Children's home run by Harmony Children’s Services

Assurance visit report: SC461450 1 SC461450

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and run. It can provide accommodation for up to three children or young people who have a range of needs. The home has three single bedrooms to accommodate children and young people, irrespective of gender, aged from five to 17 years. The home offers medium- to long-term care, respite and short-break placements.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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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.

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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. Assurance visit report: SC461450 2

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The care of children

One child currently lives in the home. The child enjoys a trusting and secure relationship with the staff who care for him. As a result, he is able to safely express his emotions and feelings and has a sense of belonging at the home.

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The care of children

The child has a positive experience of living in this home. The staff have continued to arrange interesting activities during the COVID-19 restrictions. This helped to prevent boredom and enabled the child to have fun and build positive memories of his time in the home.

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The care of children

Health, personal hygiene and self-care skills are supported by staff, and the child is helped and praised for the progress he makes. Staff also ensure the child’s emotional and psychological health needs are met. Staff achieve this by ensuring that good routines and consistent messages are in place.

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The care of children

The staff fully supported the child to have family time throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff worked closely with the family to ensure contact was safe, purposeful and enjoyable. The child was supported to meet with family face to face once local restrictions were relaxed.

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The care of children

The manager and staff value education and have high aspirations for the child. The child was supported to learn when the school was closed, despite the challenge of home tutoring. As a result, the child has continued to make good progress.

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The safety of children

The manager and staff are responsive to the child’s emotional health needs. They respond in a way that reduces negative behaviour and helps the child to feel safe. Staff talk to the child after any incident, and this helps him to explore other ways to express his feelings.

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The safety of children

The use of physical restraint has not been used since the last inspection. This is because staff use behaviour management strategies to good effect. Also, positive behaviour is consistently recognised, and sanctions are rarely used.

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The safety of children

Staff have an excellent understanding of the child’s specific needs and vulnerabilities and take appropriate action to address them. Staff encourage discussion after incidents, and this has helped the child to reflect and learn.

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The safety of children

The child’s safety and well-being are important to the staff. There are well- documented plans that identify the child’s known risks and vulnerabilities. However, not all risk assessments are reviewed and evaluated by the manager. This could result in inconsistent staff practice. Assurance visit report: SC461450 3

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Leaders and managers

The home is run by an experienced and committed manager who promotes a culture of high aspiration. All decisions made by the manager are child-centred. The child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘They are very caring. I have nothing but praise for the manager; she is a very strong advocate for the child.’

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Leaders and managers

Staff have regular supervision which is reflective and child-focused. The staff work collaboratively and provide consistency and stability for the child. The manager has worked with the local authority to introduce clinical supervision for the team. This helps staff to have an in-depth therapeutic understanding of the child’s needs.

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Leaders and managers

Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with teachers, social workers and other professional agencies. This ensures that the child benefits from the best possible help and all-round support.

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Leaders and managers

The independent visitor has used technology to continue visits remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the written reports do not provide a rigorous evaluation of the child’s experience or the care that staff provide. This lack of analysis hinders the manager’s ability to improve and develop the home.

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Leaders and managers

All the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with each child and the home’s staff. This includes reviewing risk assessments relevant to the child’s behaviour. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23)  Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. Particularly, the findings of the visit throughout the report should be evaluated. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) Assurance visit report: SC461450 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Harmony Childrens Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Grants, 11 Park Place, Leeds, Yorkshire LS1 2RX

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Inspector

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC461450 5 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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