Children's Home run by G B A Care Limited in Calderdale

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 1 SC462591

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private organisation owns and runs this home. The home provides care for up to three children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties. There is no registered manager in post.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

An interim manager is overseeing the day-to-day running of the home. There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2022

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

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: SC462591 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of improvements made to the environment. The home has been redecorated and renovated in parts. Carers have involved children in choosing paint for the interior walls. New furniture has made the home more inviting and comfortable for the children living there. The home now better resembles a family-oriented environment.

p.2

The care of children

Children have enjoyed a period of stability at this home. This has enabled children to make some significant steps in their lives, such as attend school. Carers encourage children to pursue their interests and hobbies. One child is proud to play for a local football team. These new experiences have enabled children to build friendships as well as bolster their sense of belonging.

p.2

The care of children

Shortfalls remain in the language used in the home’s written records. The children’s guide does not accurately reflect the care that children can expect at the home. The inspector noted that written records are often ambiguous. Therefore, some records are not helpful to the child or to the carers, who rely on records to undertake their role at the home. The new interim manager has already taken steps to improve this aspect of the service.

p.2

The safety of children

The care team understands how reflective practice improves the quality of care that children experience at the home. The interim manager and her team have recognised that their approach to care, in some situations, has resulted in children’s emotions escalating unnecessarily. Proactive work has been carried out with the care team to help build their skills in managing behaviour. As a result, carers respond more effectively when children are in crisis.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff spoken to at the inspection were aware of children’s risks. They have a good understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and know what action to take to reduce the risk of harm. However, children’s risk assessments are ambiguous and complicated to understand. The manager recognises that the language in children’s risk assessments needs to change. Work is underway to make the required improvements.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The successive departures of managers have affected carers’ morale and team cohesion and have led to a lack of direction in the planning of children’s care. This Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 3 has affected the care of the children at the home and has delayed their progress. However, the new interim manager has been quick to address these issues. This has given carers reassurance and the support they need to do their roles.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been a lack of consistent managerial oversight at the home. Consequently, managers have not consistently appraised significant incidents involving children. This has stifled carers in their ability to reflect on their practice and retain their objectivity in times of crises.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The new interim manager is still learning about her service. However, she has quickly recognised areas of practice in need of development. The interim manager has used team meetings to aide collaboration and instil cohesion in her team effectively. This means that the foundations for better practice are in place.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The inspector noted that electronic records held at the home are not held securely. Current IT systems make it difficult to assess when and by whom records have been updated. Positively, at the time of the inspection, the interim manager and the responsible individual have already begun to take steps to address the storage of case records. This will help to protect children’s confidentiality. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/06/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 5

p.4

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.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.5

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.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

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)(e)(f)(g)(i)(ii)(h)) 15 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should review and update the children’s guide as necessary, and make sure children are given an explanation of any changes. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.23)  The registered person should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs and developmental stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. The registered person must ensure that the children’s risk assessments provide staff with clear guidance how to manage identified risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)  The registered person should ensure that the electronic records held at the individual home are following data protection principles. IT systems should ensure the safe storage of these records, and business continuity planning should be in

p.6

Recommendations

place to prevent loss or damage to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  The registered person should be familiar with the home’s policies on record- keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Victoria Street, Greetland, Halifax HX4 8DF

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Delores Croasdell

p.7

Inspectors

Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Ceri Evans, Regional Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC462591 8 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.7

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 .

p.8

Inspectors

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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8