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

Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 1 SC059635 Registered provider: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Full inspection 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. It provides long-term care and accommodation for up to six children and young people who have a range of social, emotional and behavioural needs. The manager has been registered since July 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/10/2019 Full Good 17/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/04/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 3

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improvement to be good

The children have varied experiences. Some children are not being helped to make safe decisions for themselves or to settle into life at this home. Improvement is needed in the day-to-day care provided to children, as the help from the staff team is not yet good enough.

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improvement to be good

Staff have regular conversations with children about relationships, keeping safe and decision making. However, children’s engagement and progress vary. Staff have not been able to positively influence some children’s lives through the help and support on offer. This does not enhance the children’s future prospects. As a result, there is a negative impact on the experiences of all the children living at this home.

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improvement to be good

For some children, their psychological well-being has regressed. Some are unsettled and have not been helped to feel safe and secure at the home. The children’s behaviour has become progressively more disruptive, including running away from the staff. This has resulted in children being at greater risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

Children’s general health needs are met. They have access to specialist health professionals, such as the substance misuse team and the child and adolescent mental health services. This ensures that targeted support is available should the children need or want these services.

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improvement to be good

The staff ensure that children have a meaningful time with their families. They work closely with parents to enable children to spend time with those who are important to them. However, feedback from families varies, with regards to the quality of care provided at the home. One parent said, ‘My child’s behaviour has gotten worse since living at this home.’ Another parent commented they were unhappy about their child being given food that did not support their cultural needs.

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improvement to be good

Children’s education is well promoted. They are supported to attend school and their respective education settings. For those children who are not yet in education, the staff have plans to help them overcome the barriers to their learning. An older child is attending training. He thoroughly enjoy his learning experience as it aligns with his personal interests.

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improvement to be good

The home is well decorated and provides children with a comfortable living space. Some of the children’s bedrooms are personalised. There is ample room for children to have time out or comfortably spend the evening together playing games. However, the landing leading to the children’s bedrooms is not as inviting and undermines the general appearance of the rest of the home. It is spoilt further by the fire safety signs on the children’s bedroom doors. This does not make it feel like home. Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 4 Staff enable children to take part in a wide variety of activities, such as visiting laser zone, eating out, go-karting or simply playing games in the home. Staff are also effective in supporting children’s personal hobbies and interests, such as helping them to play football for their local teams. This helps to ensure children can have fun experiences and fond memories of the home.

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improvement to be good

Some children are being supported to learn new skills in preparation to move on from the home. Staff are aware of the children’s developmental needs and what additional support may be needed. One child has progressed in areas such as managing his own medication, cooking skills and basic budgeting. This helps children to prepare for their future as they take the next steps towards a life away from the adults who have cared for them.

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improvement to be good

Risk management strategies to reduce the risk of harm to children have been ineffective. Children have continued to place themselves in risky situations, and safeguarding concerns have escalated. Managers, in consultation with the police and social workers, have plans in place to increase the protective factors for the children. However, these have not yet been tested out.

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improvement to be good

The staff are not always consistent when responding to incidents and when attempting to de-escalate challenging behaviour. Staff do not have the strategies needed to help the children to consistently feel safe. However, staff are committed to caring for the children and making a difference.

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments are not comprehensive documents as they do not have the information staff need to respond to children’s behaviours effectively. The children’s plans do not inform staff clearly enough about how to recognise signs of emotional upset in children, or how best to respond to their individual needs. Not all children have a behaviour support plan. This promotes inconsistency in staff’s direct practice with children.

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improvement to be good

The quality of safeguarding documents and records is poor. The detail in restraint records, missing-from-home records and risk assessments is inconsistent. Information in children’s records does not always agree with other records and information is often missing. This is not safe practice for children.

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improvement to be good

The use of restraint is rare. However, records do not always make it clear why the threshold for physical intervention has been reached. The record relating to the debrief with the staff member involved in the hold is brief. In addition, the manager has not provided evaluation on whether the physical intervention was in line with the child’s risk assessment. This does not enable the team to learn from such incidents.

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improvement to be good

Staff work in collaboration with the police to locate children when they have gone missing from home. However, the staff’s response to missing children is inconsistent. Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 5 For example, staff have not always gone looking for children when there has been a need to do so. This can result in children being at risk of further harm.

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improvement to be good

Managers meet with the police, social workers and other safeguarding professionals to agree on the measures needed to protect the children from harm. The ongoing multi-agency discussions help to ensure that those in a position to safeguard children have up-to-date information about their needs.

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improvement to be good

The manager’s matching risk assessment considers the children’s individual needs. However, it does not sufficiently evaluate what impact the children’s known behaviours could have on one another. For example, harmful sexualised behaviour and sexual exploitation is not always given due consideration when moving children into the home. This does not enable strategies to be identified or support the prospect of placement stability for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The leadership and management of the home are ineffective. Managers are unable to develop the children’s plans, to enable staff to care for them in a way that is responsive to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The quality and consistency of staff supervision are poor. One staff member who has been working at the home for a number of months has not had any supervision. Supervision records have limited reflection about the needs of the children, and they do not focus on the support the staff member needs to fulfil their role. Several of the records are illegible because of the poor quality of handwriting. This does not support staff development or contribute to better outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The lack of management oversight and poor-quality recording mean critical information is not included in children’s plans. For example, a specific risk management strategy was not added to a child’s risk assessment, despite the safeguarding concern being discussed in a team meeting. This leaves young people at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are taking place but do not reflect on or agree the strategies needed to respond to the needs of children. This does not help the staff to understand how best to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The external monitoring of the home occurs each month. The independent visitor consistently speaks with the children. However, the visitor rarely consults with parents, social workers or other professionals. This does not support the provider to understand the concerns from stakeholders. In addition, there is often delay in the submission of the reports to the regulator. This reduces Ofsted’s ability to evaluate the quality of care and the actions taken to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Managers have failed to explore the skills and the experience of agency staff members. They have not carried out basic checks aimed at safeguarding and protecting children. This could result in children being exposed to harm. Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 6 There is a committed staff team in place. Staff do want the best for children, and some of the positives in staff practice have been recognised by fellow professionals. One social worker described staff as ‘sympathetic and empathetic’. Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 7

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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

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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult;

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi)(ix)) 24 October 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. 24 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 8 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

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b))

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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

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; 24 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 9 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 has sufficient staff to provide care for 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

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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)(d)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 24 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). 24 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 10 The requirements are that—

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure the recruitment process for the use of agency workers does not put at risk the safety and well-being of children.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a) (ii)(v)(vi)(viii)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the record of a restraint makes it clear why the physical intervention was needed. Also, the registered person must ensure that the authorised person completes the debrief with the child and the staff member who has used the hold. 24 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 11 The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the independent visitor consults with stakeholders during each visit. Also, the registered provider must ensure that reports are submitted in a timely manner, no later than one month from the visit occurring. 24 October 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a comfortable living space and does not have an institutional feel to it, particularly the area where the children’s bedrooms are. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 12

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, City Hall, Centenary Square, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD1 1HY

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Inspector

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC059635 13 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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