Children's home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Assurance visit report: SC033387 1 SC033387

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Information about this children’s home

This home normally provides residential short breaks and emergency support for children and young people aged up to 18 years old, who may have physical disabilities, learning disabilities and/or sensory impairments. Due to COVID-19, the short-break service is no longer operating.

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Information about this children’s home

The local authority applied to vary the condition of registration to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The variation was approved on 7 July 2020. Two children have been admitted to this home who required care and accommodation due to emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 11 February 2020

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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 Assurance visit report: SC033387 2 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.

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The care of children

Since the monitoring visit that took place on 17 June 2020, the children and young people have continued to make progress in all aspects of their lives. The children and young people’s outcomes for the future are much more encouraging. This is because staff have invested time in them, and they have personalised their care according to the children and young people’s complex needs.

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The care of children

The children and young people have formed positive attachments with staff, in particular their key workers. As a result, the children and young people are more able to share their worries and anxieties and move forward in their lives.

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The care of children

Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, the children and young people have continued to maintain contact with individuals who are important to them. During these restrictions, the children and young people have used technology to chat to their families remotely. This has not only maintained and promoted family time, but parents have continued to participate in the care-planning process.

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The care of children

On-site specialist support and consultation have continued during the COVID-19 restrictions. This has helped staff to implement different strategies, depending on the presenting needs of the children and young people. The effectiveness of this approach has stabilised behaviour, and it has improved the children and young people’s ability to manage their emotions.

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The care of children

As the children and young people’s emotional well-being has improved, they have become more settled in their surroundings. The children and young people have been more open and willing to talk to staff about their future ambitions. One young person has started Polish lessons and now wants to go to college. Another has visited two potential schools. This is great progress relative to their starting points.

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The safety of children

Staff have put a great emphasis on, and considerable work into, understanding the emotional and mental health needs of the children and young people in the home. Clinical supervision and bespoke training in the issues surrounding self-harm, attachment and child sexual exploitation have enabled the staff to manage, and respond more effectively to, the complex needs of the children and young people. Assurance visit report: SC033387 3 Significant behavioural challenges and physical intervention have significantly reduced for one child. This is because staff have used distraction and de-escalation techniques more effectively.

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The safety of children

The risks and vulnerabilities of each child and young person are understood, and risk assessments underpin the strategies used to manage risk. Incident reports and physical intervention records continue to lack managers’ evaluation, and documents are unsigned. This does not provide reassurance that such records have been read by the manager, evaluated and reflected on to inform future learning. Therefore, the requirement made at the monitoring visit has not been met.

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The safety of children

The children and young people’s safety is given high priority. A multi-agency and well-coordinated response to one young person’s prolific missing episodes has paid off. Equally, staff have worked hard to help the children and young people to manage their own safety, make better choices and understand the risks associated with child sexual exploitation. The children and young people are better protected as a result.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and staff have successfully embraced the challenges of providing care to children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. This has taken staff out of their comfort zones and skill bases. However, their resilience, determination and commitment have helped the children and young people to make progress and feel a sense of belonging.

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Leaders and managers

The children and young people’s well-being is at the centre of both the staff and managers’ practice within the home. Inter-agency working and the involvement of a range of professionals have effectively enhanced the safety and protection of the children and young people.

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Leaders and managers

The children and young people have actively participated in their transition plans. Children and young people have set the pace for moving on to their permanent placements. Much effort has been made by the local authority to identify homes that will meet the different and individualised needs of the children and young people. This gives confidence that the children and young people will experience a seamless transition, with the right care and support in place. Assurance visit report: SC033387 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 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

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(f)) 30/10/2020

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; 30/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC033387 5 the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35

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Requirement Due date

(3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii) and (c)(iv)) Assurance visit report: SC033387 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC033387 7 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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