Children's Home run by Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd in Bradford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 1 Registered provider: Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company and provides care and support for up to one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first full inspection. The report will be published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

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

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

p.1

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.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: this is the first full inspection since registration.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 3

p.2

improvement to be good

Since the home was registered in April 2021, one child has been discharged and one child has moved in, which was planned effectively. Friendly and caring staff have made the child feel welcome. However, staff wearing identity badges and outdoor attire around the house does not promote an inviting environment.

p.3

improvement to be good

The staff show care and compassion towards the child and they strive to develop mutually positive relationships. As a result of the positive relationships with the staff, the child that left the home stayed there longer than they had anywhere else. The child’s social worker said that, ‘[Name of child] understood that people do care about her. She had positive role models and had time to reflect.’ The child was discharged from the home because the staff team could no longer keep her safe. The move was also in line with the child’s wishes and feelings, which has helped to keep the relationships intact.

p.3

improvement to be good

Although the current child does not share a wholly positive view of the staff, the staff spend time with the child and show an interest in her. A member of staff said, ‘We are still building trust.’ Staff build relationships with the child by supporting the child’s participation in leisure activities, such as horse riding. They encourage the child’s musical talents and flair for different languages. The child has been teaching the staff British Sign Language and how to play chess. The child has kept herself entertained watching her favourite films and keeping in touch with friends. These strengths are at odds with the child’s activity planner, which is not personalised and does not reflect the child’s interests.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child knows how to complain, but they are not confident that any complaint that they make will be acted on. Key-work sessions engage the child in different discussions. However, on one occasion, inaccurate information has been shared with the child. This has caused them to feel confused and frustrated. Furthermore, the key-work sessions have missed opportunities to discuss specific topics.

p.3

improvement to be good

Smoking, alcohol and substance misuse are not behaviours that the child engages in, which improves her health outcomes. The staff support the child to receive medical attention from healthcare professionals. This reduces the risk of illness. The therapeutic support currently being sourced for the child is identified in response to meeting her complex emotional health needs.

p.3

improvement to be good

The premises are not homely throughout. The child’s bedroom is decorated to suit her preferences, which supports her individuality. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 4

p.3

improvement to be good

The staff understand their responsibility to safeguard children. They have received safeguarding training which informs their awareness and practice. The child is not known to be at risk of child sexual or criminal exploitation, radicalisation and/or other forms of abuse. A multi-agency approach is taken to ensure that the provider, social care professionals and the police work together to safeguard children who present these risks.

p.4

improvement to be good

Although the staff talk to the child about their risky behaviours, not all of the staff have a full understanding of the child’s written risk assessment. Furthermore, the child’s written risk assessment does not show how the identified risks will be reduced over time nor does it provide the staff with clear strategies to guide them in their role. The risk assessment lacks evidence of management oversight.

p.4

improvement to be good

Missing from home incidents have reduced significantly. The child placed at the home currently has not gone missing. This provides sufficient assurances that staff know where the child is.

p.4

improvement to be good

Physical intervention is rarely used. It is a last resort. However, the staff are not empowered by the managers to make day-to-day decisions about the child. They often refer the child to ‘management’ to make parental decisions, which takes the responsibility and accountability away from the staff. This could, if it is not addressed, trigger the child to display behaviours that challenge.

p.4

improvement to be good

Visitors to the home are checked before they can enter the home. This protects the child from having contact with unsuitable people.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Weaknesses in leadership and management limit the staff’s ability to improve their childcare practice. A fundamental flaw is that the deputy manager and staff do not have a coherent understanding about how the statement of purpose, children’s home framework and legislation relate to their role. The relevance of delegated responsibility in relation to the staff team’s practice is not fully understood.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff meetings, supervisions, daily handovers, and training support the staff and provide them with some positive learning opportunities and the time to reflect on their work. However, the staff are not empowered to make decisions about the children’s day-to-day care. This has resulted in a lack of transparency and accountability of the staff’s role and responsibilities due to the staff having to default to the managers to make decisions.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The deputising arrangements are ineffective. This is because the deputy does not have access to all management information in the absence of the registered manager. As a result, their capacity to give robust management oversight is limited. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 5 The registered manager has failed to implement an effective monitoring system to identify service developments quickly and take decisive action. The development plan for the home is out of date and it refers to a child who no longer lives at the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Several key documents were not available for inspection and managers are unable to evidence their care practices. The learning from incidents is not evidenced. These gaps limit Ofsted’s confidence that the registered manager has a robust management grip of the home and can evidence how they learn from practice shortfalls.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Management monitoring has not addressed the concerns that relate to the internal doors, for instance the keylocks on both sides of the bathroom door, the missing door latch to close a child’s bedroom door, and the rationale for locking the door leading to the kitchen when there are sufficient staff to provide adequate supervision. Furthermore, this practice is not consistent with the statement of purpose.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The registered manager has not escalated their concerns when the local authority has failed to carry out its duties to the expected standards. This has the potential for the child’s plans to drift.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Not all of the notifications have been sent to Ofsted regarding significant incidents. This has prevented Ofsted from monitoring the home’s safeguarding practices. An employee reference has not been verified during the recruitment of a staff member.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

No independent visitor report has been sent to Ofsted since August 2021. A visit was carried out in October 2021, but the reports have not been received by Ofsted. There is a lack of rigour in the independent visitor reports in July and August 2021, which does not provide a fully accurate evaluation of events. This has given the provider a false sense of progress and does not help them to make the necessary improvements.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Professionals speak in positive terms about the registered manager and the staff team’s care of the children. They report good communication from the registered provider. Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (c)(d)) 17 December

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 17 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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;

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

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.

p.7

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)(c)(f)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should quality assure all records to ensure that they are accurate and that all staff have read and understand the contents. Ensure that all children’s records are available for inspection. Make provision to ensure that managers and the staff team understand and implement the regulatory framework and legislation that supports the care of children. Ensure that the written development plan is updated and shows a clear focus on continually improving the experiences and outcomes for children. Verify employee references. Improve the home environment. Remove the keylock device on the inside of the bathroom door, fit a latch on the bedroom door and review the practice of locking the door leading to the dining room and kitchen. 17 December

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.7

Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 17 December Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 8 or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.8

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.8

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (1)(4)(a)(b))

p.8

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that the independent person explores all safeguarding incidents fully and that the information is used to provide an accurate assessment of the children’s safety and well-being. 17 December

p.8

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 for children’s home: 2598804 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ovenden House, Ovenden Road, Halifax HX3 5QG

p.9

Inspectors

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Steven Guirey, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2598804 10 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

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

p.10