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

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 1 Registered provider: Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private company. It provides care and support for one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties. The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 5 August 2022 (last full inspection)

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Following the full inspection on 15 and 16 August 2022, the home was judged inadequate. The inspection found that the provider had failed to maintain consistently strong and effective management oversight and good safeguarding practice.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted issued two compliance notices under section 22 of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard. The second notice was raised for the fourth time. A decision was also made to issue a notice of proposal to cancel the registration due to the provider’s failure to improve. However, following the last monitoring visit on 21 September 2022, the provider met the remaining compliance action that was outstanding and Ofsted did not progress to a notice of decision to cancel.

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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 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 2  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: 2598804 3

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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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Children’s views are understood and taken into account and their rights

The manager and staff know the child living at the home well. The child has experienced continuity of care since they moved in over 18 months ago. The child has established and secure relationships with several of the staff and these are being developed with some of the newer staff to the home.

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Children’s views are understood and taken into account and their rights

The child is open with the staff and shares their thoughts, feelings, and views in several aspects of their care. Staff support the child to access specialist support. This ensures their emotional and mental health needs are discussed and appropriate strategies adopted to promote the child’s wellbeing. When concerns about weight loss and the child’s difficulties with food intake became known, staff raised this with specialists and are led by them in applying strategies to encourage healthy eating. Staff encourage the child to eat well. They cook food in the home to promote the child’s participation at mealtimes.

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Children’s views are understood and taken into account and their rights

Staff know how to respond when they child is feeling unsafe and is in crisis. Support from the police and the ambulance service has helped keep the child safe. Support to the child during a lengthy period in hospital ensured the child was not isolated and received continuity of care from people known to them. This enabled the child to have supervised time away from the hospital with trusted staff. Short periods of unsupervised time have enabled the child to access youth clubs and maintain friendships. Regular shopping visits, going out for food and watching movies has helped build the bonds between the staff and the child.

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Children’s views are understood and taken into account and their rights

The manager and staff advocate for the child’s educational needs to be met. Staff supported the child in college for a short period at the start of the academic year. While the child made some progress and friendships, their situation deteriorated, and their emotional needs were prioritised. Consequently, progress has been slow, but the child remains on roll at the college, which provides distant learning support with science lessons for a few hours each week. Additionally, staff are keen to support the child with positive educational experiences in the community.

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The safety of children

Staff have kept the child safe in line with the court ordered restrictions. The relationships with the child have enabled them to apply the least restriction needed Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 4 in and away from the home. This promotes relationships and trust between the child and the staff.

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The safety of children

The manager and staff have a good understanding of the child’s emotional needs, risks, and behaviours. They respond promptly when the child is in crisis. Most of the child’s risks and behaviours are reflected in their risk assessment which covers wide ranging risks. These are coupled with clear strategies for staff to follow. However, not all the current information relating to the child’s health has been transferred to their risk assessment. This is a recording shortfall rather than a practice issue and has not impacted on how staff respond to the child.

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The safety of children

When in crisis, staff respond to the changes in the child’s demeanour in line with their plan. They understand how to reassure the child and how to help them to feel safe. Incidents of self-harm are responded to quickly and are reflected in detailed records through appropriate action to keep the child safe. Detailed evaluation from the manager and responsible individual demonstrate management oversight and information is shared with others as needed.

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The safety of children

Detailed records show the staff’s actions and rationale for intervention when the child is held. On one occasion, the manager completed the restraint record instead of the staff who were directly involved. On another occasion, the staff did not provide full details in terms of their proactive steps to safeguard the child. Debriefs are held and enable staff to discuss the incidents and reflect on practice. While these shortfalls detract from accurate record keeping, they have not deterred staff from being responsive to the safety of the child.

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The safety of children

Fire safety work conducted with the child by someone external to the home has helped educate the child about the dangers. Additionally, a visit to the home by a police community support officer is further educating the child about keeping safe from exploitation. This is reinforced by the staff who speak to the child about all aspects of their safety and wellbeing.

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The safety of children

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are contained in a safety plan written by the child. This explains how they want to be cared for. Staff are responsive to this which develops trust. When the child purchased inappropriate items from a local shop, staff advised the shopkeeper against selling them and reported them when they refused to listen. This gives the child a strong message about staff putting their safety and wellbeing first.

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The safety of children

Work with the child around keeping safe online is backed up with regular phone checks and discussions about their online activity. Room searches take place regularly and include the child.

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The safety of children

When the child has been away from home, staff search the local area actively, maintain contact and follow the plans. The missing from home document requires updating to reflect the recent changes in the child’s health and care arrangements. Delay in following up and escalating a return home interview meant this was conducted three weeks after the incident. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has improved their management responsibility and oversight of the home and the care offered to the child. This is reflected in improved quality of records, staff supervisions and regular team meetings. Staff feel supported, know how to respond to the child and have good working relationships. Team morale is good, and they are supported to understand the child’s needs through relevant training that informs their practice. However, at times, the manager struggles to locate and access records, which impacts on having timely oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Improved recruitment practice means that staff employed at the home have been assessed and deemed safe to work with children. This has been strengthened through the manager completing training to enhance her understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager has made progress in responding to the previous requirements raised at the last inspection. This includes updating the statement of purpose to reflect the changes in staff. The requirement linked to the bi-annual independent visitor’s report is carried over as it is not due until the end of March and has not been submitted to the regulator yet and this is work in progress. The independent person’s report are sent in a more timely way but ongoing shortfalls linked to the quality of their report mean they are not consistently thorough or detailed in how they assess the child’s safety and well-being given the lack of consultation with professionals. However, additional oversight from an experienced manager is helping the provider to make further improvements in the home and they have already reflected on this. This external input is helping them to better understand the regulations and the

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

frameworks which govern children’s homes.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/08/2022 Full Inadequate 10/05/2022 Full Inadequate 28/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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

In meeting the quality standards, if the registered person — considers, 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 (Regulation 5 (C)) 2 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure the child’s risk assessment includes all the necessary information and strategies to manage this and that the Philomena record is updated. 7 April 2023

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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. 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 (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager must ensure that they are clear about using the IT systems and know where to locate the child’s records. 7 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 7 The registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(v)) 2 June 2023

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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— children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the visits must demonstrate consultation with professionals and others and details that inform the independent person’s safety and well-being opinions. 2 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered per- son must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(3)(5))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must provide an accurate account of all events in the home and confirm the actions that they intend to take to improve. 7 April 2023

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Supporting Hands Care Services Ltd Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 8 Registered provider address: Ovenden House, Ovenden Road, Halifax, HX3 5QG

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Inspector

Parveen Hussain, Social Care Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2598804 9 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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