Children's home run by Leeds City Council in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 1 SC488679

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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 local authority. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Three children were living in the home at the time of the monitoring visit.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an interim manager in place until the local authority appoints a manager.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection on 12 and 13 March 2023. This was because leaders and managers failed to take appropriate action to protect the children from serious harm. Ofsted issued three compliance notices under regulations 12, 13 and 25. Ofsted also raised a further seven requirements. Actions taken to address some of these requirements have not been considered as part of this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and the actions taken to meet the compliance notices. This monitoring visit included a review of documents, a tour of the building and interviews with the staff. There was only one child in the home during the visit. It was clear that they have positive relationships with the staff.

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This monitoring visit

The concerns around staffing have been rectified. The home now has two staff members working through the night. This has helped to manage the risk of children leaving the house during the night.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are now better equipped to meet the needs of the children. They have completed specific training around the children’s individual needs. This means that the staff have developed their understanding of safeguarding children and can apply this to provide better care to the children or to build effective relationships. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 2 The interim manager has completed and provided Ofsted with the quality of care review. This report provides a reflective overview of the care that the children receive and includes a development plan to help the home move forward.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager is transparent in her approach. She notifies Ofsted of all serious incidents. This transparent way of working provides the regulator with the necessary information on how the staff are managing the children’s behaviour and significant incidents.

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This monitoring visit

The number of times that the children go missing from the home has reduced. The interim manager has updated each child’s missing-from-home documents, and she has shared any changes in these plans with the staff during staff team meetings. As a result, all the staff are consistent with their approach when the children do go missing.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have made appropriate changes to the home to promote the children’s safety. Children can now leave the home in the event of a fire as there are thumb locks on the fire exits. The condition of the children’s bedrooms has significantly improved, and fire risk has reduced as children have fire retardant bedding.

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This monitoring visit

The overall cleanliness and conditions of the children’s bedrooms have improved. The interim manager now ensures that the staff clean or support the children to clean their bedrooms. This provides the children with a clean and comfortable environment.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has ensured that progress has been made. The interim manager has a good understanding of the service. Her monitoring of the home means that she has met all three of the compliance notices that were issued under regulations 12, 13 and 25 and three of the requirements that were raised at the last full inspection. The interim manager has been supported by the dedicated team, which also played a big part in meeting the compliance notices. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2023 Full Inadequate 16/11/2021 Full Good 14/01/2020 Full Outstanding 08/01/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(v)(viii)) 30 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b)) 30 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that — 30 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 5 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 30 May 2023

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Hall, Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 1UR

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC488679 7 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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