Children's Home in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 1 Monitoring visit

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 22 and 23 January 2024. This monitoring visit was carried out to determine whether the compliance notice that was made in respect of Regulation 13 was met.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has taken sufficient action to meet the steps identified in the compliance notice. Progress on the remaining requirements could not be evidenced as no children have lived in this home since the last inspection. Therefore, the requirements raised under Regulation 6, 11, 12 and 14 have been reissued.

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This monitoring visit

The provider accepted the shortfalls that were identified in the last inspection. They have focused on developing the leadership and management of the home before a child moves in. As such, there has been a full management restructure. There is a new, experienced responsible individual in post and a new deputy manager. Furthermore, the provider has reduced the number of children that they can care from three to two children.

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This monitoring visit

The new responsible individual has been successful in the recruitment of a new manager, who is suitably experienced. The new manager is due to commence their post once all safer recruitment checks have been completed satisfactorily. One team leader has been recruited, and further recruitment is ongoing. This restructure will allow for greater management oversight of this home.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has spent time with the new deputy manager to upskill them and increase their knowledge of the regulations and quality standards. Regular supervision sessions have been completed, along with management training. The Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 2 responsible individual has a clear induction plan in place ready for the new manager when they commence their post.

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This monitoring visit

The responsible individual has updated the staff induction programme and amended the staff rota to ensure that all shifts can be covered correctly. She has ensured that the staff have the appropriate training in place, such as allegation management, whistle-blowing, safeguarding, positive behaviour management, physical intervention and de-escalation training. This approach is helping to ensure that the managers and staff are suitably trained and skilled for when a child moves into the home.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a new online recording system in place. This system provides the managers with auditing and reviewing tools to help them to have oversight of what is happening in the home.

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This monitoring visit

While there is still not enough staff to ensure the day-to-day running of the home, new staff have been recruited and recruitment is ongoing to ensure that a full staff team is in place as quickly as possible. The responsible individual is clear that she will only recruit the right staff for the role. She gave assurances that no children will move into the home until there is a suitably trained and skilled staff team in place to meet the needs of the children. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2024 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 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 quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6 (2)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children are supported in a way that meets their individual needs and helps them to understand significant incidents in their lives. 2 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 2 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 5 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(viii)(ix)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the staff have the skills to understand how to communicate with the children effectively so that the children’s anxieties do not increase, resulting in them going into crisis.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must also ensure that verbal and written communication about the children is helpful, child- friendly and non-stigmatising.

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all staff have the necessary skills to de-escalate, divert or defuse any situations to ensure that physical intervention is only used as the last resort. 2 May 2024

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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 2 May 2024 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 6 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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii))

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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: 2730592 7

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Inspector

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2730592 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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