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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033502 1 SC033502

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City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns and operates this home. It provides care for up to four children aged between 12 and 18 years. The children may have social and emotional needs. There are two children living at the home full time and a further two are supported in a shared-care arrangement.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered at this home since September 2021.

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This monitoring visit

The interim inspection on 14 December 2021 found serious and widespread concerns in relation to the matching of children and the suitability of agency staff.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted issued two compliance notices under section 22 of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to regulation 14, the care planning standard and regulation 32, the fitness of workers.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit on 24 January 2022 found that managers had not made sufficient progress to meet all the actions set out in the compliance notices. As a result, the two compliance notices were reissued.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess the progress made to meet the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Staff help the children to feel more at ease and the atmosphere in the home is much calmer than before. One staff member said, ‘The good relationships we have with the children have helped them to make progress.’ Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033502 2 Staff work with other agencies, such as the police and therapeutic services, to improve their understanding of the children’s needs. They also use regular conversations as a way of helping children to recognise unsafe situations. Some children are supported to return to live with their families because of the reduction in concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Staff talk with the children about their complaints and grumbles about their experiences of living at this home. This ensures that the children feel listened to and supported to raise concerns. Follow-up discussions ensure that the children are happy with and understand the outcome.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns about staff conduct and practice are carried out in line with local safeguarding procedures to protect the children from harm. The investigation process, in consultation with the local authority designated officer, is thorough. Partnership discussions about the actions taken are well documented. However, managers have not notified the regulator when these concerns have been raised. This prevents Ofsted from having oversight and assurance that the children are protected from harm.

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This monitoring visit

Recruitment practice linked to checks on agency workers has now improved. This provides stronger assurances that agency staff are safe, suitable and have the skills and experience required to work at the home. Children are involved in the recruitment process and are supported to interview the prospective candidates.

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This monitoring visit

Impact risk assessments now provide the manager with a framework to evaluate the children’s suitability to live together. This reduces the risk of placement disruption and concerns for children escalating because of incompatible needs.

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This monitoring visit

The actions set out in the compliance notices have now been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033502 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2021 Interim Declined in effectiveness 20/04/2021 Full Good 12/03/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 21/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033502 4

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(d)) 8 May 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that as some children in residential care may be worried about being stigmatised or bullied by their peers for being ‘different’ because of where they live, that the external front fencing and games area are designed to take account of this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.13)

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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: SC033502 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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Inspectors

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Sadie Mulkeen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033502 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

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