Children's Home run by Gravitas Care Limited in Calderdale

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 1 Registered provider: Gravitas Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private organisation runs the home. The home provides care for up to two children who may require support to manage social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no registered manager. The previous manager left their post on 27 February 2023. The responsible individual was present at the home during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 26 October 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 inspection

At these inspections, 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: 2636225 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 child has good relationships with staff. These relationships have been sustained over a period of time and have provided the child with a deep sense of belonging.

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The care of children

Staff know the child extremely well and understand their individual needs. Through the approach of staff, the child is experiencing consistent daily routines and structure. The staff are attuned to changes in the child’s presentation, and they are able to offer effective reassurances. This helps the child to feel supported.

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The care of children

The child has made good progress with their education. They are now enrolled in school and attending regularly. When behavioural issues at school arise, staff are quick to liaise with school staff and then follow this up with the child. The child is developing a positive view of education.

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The care of children

The child is spending significantly more time in the community than they were at the time of the last inspection. They have been supported to develop friendships locally. The child is now taking part in a wide range of activities and, most recently, they enjoyed a trip to the circus. Taking part in community activities has helped the child to progress with their social skills and has increased their self-confidence.

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The care of children

The child is encouraged to share their wishes and feelings on matters that are important to them. However, the child is not consistently informed by staff about the decisions made that affect them. This does not help the child to understand the reasons why certain decisions have been made.

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The safety of children

Since the last inspection, there has only been one occasion when the child has been missing from home. Staff responded quickly and effectively to ensure their safe return. However, a return-home interview by an independent person was not offered to the child. Opportunities to learn from children’s behaviour and experiences are being missed.

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The safety of children

The child’s risk assessments are being reviewed and updated regularly. However, there remains a lack of evaluation about risk to the child and there are inconsistencies in the information recorded. Risk assessments are not clear about what staff must do to keep children safe. This could lead to confused practice. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 3 Staff regularly make time to talk to the child about risky behaviour. Important topics are discussed with the child to help them to learn and think differently about topical matters.

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The safety of children

When allegations are made, these are reported to the relevant professionals in line with safeguarding practices. However, records relating to investigations have not been completed with rigor. For example, an investigation concluded that a staff member could remain on shift at the home. The rationale for this decision was not clearly documented. This lack of rigor does not help to keep the child safe.

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The safety of children

There have been two incidents when staff have called the police with the intention of pressing criminal charges against the child. This is not in line with the therapeutic approach used in the home. In these instances, this approach was not helpful to the child and could result in them being unnecessarily criminalised.

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The safety of children

Serious incidents are not reported to Ofsted consistently in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations 2015. As a result, those with an interest in children’s safety and welfare are not informed. This undermines the ability of the regulator to carry out its monitoring function effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

While progress has been made since the last inspection, the management oversight of this home continues to fall short in some areas. Some of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection remain. The home does not have a registered manager. In the interim, the responsible individual is overseeing the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The responsible individual was aware of some of the shortfalls raised in this inspection, such as the use of language in children’s records and the risk of children being criminalised. They are working on plans to address these issues. The deputy manager has taken on more management responsibility. This means that the management oversight has improved in recent weeks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff currently feel well supported by the deputy manager and responsible individual, but they told the inspector that this has not always been the case. Morale is steadily improving, and staff supervision is more regular and is now a safe environment for staff to discuss personal and practice issues. Staff feel more secure as a result.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

When new staff are recruited, safe recruitment practices are not consistently followed. One staff member started to work in the home before all of their checks had been received. The leaders cannot be certain that all staff are suitable to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Overall, the home is well maintained and has a homely feel. However, the child’s bedroom was untidy. There was a broken light switch and a missing handle on their wardrobe. This does not encourage the child to take pride in their surroundings. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 4 Child-friendly care plans are now in place. However, some of the information within children’s plans is historical. The language contained in children’s records, such as incident reports, is unhelpful. This could lead to the child feeling blamed and stigmatised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home’s statement of purpose is out of date. It does not accurately reflect the current management arrangements and staffing of the home. This does not help social workers who are looking to place a child to understand the skills and experience of those working in the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 5

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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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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— that staff—

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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 that risk assessments are up to date and accurate, and that staff know and follow these. When new risks to children are identified, the registered person must ensure that children’s day-to-day care is reviewed and safeguards are put in place that protect children. When children return home from being missing, the registered person must ensure that return interviews are completed by an independent person. 23 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)) 23 June 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 6 In particular, ensure that a record is kept of investigations undertaken, decisions as to whether staff can remain working in the home while investigations are taking place, and the outcome of the investigation and any actions arising from this.

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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; or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 23 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are well maintained and that children are supported by staff to keep their bedrooms tidy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when they consult with children, that children are told of the outcome from their views, wishes and feelings and this is recorded in their records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s behaviour is not unnecessarily criminalised. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.40)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they update the home’s statement of purpose when staff are recruited or leave employment in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have received all relevant checks before new staff start to work in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s records are child friendly and capture the events of the day for the child in a way that will support them to understand their life history in the future. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gravitas Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1-3, Annes Place, Pellon Lane, Halifax HX1 5RB

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Inspector

Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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