Children's Home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061005 1 SC061005

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City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children who have a range of social, emotional and/or behavioural needs. The manager has been registered since July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

A full inspection was completed on 18 and 19 May 2021. The home received a judgement of inadequate and this led to an emergency suspension notice being issued. The registered provider was also issued with enforcement action and requirements to improve. Since this date, no children have been cared for at this home.

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This monitoring visit

There is a new interim manager at the home. This manager has implemented monitoring systems to provide scrutiny and oversight of children’s plans, staff practice, documents and recordings.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s files have been streamlined to provide staff with a current working file which contains the most up-to-date essential information. Children’s care plans and risk assessments are much improved and provide staff with guidance on what action they should take to help to keep children safe. Step-by-step flowcharts provide further advice for staff, for example on what they should do when a child is missing from home.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has developed a monthly checklist of the responsibilities of a key worker. This includes an exemplar sample of what a key-work session should cover, and how this should be recorded by staff.

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This monitoring visit

There is a programme of improvements and the home is being redecorated and refurbished to make it more homely for the children. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061005 2 The registered provider has met most of the actions outlined in the compliance notices issued at the previous inspection. The staff are undertaking a programme of training. However, the staff have not completed sufficient training to make sure that they have the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to keep children safe. The staff’s professional competency is still untested. Therefore, a further compliance notice has been raised in respect of staff training.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/05/2021 Full Inadequate 25/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/07/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/09/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061005 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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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

treat each child with dignity and respect;

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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 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered manager must ensure that any damage is repaired quickly, and all areas of the home are kept clean and tidy. 1 August 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

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 1 August 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061005 4 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must remove the locks on the kitchen door/s, which prevent access to the fire exit. Locks should not be fitted on doors in communal areas, and any that remain need to be clearly risk assessed and rationalised. 1 August 2021

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Requirement Due date

*This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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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. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061005 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 1HY

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Inspector

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC061005 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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