Children's home run by The Smith Foundation

Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 1 Registered provider: The Smith Foundation Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a registered charity and provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection of the home, which registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have warm and natural relationships with staff in this home. Staff provide supportive and nurturing care, and understand the needs and vulnerabilities of children. Positive behaviours are consistently promoted and there are no negative consequences for children. Staff are skilled in using de-escalation techniques and promoting a good life experience for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from children is positive about the home and the staff, with children rating the staff as ‘10 out of 10’. The children choose and enjoy a wide range of activities, such as football clubs, scooter parks, and trampolining. They are encouraged to share their successes with their families and social workers, and have meaningful input into their review meetings. Staff are ambitious for the children in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager ensures that very thoughtful planning takes place before children are welcomed into the home. Children’s memory books show a picture journey of the move to the home and record children’s happy memories and successes. Each child is bought a teddy bear when they begin the move to the home. The teddy bear is a ‘transitional bear’ that can stay with the child, come for visits, act as reassurance, or look after their new room when they are not in the home. This helps children to settle quickly into the home and provides a talking point if children are worried or need to ask questions. Children feel safe and secure in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education. Daily contact between home and school ensures that any barriers to education are quickly responded to and resolved. Additionally, children are making progress socially and with their ability to manage their own emotions. This means that children in the home participate in the wider community and enjoy everyday activities, such as buying their own ice cream and going to cafés.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For some children, it may be necessary to work through their past experiences and current needs before they can fully participate in learning activities and education. For one child in the home, their personal education plan has not been updated for some time. This may hinder the ability of staff to support children to continue to move forward and achieve, due to a lack of understanding of current educational needs.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are supported to see their families. Staff have advocated for changes to family visits and are supporting children to build increasingly positive relationships with their family members and others who are important to them. This encourages the development of children’s identities and creates a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 3 Children in the home do not go missing. No consequences are used in the home and there have been no room searches conducted. There is guidance and protocols in place to support staff to follow the required course of action if needed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Each child has ‘A day in the life of [child’s name]’ record, which gives a pen-picture of each child. This helps staff to meet the children’s needs and be aware of their likes and dislikes. Staff understand the risks posed to children and can discuss and describe ways in which the children are kept safe. Children’s support plans and risk assessments are individual and reflect all known risks. Incidents are managed well and there is a good level of management oversight and analysis.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are consistent in their expectations and take steps to address any unwanted behaviours, such as bullying. Children are encouraged to build positive relationships with staff and each other. This means that children are increasingly able to understand difference and diversity, and reflect this through their behaviour.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know children well and respond to changes in their mood and behaviour. The use of physical intervention in the home has reduced. Any physical interventions that are used are reviewed by the management team and subject to an overview from a psychologist. This promotes reflection and team discussion about any changes necessary. Staff are responsive to any ideas and suggestions. This means that children at the home are safeguarded effectively.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children live in a homely environment, which is well decorated, spacious and accessible. Health and safety issues are well managed, and risks are regularly reviewed through monthly audits and external visits from contractors.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager has developed grab bags for staff to use in emergencies. These include gloves, a first-aid kit, an emergency phone, luminous bands, and a foil blanket. Fidget toys are also available to help children to feel calm if needed. This helps staff to feel confident to support children and keep them safe at all times.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Recruitment checks and verification processes are completed before new staff begin work at the home. This provides assurance that staff are suitable to work with children. The staff induction includes an introduction to each child and their needs. The recruitment procedures that are in place keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate about the children in their care and ambitious for the children’s futures. The registered manager has oversight of the home and, importantly, the day-to-day needs and wishes of the children. The registered manager is a positive influence for children, staff and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff participate in regular supervisions, which are helpful to them and assist them to do their job well. Staff feel supported to carry out their role, and feedback about the registered manager is overwhelmingly positive. Staff understand their roles and expectations. Staff training and skills are up to date and reflect the needs of the Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 4 children. Staff greatly enjoy working in the home and appreciate the support they offer each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that incidents are professionally managed and discussed with the staff team. This further strengthens the registered manager’s understanding of what is happening for children and their ability to respond and direct staff. The registered manager and staff know the risks posed to children and what helps children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings are held regularly and there is good attendance. As with all aspects of the home, children are the focus of the meeting. In addition, the registered manager is keen to enhance and promote the health and well-being of staff. Where possible, staff are encouraged to take some time out during work hours to promote their resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals and parents regarding the home is very positive. Staff communicate regularly and effectively with people who are important to the children. The staff and registered manager are described as caring and nurturing individuals, who contribute positively to the progress that children make and their quality of life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager reviews the statement of purpose when necessary and sends this to Ofsted. However, this does not detail the experience and qualifications of staff. This means that a prospective placing authority may not be able to fully assess if the home will be able to respond to a child’s assessed needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has completed a review of the quality of care provided by the home. This includes details of how quality is monitored in the home and the actions that leaders and managers will continue to take to improve care. However, the report does not reflect the feedback and opinions of children. This is a missed opportunity for children’s opinions to be used to directly improve the quality of care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the information set out in the statement of purpose contains details of the experience and qualifications of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.6)  The registered person should ensure that staff play a key role in supporting children in line with their personal education plan or education, health and care plan, and recommendations from education and health professionals. In particular, ensure that personal education plans are advocated for and completed as required. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there, and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. In

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Recommendations

particular, ensure that when a review of the quality of care is submitted to Ofsted, the report considers the feedback and opinions of children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the social care common inspection framework. This 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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Smith Foundation

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The William Henry Smith School, Boothroyd Lane, Brighouse HD6 3JW

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Inspector

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2736722 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 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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