Children's Home run by Laska Care and Education Ltd in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593046 1

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Laska Care and Education Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children and/or young people aged between 11 and 18 years old.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered by Ofsted in August 2020 and has not yet had a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this monitoring visit was carried out off site. The visit was to investigate potential breaches of regulations, following information being shared with Ofsted in notifications that indicated a potential risk of harm to children. The visit included review of documents, a virtual tour of the building and discussions with children, staff and relevant professionals.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have sought guidance and advice from specialists in relation to children’s mental health, and this has helped to ensure that children have access to the external support they need. However, not all staff are trained in understanding mental health. This means that staff do not have the most up-to-date knowledge on how to support children to maintain good mental well-being.

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This monitoring visit

Care plans and risk assessments are poor. They do not give clear guidance for staff to follow to help protect the children. Staff do not always follow the risk assessments in place or seek support if they are unclear. This has placed children at risk of harm on at least two occasions.

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This monitoring visit

The matching of children to the home is thorough. The manager ensures that multi- agency consultation takes place and known risk factors are considered. This means Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593046 2 that children’s needs are met at the time of placement. However, the manager has not fully captured the consultation that takes place with professionals during the matching process. This means that pertinent information about the child may be lost and not shared with the staff or incorporated into plans.

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This monitoring visit

There are shortfalls in the manager’s monitoring systems. For example, children’s case records do not show an evaluation of significant events and do not document clearly that staff have identified or addressed concerns. This prevents the manager from being able to make changes in a timely manner to improve practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive regular supervision and feel supported by the manager. However, the records lack clarity and do not capture the discussions that have taken place. This means that staff do not have a written record of areas that have been addressed.

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This monitoring visit

Children do not benefit from living in a homely environment. This is because parts of the home need repair and redecoration. The manager is aware of this shortfall and is in the process of addressing it.

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This monitoring visit

Social workers said that communication with the home is good. One social worker described the home as ‘excellent’ and said that staff keep them informed through regular verbal and written updates. Good multi-agency communication provides better support for children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement Not previously inspected. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593046 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments provide clear guidance for staff to follow. 25 April 2021

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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 promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 25 May 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593046 4 lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have access to relevant training, that staff supervision records include evidence of the discussions that have taken place, and that the manager ensures that a record is kept of their evaluation of significant incidents and/or events.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, and that they are, in most cases, homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that all repairs and decoration are completed to improve the standard of the environment.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to investigate information received which suggests there may be a breach of regulations.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593046 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Laska Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Euroway House, Roysdale Way, Bradford BD4 6SE

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Inspectors

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Brian Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2593046 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

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

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