Children's Home run by Care Today Parallel Parents in Leeds

Assurance visit report: SC403890 1 SC403890

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people. The home specialises in caring for children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 28 January 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. 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: SC403890 2

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The care of children

The staff build trusting relationships with the children and young people from their point of admission to the home. This enables the children and young people to feel safe and secure, and their self-confidence improves as they experience the nurturing and homely environment that staff provide.

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The care of children

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff have supported the children and young people to keep in contact with their families. Staff have promoted positive indirect contact, and as restrictions eased, the children and young people have enjoyed face-to-face time with their family. As a result, the children and young people have remained connected with their loved ones.

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The care of children

The children and young people told the inspectors that they have weekly meetings and key-work sessions with staff. These discussions enable the children and young people to share their wishes and feelings, and where appropriate, staff take action. For example, one child asked for a garden swing and a pet hamster, and these have been provided.

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The care of children

Staff promote and value education. All the children and young people have education and training plans, and staff have ensured that throughout the pandemic, the children and young people have continued to access education. As a result, all the children and young people have good school attendance and are making progress.

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The care of children

Children and young people told the inspectors that the staff are amazing, and they get the help and support they need. They feel that staff have helped to keep them occupied during the pandemic with a range of activities, including go-karting, visits to theme parks, cycling and ice skating.

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The care of children

Staff support the children and young people to develop good social skills, which helps to prepare them for the future. For example, one young person has been supported with cooking, ironing and painting and decorating in the home, in readiness for his independence.

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The care of children

Professionals and families told the inspectors that the home is a friendly, caring and nurturing environment and that the staff work in partnership with them to improve outcomes for the children and young people.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s and young people’s emotional and behavioural needs. Staff have lots of meaningful conversations with the children and young people about their worries and fears. As a result, the children and young people are more able to talk about their feelings and are helped by staff to make better choices. Assurance visit report: SC403890 3 There are low levels of physical interventions and the children and young people rarely go missing from the home. However, when there are incidents, staff follow procedures and work closely with other professionals. This helps to better protect the children and young people.

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The safety of children

Behaviour management strategies used by staff are effective. The use of positive incentives, rewards and praise has helped to reduce children’s and young people’s risk-taking behaviour.

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The safety of children

There are risk assessments and behaviour management plans in place to help better protect the children and young people. However, these plans are not always routinely reviewed, and are not individualised to the child or young person. This means that staff do not have up-to-date or child-specific strategies to follow.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is experienced, child focused and works effectively with her staff team, external professionals and families to ensure positive outcomes for the children and young people in her care.

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Leaders and managers

Staff have regular team meetings, supervision, training, consultations and annual appraisals to support them in their roles.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has good oversight of the operation of the home. However, the recording of internal monitoring systems is variable. This is a missed opportunity to highlight the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of children and young people.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has a workforce and home development plan in place. This is updated regularly and has clear aims and objectives to improve the home environment and staff development. However, not all objectives have been addressed, such as updating parts of the home with new fixtures and fittings. This shortfall has not had a negative impact on the children or young people.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and her staff team have positive working relationships with key professionals. This helps to ensure that children and young people have access to the right level of support to meet their needs.

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Leaders and managers

The regulation 44 visitor does not routinely report on whether the children and young people are safeguarded effectively, or if their well-being is promoted by staff. This hinders the manager’s ability to make continuous improvements and promote good outcomes for the children and young people. Assurance visit report: SC403890 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) (2)(f)) 1 March 2021

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to risk assessments being detailed and reviewed as the children’s and young people’s needs evolve. 1 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether— 1 March 2021 Assurance visit report: SC403890 5 children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the independent visitor justifies the rationale for expressing the opinion as detailed above when reviewing information about potential safeguarding matters, such as inappropriate restraint and unexplained bruises to children.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislations, such as alarms and food hygiene. However, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations, such as alarms, food hygiene. However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Inspectors

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Ian Young, Her Majesty’s Inspector, Social Care Assurance visit report: SC403890 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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