Children's home run by Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 1 Registered provider: Adoption for Bradford, Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

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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 operated by Bradford Children’s and Families Trust. It is registered to provide full-time care or short-break arrangements for up to 10 children. The home provides care for children with sensory impairment, physical disabilities or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager re-registered on 1 April 2023, when the local authority arrangements were taken over by a Trust. The registered manager was registered at the home under the previous arrangements since 2011. She is currently not working in the home. An interim manager has been in post since 12 April 2023.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was conducted following information that was received from the provider that suggested there were wide-ranging concerns about the care practice and management oversight at the children’s home. The provider has responded to the concerns through an action plan, and the monitoring visit looked at how the provider would implement this and the current actions and safety in the home.

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This monitoring visit

A number of medication errors mean that some children have not received their medication as prescribed. Staff have not always sought medical advice when errors have been made. The interim manager has increased the scrutiny on this process and has adopted new procedures for the administration of medication and guidance for staff should there be further medication errors. Refresher training for staff has been scheduled to help ensure that all staff are applying the guidance.

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This monitoring visit

There has been significant drift and delay in planning for children. One child was excluded from school over 12 months ago. The child has not received any form of education in this time. Another child turns 18 soon, and there are no current plans for their move to adult services. The provider has indicated that they will be Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 2 reviewing all children’s care plans due to the concerns that have been identified, and these are now under review. Social workers and/or independent reviewing officers have visited all the children who live at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Concerns that were identified by the provider include children not consistently having their basic needs met. A parent complained that their child did not have suitable clothing and that their dietary needs were not met. Additional concerns about the food and hygiene standards were identified, meaning that, at times, the food was unsafe to eat. The interim manager and provider have taken steps to address this. Staff say the quality of meals has improved.

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This monitoring visit

Children are often left to watch television and use their electronic devices to keep themselves entertained. They are not regularly involved in activities to enhance their experiences. Children have not always benefited from using the facilities in the home, including the sensory rooms and swimming pool. The interim manager is leading by example and taking part in activities with children.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager is still very new in post but has started to develop systems and is addressing practice issues. Staff have refamiliarized themselves with the whistle- blowing policy and say they have confidence in the new management arrangements.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has acted swiftly on concerns and has escalated these internally within the Trust and to Ofsted. This has led to the provider’s action plan addressing the widespread concerns. Children are already benefiting from the changes that have occurred, and their experiences are improving. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 3

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 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 within 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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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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)(i)(iii)(vi)(vii)(viii)) 30 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 30 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 5 that staff help each child to—

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Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)(c)) 30 June 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 Bradford Children’s and Families Trust notified Ofsted of its concerns. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 6 This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Adoption for Bradford, Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Sir Henry Mitchell House, 4 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 0QL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Picklu Roychoudhury

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Inspector

Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2729749 8 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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