Children's Home run by YMCA Leicestershire in Leicester

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2507350 1 Registered provider: YMCA Leicestershire

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a charitable organisation. It provides care for up to three children who are experiencing emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is currently being led by an experienced interim manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 3 and 4 August 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This visit was undertaken following the last inspection. The purpose of the visit was to review any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2507350 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The home has been without a registered manager since September 2022. However, there is an experienced interim manager. Since the last inspection on 3 and 4 August 2022, there has been an improvement in the quality of care provided to children. The manager and leaders have implemented plans to drive these improvements forward because they understand the importance of good-quality care for children.

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The care of children

Improvements have been made to how staff consult children to ascertain their views, wishes and feelings. Children are encouraged to express their wishes and feelings through regular house meetings. Children’s views are captured. As a result, children feel valued and listened to and their ideas are put into action.

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The care of children

Children and staff spend time together and have fun. Staff let children know how proud they are of them and the progress they make. Children’s achievements and successes are celebrated by personal handwritten messages from the team. This helps children to develop and grow in confidence.

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The care of children

Children know how to share any concerns that they may have. If children express any concerns to staff, these are responded to quickly. External partner agencies are communicated with, and a multi-agency approach is used to alleviate any worries or concerns that children may have. Children are encouraged to attend important meetings so they can discuss their plans and have their say about the future. This supports children to make progress and have ownership of their plans.

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The safety of children

All the staff have undertaken the required safeguarding training. Safeguarding issues are discussed in team meetings. Additionally, safeguarding children is also discussed in individual staff supervision meetings. These meetings help the team to understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and their own professional development. The manager has also identified additional training from an external source, to ensure that staff’s safeguarding knowledge remains robust.

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The safety of children

The manager and staff understand the risks to and from children. The children’s individual risk assessments are clear. They provide staff with strategies to minimise risk to children and keep them safe. The manager recognises the importance of making sure that all assessments are reviewed regularly to maintain consistency in practice. This means that staff can take effective action to keep children safe when the need arises. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2507350 3 When required, children are helped to manage harmful behaviours, and this can include the support of specialist, external professionals. The manager and staff work collaboratively with external agencies to ensure that children have the services they need to be safe and make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Several statutory requirements and a recommendation were made at the last inspection. Following that inspection, the manager devised a detailed action plan and has taken action to address each of the shortfalls. Progress in addressing the shortfalls is extensive. The manager takes steps to review and update the action plan in conjunction with the management team. This has been very effective in ensuring that children benefit from good, high-quality care. The improvements in the care provided and the overall functioning of the home still require time to become fully embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager leads by example and has had a very positive influence with the staff team. The staff speak positively about her and say that they look forward to coming to work. The manager is supported by a dedicated deputy manager who shares her vision and commitment to the children and team. They are positive role models for both the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is rigorous in her review of children’s plans and all safeguarding matters. The manager has developed good systems to help her to monitor the quality of care and the day-to-day functioning of the home. There is positive engagement with external agencies, which has resulted in a good multi-agency approach to ensure that children’s needs are met to a consistently good standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She has a clear view of the changes she wants to make, and she remains very focused on bringing about continued progress because she knows that this will benefit children.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/01/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2507350 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Recommendations

The registered person should ensure that the expectations on staff in building a positive relationship with each child and helping the child to develop skills to have a positive relationship with other. ‘Others’ includes individuals both inside and outside the home, such as other children in the home, staff, family members, siblings, previous carers and friends (in accordance with their relevant plans). The care planning standard provides further detail in respect of contact with parents, relatives and friends. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.6) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2507350 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: YMCA Leicestershire

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 East Street, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 6EY

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Inspectors

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Corline Parker, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2507350 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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Inspectors

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