Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Assurance visit report: SC033370 1 SC033370

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Information about this children’s home

This a local authority home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people aged between 11 and 17 years. The home aims to provide a relaxing environment in which young people feel safe and have a sense of belonging.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 30 October 2019

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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:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. 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: SC033370 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 are well cared for by staff. They make good progress because staff are committed to forming trusting relationships with them.

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The care of children

Children do well in education because staff recognise the progress they make. Staff understand the children’s different learning needs and celebrate when small goals are achieved. For example, one child now wears his uniform and leaves for school on time. For another child, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have disrupted his learning. The manager and staff understand the barriers to education for him. They are rebuilding his confidence with a focus on him returning to school in the future.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that family time has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Where appropriate, staff have supported children to meet with their family face to face in line with local restrictions. This has helped to ensure that children maintain their sense of identity and connections with those who are important to them.

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The care of children

Two young people have moved on from the home since the last inspection. The staff team’s commitment to both young people helped them move from the home with support in place. One social worker said, ‘The manager and staff have gone above and beyond. They continue to support [Name] even though she has moved out.’

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The care of children

The house feels like a family home; it is a friendly and welcoming environment where the children feel happy and relaxed.

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The safety of children

Children are better protected as a result of living in this home. Staff are appropriately trained in safeguarding and understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe.

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The safety of children

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, when this does occur, staff manage this well.

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The safety of children

Children respond well to the routine, structure and boundaries provided by staff. Staff are consistent in their approach, which has contributed to a reduction in the number incidents in the home.

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The safety of children

Staff talk with children in an open and calm manner. They help children to explore their thoughts and feelings in a sensitive way. As a result, children are learning how to self-regulate their emotions. Assurance visit report: SC033370 3 Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are understood by staff and recorded. Changes in behaviour and emerging risks are quickly identified and routinely shared among the staff team and other professionals. This level of communication between professionals has helped to ensure that children are better protected.

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The safety of children

Staff are good role models to the children and there is a positive feeling in the home. Staff use restorative practice to support children to think about the impact their behaviour has on others. As a result, children are learning how to live together with less conflict.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager provides strong leadership and the staff team feels valued. One staff member said, ‘The manager has brought the team together, we are appreciated, and this makes a difference.’

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Leaders and managers

The staff team is experienced, well supported and has the skills needed to care for the children living in the home. The manager is working with the local authority’s therapist to further develop the team’s understanding of therapeutic care. This helps staff to have a better understanding of the children and their emotional needs.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is a strong advocate for the children. She has appropriately challenged social workers and schools when decisions made were not in children’s best interest. For example, the manager agreed for staff to provide one young person with continued care after moving out. This extra care supported his return to the family home.

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Leaders and managers

Case records reflect children’s everyday lives and the discussions staff have with them. However, other records, including restraint reports and key-work sessions, are not always recorded in full detail. This does not support the manager to evaluate staff practice in the home and could result in inconsistencies in the children’s day-to- day care.

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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 manager should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Particularly, ensure the team meeting minutes, key-work records and restraint reports provide the reader with a clear account of the event that has occurred. The reports should not be able to be interpreted by the reader or be ambiguous. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance visit report: SC033370 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Calverley Street, LEEDS LS1 1UR

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Inspectors

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Ceri Evans, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC033370 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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