Children's home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035154 1 SC035154

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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 run by a local authority and provides care for up to five children.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children currently live in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and holds the relevant qualifications.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector 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: SC035154 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

Children enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff who know them well. An incident at the home led to one child going to stay with their family temporarily. The child and their family are provided with support from the staff team in the family home. Staff provide support around structure and boundaries, which means that the child is settled and the relationship with their family is improving.

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The care of children

The registered manager and staff have ensured that the transition for one child to move out of the home to live semi-independently has been well thought out and planned. The child is involved in the planning, and their views, wishes and feelings have been integral in this process. This inclusive approach has meant that the child’s anxieties about moving have reduced.

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The care of children

Children are supported to access specialist help when there is an identified need for a child’s emotional well-being or mental health to be assessed. When children use alcohol and other substances, they are helped to access local services for support. This increases the likelihood that children will enjoy improved health in the future.

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The care of children

Children’s experiences of education are mixed. However, the manager and staff understand that some children’s emotional well-being and mental health are a barrier to them making progress in their education. There is a multi-agency approach to planning to support children to return to school.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the individual vulnerabilities and risks to children. Written documents are detailed, and they provide staff with clear guidance on the steps to follow to reduce known risks to children. Staff understand their responsibilities to ensure that children are safeguarded.

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The safety of children

When children go missing from home, staff understand the steps they must follow. Staff actively search for children and work together with the police when a child is missing. When children are vulnerable to exploitation, staff are dynamic in their approach and respond immediately to any changing risks for the children.

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The safety of children

Staff are well equipped to respond to challenging situations and unwanted behaviour effectively. When children have been held, the action taken by staff has been necessary and proportionate to reduce the risk of harm to everyone. Staff talk to children about the behaviour and the physical intervention. This informs staff Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035154 3 learning and development and helps to reduce the likelihood of incidents happening in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, there has been a new registered manager in post. The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified with a history of leadership and management. They have addressed most of the shortfalls that were identified at the last inspection by implementing a detailed plan for improvement and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers set clear expectations about the quality of care for children. The registered manager is committed to supporting his staff and modelling good practice. This positive approach means that staff share the ethos and vision for the home, and they push for the best outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision, and team meetings take place regularly. This provides staff with the opportunity to talk about the children’s care plans and the changing risks to children. Records show that staff performance and development are reviewed, and shortfalls have been addressed by the registered manager. This ensures that staff are equipped to deliver a high standard of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is evidence of a strong multi-agency approach to the management of risks for children. The registered manager has confidently challenged others to ensure that children are receiving the right support in line with their care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manger has improved the monitoring systems that are in place to review and track staff development and any risks to children. There is evidence to demonstrate that children’s plans are reviewed. However, the systems in place to track the progress that children are making in line with their plans have not always identified shortfalls. This means that one child’s plan does not provide up-to-date information. The discussions that staff have with children have not always taken place to address children’s individual risks and needs in order to keep children safe. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035154 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/07/2022 Full Inadequate 13/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035154 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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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;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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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

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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that there are effective systems in place to track whether the care that children receive meets their individual needs and to track the progress that children are making. 6 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035154 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Princess Buildings, Princess Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 1TS

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035154 7 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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Inspector

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