Children's home run by Bradford Children and Families Trust

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 1 Registered provider: 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 and Families Trust. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with a range of social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are three children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was re-registered on 1 April 2023, when the local authority arrangements were taken over by a trust. The manager has been in post as an interim manager since September 2023, and was appointed to a permanent post in December 2023. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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 children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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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

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Information about this inspection

 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: 2730003 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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Findings from the inspection

The children who live in this home enjoy positive relationships with staff, and the children get along well with each other. One child said, ‘I like all the staff. I get on with the other children. We have all lived together for a couple of years now and we are good friends.’

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Findings from the inspection

Most children attend school and have good attendance. Staff understand the barriers to children’s education. Staff support one child to access home tuition and informal learning, and there is a plan in place to search for a suitable school that can meet the child’s education needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are helped to see the people who are important in their lives. One parent said, ‘The arrangements for family time have changed because staff have listened to me and [child’s name]. The change has meant that our relationship has improved.’ Children have positive friendships with their peers. One child plans to spend Christmas day with his friend’s family.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are not always followed up. When a child reported to experience dizziness, staff did not ensure that the child was assessed by a health professional, and they did not seek medical advice. Staff have not had further conversations with the child to monitor how the child is feeling.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff talk to the children about a range of topics that are specific to their individual needs. However, records of the conversations that staff have with children vary in quality, and they do not always capture the child’s wishes and feelings.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments identify all known risks to children, and they provide clear guidance for staff. However, it is not clear if all staff had read the children’s risk assessments because not all staff were clear about the steps to follow.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are proactive in their response to children who are missing from home. They search for children and report them as missing to the police. When children return home, they are provided with the opportunity to talk to an independent person.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are held for their own safety and that of others when their behaviours escalate. Records show that the measures used are proportionate, and that staff and children are provided with the opportunity to talk about the incident. However, most records lack detail about the discussions that have taken place.

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Findings from the inspection

When children have complained about a member of staff, the manager has taken the complaints seriously and completed a full investigation in line with the home’s Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 3 complaints procedure. This includes keeping children informed and giving them feedback about the outcome.

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Findings from the inspection

The monitoring systems used to review and maintain oversight of the quality of care provided to children and staff development are not always effective.

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Findings from the inspection

Not all staff have received regular supervision. It is a missed opportunity for the manager to assure themself that staff are clear on how to care for children and that they are supported well.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has completed a six-monthly review of the quality of care provided to children and has provided a copy of the report to Ofsted. However, they have not evaluated their findings and they have not captured children’s opinions about the care they receive.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are suitably qualified, and they have received up-to-date training to refresh their knowledge of safeguarding children and to meet the needs of the children who live in this home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iii)) 28 February 2024

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)) 28 February 2024

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 28 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 5 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;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children; and

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)) 28 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sir Henry Mitchell House (5th Floor), 4 Manchester Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5 0QL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Tereasa Denby-Wallis

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2730003 7 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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