Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC488679 1 SC488679

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Leeds City Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and runs this home. The home provides care for up to four children or young people. It caters for children or young people, irrespective of gender, between the ages of 10 and 18 years. The children and young people come here to complete a 12-week dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) treatment programme. The staff are called coaches. The coaches work with the children, young people and their families or carers to enable the children and young people to return to family-based environments. The coaches use the multi-systemic therapy and family integrated transitions model (MST-fit).

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since March 2016.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this children’s home on 14 January 2020, when we carried out a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was undertaken to ascertain and assess the safety of the children and young people living at this home. Inspectors followed the health and safety guidelines in respect of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection took place because Ofsted received an increased number of notifications regarding the provider. These notifications indicated that there might be shortfalls regarding the safety, well-being and quality of care of the children and young people. Ofsted has received seven regulation 40 notifications within a four- month period, relating to care practice and child protection concerns.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found that the children and young people’s care, safety and well-being are of a good standard. The children and young people’s needs, risks and vulnerabilities are well known and understood by the core staff and the management team. Staff are proactive in reporting any shortfalls or concerns in care practice, and Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC488679 2 the manager has taken immediate and prompt action to investigate and address such concerns.

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This monitoring visit

All incidents relating to safeguarding and child protection, as well as any other incidents of concern, are recorded in line with procedures. However, when incidents have happened, the decision-making by staff has not always been consistent with DBT, which is the agreed model of care. As a result, children and young people’s behaviours have at times escalated, which has placed them at risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of staff have been deployed to work in other homes and some staff have needed to isolate for periods of time. As a result, children and young people have not always been cared for by staff who know them well and understand their needs.

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This monitoring visit

The matching of children and young people has not always been effective. This has resulted in some children and young people’s behaviour having a negative impact on the other children and young people. For some children and young people, this means that they have re-engaged in anti-social and dangerous behaviours, including doing damage to their home and being physically violent towards staff. These incidents caused anxiety for children and young people, and in some cases led to placement moves.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have access to training, weekly team meetings and consultations with the DBT therapists. However, some staff do not receive regular formal supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose. As a result, some staff have not consistently received the formal supervision that they require to support them in their roles.

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This monitoring visit

Despite the challenges, the staff team presents as resilient. Staff spoken to by the inspector were positive about the support they receive from the manager, and were all committed to becoming skilled DBT practitioners. The manager has implemented additional DBT consultations, team meetings and handovers with the aim of enhancing the knowledge base of the staff team.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/01/2020 Full Outstanding 08/01/2019 Full Outstanding 07/11/2017 Full Outstanding 21/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC488679 3

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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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The care planning standard is that children—

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receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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In particular, ensure that placements of children are only accepted when the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. March

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The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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positive responses to other children and adults.

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(xi))

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In particular, ensure that members of staff are provided with the skills to manage behaviour effectively. March Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC488679 4 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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helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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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)) March

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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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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Inspector

Noel Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC488679 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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