Children's Home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 1 SC033326 Registered provider: Kirklees Council

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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 run by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in the home since 9 August 2023. The deputy manager is now the interim manager and is in day-to-day charge of the home. They are supported by the service manager.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 3 and 4 July 2023. This was because serious and widespread failings were identified that placed children at risk of harm. Ofsted issued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 25. Ofsted also raised a further four requirements and two recommendations. Actions taken to address these requirements and the recommendations have not been considered as part of this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

During this monitoring visit, the inspectors reviewed the progress and actions that the provider has taken to meet the compliance notices. This monitoring visit included a review of documents, a tour of the building and discussions with staff and one child.

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This monitoring visit

Children continue to go missing from the home. However, the duration of missing episodes for one child has been reduced. The children’s missing-from-home protocols do provide the staff with clear actions to follow to help them locate the children as quickly and safely as possible. Nevertheless, the staff do not consistently follow the protocols in place. This exposes the children to the risk of harm.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have updated the children’s risk management plans. These plans include clear actions for the staff to follow to reduce the children’s risk of criminal exploitation. The staff are aware of the children’s plans, and they make Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 2 attempts to reduce the children’s time in the community by planning activities and going away on holidays. This is effective for most children, as they have been away on trips. There are ongoing plans in place for these activities to continue.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager has implemented daily bedroom checks. This is to reduce the risk of weapons being concealed in the home. This new risk management strategy is effective, as unwanted items that have been found in the children’s bedrooms have been removed by the staff. This helps to promote everyone’s welfare.

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This monitoring visit

A multi-agency approach helps the children to understand their risks from exploitation. Children have access to a drop-in centre when they are out in the community, where they can get food and speak to the staff about any concerns. Staff, in return, speak to the children about the risks of criminal exploitation. To improve the effectiveness of this approach, the staff at the home also speak to the children about the risks associated with criminal exploitation.

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This monitoring visit

There are clear procedures in place to manage the risk of fire. Children now have fire-retardant bedding. This reduces the risk of fire in the children’s bedrooms. For children who refuse to take part in the fire evacuation process, they have been told how to leave the home in the event of a fire. One child showed the inspector the fire evacuation route. This means that the child knows how to leave the home safely should there be a fire in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff carry out one-to-one sessions with the children regarding fire safety in the home. These sessions provide the children with information on the importance of completing fire drills and how to reduce the risk of fire in the home. From the documents sampled, there was no evidence that the children had been obstructing the smoke detectors in their bedrooms. This is an improvement on the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector concluded from this monitoring visit that progress had been made in relation to the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 25. These have been met. However, one requirement has been raised under regulation 12. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2023 Full Inadequate 30/08/2022 Full Good 06/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/09/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 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, The 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 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)) 23 September

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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

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

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(x)) 23 September

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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 that— 23 September Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 5 helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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; and

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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)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers should ensure that there is a registered manager in post who is in day-to-day charge of the home. 23 September

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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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 23 September

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is homely and that damage is repaired in a timely manner and to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that there are systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice as per the local authority policy and procedure. Supervision should allow staff to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care and be delivered by an appropriately qualified and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 6

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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: SC033326 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre 3, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD1 2EY

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Inspectors

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Mr Lee Riley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC033326 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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