positive attitude to learning and have made good progress. As a result, they have gained qualifications, and plans are in place for one young person to transition to college.

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The care of children

Every effort is made to help and prepare young people to become more independent. For example, one young person has been supported by staff to find part-time work in the community. This has helped to develop the young person’s life skills and increased their confidence.

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The care of children

Staff work in partnership with specialist agencies, such as the youth offending team, the child and adolescent mental health service, social workers and the in-house therapist. As a result, the holistic care needs of the young people are suitably addressed.

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The safety of children

Risk assessments are regularly updated and reviewed by the manager and the in- house therapist. However, not all staff understand the potential risks to young people. This has the potential to place young people at risk of harm.

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The safety of children

Positive behaviour is acknowledged using praise and reward. Negative behaviour is challenged appropriately, and staff make good use of individual sessions to help the Assurance visit report: SC067865 3 young people reflect. This provides the young people with an opportunity to reflect and consider alternative strategies that may help them in the future.

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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 effectively carrying out their safeguarding responsibilities to ensure that young people are protected from harm.

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The safety of children

Staff are up to date with their safeguarding training. However, not all staff have completed risk management training. This means that they do not have the knowledge or skills to recognise and be alert to signs that young people may be at risk.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is committed to supporting young people to gain positive outcomes in all aspects of their development. She knows the young people well and shares a positive relationship with them.

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Leaders and managers

Staff spoke positively about the registered manager’s supportive leadership of the service. They said that the registered manager is child focused and offers visible leadership.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is diligent in her monitoring of the home. She utilises a range of quality assurance processes and is proactive in addressing any identified shortfalls. That said, the most recently updated statement of purpose was not shared with Ofsted as required.

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Leaders and managers

The manager continues to strive to improve all aspects of the home, consulting with the staff team in the development of processes. This results in a home where there is ambition to provide good care for young people.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has effective relationships with other professionals. She is proactive in seeking out services when required. This partnership approach means that young people have access to a range of support services within the community. Assurance visit report: SC067865 4

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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 that staff—

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm.

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Requirement Due date

In particular ensure that all staff have training to be able to fully safeguard children and young people. 15/01/2021

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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— 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)(a)(e)) 15/01/2021 Assurance visit report: SC067865 5

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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, West Yorkshire WF9 4PQ

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Inspector

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC067865 6 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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