Children's Home run by Northern Community Pathways Children’s Residential Services Ltd in Kirklees

Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have experienced childhood instability, emotional, social and behavioural difficulties, or are at risk of child sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since February 2020. He has a qualification in leadership and management at level 5.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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: 2571759 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

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have built trusting relationships with the children and young people and have promoted their quality of life. The children and young people have benefited immensely from living in a stable and nurturing environment.

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The care of children

Family time has been promoted by staff throughout the pandemic. Staff have made good use of social media to promote contact, and as guidelines changed, the children and young people have had family time within the home and in the community. This helped the children and young people to remain connected with those who are important to them.

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The care of children

The children and young people are confident that they are listened to by staff and have influence over how their home is run. They told the inspector that the manager has an open-door policy and is always there to listen to them.

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The care of children

Throughout the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff have continued to maintain good working relationships with external professionals. This includes virtual schools, teachers, healthcare workers and social workers. These partnerships helped to ensure that the children and young people’s holistic care needs continued to be met.

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The care of children

As the COVID-19 restrictions changed, the children and young people were supported by staff to engage in a variety of activities. This has included playing football, pool and snooker, and go-karting or just playing hide and seek in the garden. These activities have helped to support the children and young people’s emotional well-being during a challenging time.

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The care of children

Children and young people have also been helped to stay occupied at home, especially when national restrictions were in place. Children and young people have benefited from having the latest computer games and board games.

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The care of children

Professionals spoken with during this visit confirm that staff provide positive and nurturing care to children and young people.

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The care of children

The home environment is comfortable and homely. However, at times, decoration and repairs are not carried out routinely to maintain a homely environment. This detracts from the overall presentation of the home. Assurance visit report: 2571759 3

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The safety of children

There are risk assessments and behaviour support plans in place. These provide staff with the necessary guidance that they need to confidently support children and young people’s safety and well-being.

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The safety of children

Incidents of physical intervention and damage to the home have reduced. Staff understand the children and young people’s emotional needs and promote positive behaviour, kindness and respect. As a result, the children and young people are settled and making progress.

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The safety of children

When children and young people go missing from the home, staff follow the agreed protocols and work in partnership with other agencies to help reduce the risks. When children and young people return to the home, they are reassured by staff and have a return home interview and a debrief with staff. This encourages the children and young people to reflect and helps them to understand some of the push and pull factors behind the incident.

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The safety of children

The children and young people told the inspector that they feel settled and that staff have helped them to become safer.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is accessible, and throughout the pandemic, has provided the staff with good levels of support. This support has helped the staff to develop their practice and become more confident in their decision making. The result is an effective team where children and young people are at the heart of everything.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is hands-on and works alongside the staff to support them in their roles. Staff morale is good, and this has a positive effect on the children and young people.

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Leaders and managers

Staff benefit from participating in an active training programme, which includes regular refresher training in areas such as safeguarding, physical intervention and first aid. This helps to ensure that skills remain current, in order to meet the needs of young people. However, not all staff have received formal supervision on a regular basis. To date, this has not hindered practice. However, it does prevent the manager from undertaking a formal review of staff competence and knowledge.

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Leaders and managers

When needed, the manager has accessed specialist advice and interventions to help support the staff’s understanding of the children and young people’s emotional needs. For example, consultations with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and a clinical psychologist have helped to support the staff team’s understanding of children and young people’s emotional well-being.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is child centred and works hard to ensure that the children and young people have positive outcomes. For example, he has helped one young person to Assurance visit report: 2571759 4 develop his own business enterprise designing clothing and making benches and other wood products.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and the areas for development and uses consultations and external monitoring to help him improve the service. This results in a service that helps children and young people to reach their full potential.

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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 quality and purpose of care standard

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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

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6(2)(b)(vii)) 1 March 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the staff are supervised regularly in line with the home’s statement of purpose. 1 March 2021 Assurance visit report: 2571759 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northern Community Pathways Children’s Residential Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 3, 321 Red Bank Road, Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire FY2 0HJ

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Inspectors

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2571759 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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