Children's Home run by Care Hubz in Leeds

Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 1 Registered provider: Care Hubz Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in December 2022 and is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for one child aged between 11 and 17 years. The home’s statement of purpose highlights that the staff are trained to apply a specific model of care.

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Information about this children’s home

An interim manager is in post and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported by a manager and staff who are tenacious in their efforts often in challenging circumstances. This has been particularly notable around the child’s access to education. As a result, the child is making progress in all areas of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is extremely proud of their home. The staff have created a calm and inviting home environment. Because of this, the child is comfortable to invite friends into their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been significant barriers to overcome to give the child life opportunities that are associated with attending school. The staff have supported the child to consistently attend school, wear their school uniform and develop a more positive outlook on their education. These efforts have been recognised by the child’s local authority, which has nominated the child for an outstanding achievement award.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child contributes their wishes and feelings associated with their care arrangements. This is aided by the staff writing a care plan for the child, using language that is relatable for the child to better understand. This collaborative approach is more likely to dispel uncertainty and confusion for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s mother is pleased and reassured about their child’s care. The mother told the inspector that she is amazed and proud of her child’s progress, particularly their achievements in education. The staff have developed a respectful and engaging relationship with both parents of the child. This has given the child reassurances that there is a unified approach to their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The efforts of the staff have significantly contributed to giving the child a sense of belonging. However, some staff openly wear their identification badges. This undermines the wider efforts to establish a sense of home.

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

The manager has set up good networks with other professionals who are well placed to help address worrying issues associated with the child. For example, a police community support officer visits the home. This has helped the child to have a better understanding of the police’s role in the community. Furthermore, it has created an opportunity for the child to learn that the police can play a supportive role in their life.

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

The staff make extensive efforts to determine if the child’s networks in the community are safe. This involves the staff establishing positive relationships with the child’s friend’s parent. Furthermore, reasonable steps are taken to learn about other networks that are important to the child. These endeavours have enabled the staff to better support the child to develop positive relationships in the community. Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 4 The staff record important conversations that they have with the child. The child’s written records show good examples of role modelling around various topical issues. These are personal to the child’s life or focus on current affairs. The child’s written records will give the child the opportunity to have clarity about their care if they are read back by the child.

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

The staff show good insight and emotional intelligence associated with the child’s background and circumstances. This has enabled an empathetic approach that better supports the child through sensitive issues associated with their life. Additionally, the manager seeks more help from external professionals and agencies to promote better mental health for the child.

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

Although the staff have helped the child to significantly reduce cannabis misuse, this continues to be a problematic aspect in the child’s life. There is good support around this in the home, including the acquisition of specialised support for the child from external agencies. However, strategies are unclear around learning about who is supplying cannabis to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff experienced upheaval and turmoil before the organisation took positive steps to address issues that are common with the onset of closed cultures. Although unintended, the intervention of the director across the organisation has been unhelpful. Leaders have now reinforced clear lines of accountability across the organisation. However, at the time of the inspection, these systems were not embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The interim manager does not implement the staff’s annual appraisal of their performance effectively. This means that an opportunity is missed to promote accountability and inspire the staff to improve their practice. This is a significant shortfall due to the issues that the interim manager has had to deal with associated with closed cultures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The organisation has systems in place so that leaders and managers can give their oversight on the care in the home. However, the review of the quality of care report lacks an evaluative approach, and the manager has not wholly applied the statutory guidance associated with running children’s homes when carrying out this work. This undermines the manager’s effectiveness in evolving practices in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Team meetings are focused on the child’s care. The manager uses team meetings to talk about issues that are affecting the team. This enables the staff to use this forum to reflect, learn and develop their efficiency as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has delegated specific responsibilities to individual staff by creating champions roles. This broadens the staff’s contribution to the team. It also promotes accountability and galvanises a sense of purpose in the wider functioning of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that this a meaningful and helpful process for the staff that promotes accountability and supports their development. 15 August 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should be aware that children in residential care may be worried about being stigmatised or bullied by their peers for being ‘different’ because of where they live. The home’s environment and care should be designed to take account of this. The staff should consider the impact of wearing their identification badges inside and outside of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.13)  The registered person should ensure that the staff are alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from relationships with individuals in the community, and they therefore should take appropriate steps to protect a child where there are concerns for a child’s safety. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)  The registered person should complete a meaningful quality of care review report.

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Recommendations

The registered person is responsible for deciding what each review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that time and any areas of high risk to the children who the home is designed to care for, such as children wo are vulnerable to exploitation or going missing from care. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery in the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 6 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: 2686949 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Thorpe House, 61 Richardshaw Lane, Leeds LS28 7EL

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Inspector

Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2686949 8 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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