Children's Home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: SC033326 1 SC033326 Registered provider: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both children were on holiday, so neither child was spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 24 October 2023

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC033326 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2023 Full Inadequate 03/07/2023 Full Inadequate 30/08/2022 Full Good 06/01/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC033326 3

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improvement to be good

There are currently two children living in the home. One child who had lived in the home for some time had their placement ended at short notice. This was because of risks associated with complex peer relationships. Another child has recently moved on to semi-independence and is doing well. Staff provide children with opportunities to develop life skills. This helps children to prepare them for adult living.

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improvement to be good

Children’s diets have improved and are now more balanced. However, some children’s health is not effectively monitored, and some children are not up to date with their dental appointments. Furthermore, there is no direct work carried out with the children around the importance of oral care.

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improvement to be good

There has been no development or follow up on one child’s health assessment. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that the child’s additional needs have been met effectively.

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improvement to be good

Some children struggle with education. Concerns with education receive a coordinated multi-agency response from the manager, education professionals and the child’s social worker. This transparent way of working ensures that the children get the appropriate educational provision that will meet their needs.

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improvement to be good

Staff spend time with the children enjoying activities such as playing games in the home and football outside. These meaningful activities allow the children to get to know and trust the adults who care for them.

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improvement to be good

Some children’s risk assessments are up to date and include all known risks to the children. They include strategies for staff to follow, and this helps to reduce the likelihood of the risk-taking behaviours escalating. However, one child’s risk assessment is difficult to read and understand and is not kept up to date.

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improvement to be good

Staff have often been able to manage children’s unwanted behaviours without the need for physical intervention. When a hold has been used, this has been recorded and evaluated, and the evaluation of the experience has informed future learning. The manager has ensured that the child and staff have opportunities to talk through any worries or concerns following physical interventions.

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improvement to be good

Missing-from-home records provide a clear overview of what actions staff have taken to look for missing children. These actions are in line with children’s missing-from-care plans. The manager has oversight on each missing incident, and considers strategies to reduce the likelihood of the child going missing in future. Children do have a return Inspection report for children’s home: SC033326 4 home interview by and independent person, and staff speak to the children in structured and targeted discussions. This lets children know that the adults around them care.

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improvement to be good

The manager ensures that all new starters in the home are recruited safely. Recruitment records meet expected standards. New starters have their practice monitored during an induction period. The manager then decides whether the staff pass or fail their probation.

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

The new manager in post has worked hard to provide staff with good leadership to help them in their roles. The management oversight in the home has improved. The commitment from the manager, and acting assistant manager, has helped the home to move forward. Appropriate changes have been made to ensure that the home has improved.

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

Staff morale in the home is getting better. Leaders and managers have introduced daily checks with staff. This process helps staff to feel listened to and valued. The independent visitor has recognised that the morale in the home is getting better.

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

The manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses in the home. Plans in place to address these. For example, the manager uses monitoring systems to help her to identify any shortfalls, and she addresses these without delay.

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

Staff supervision sessions are reflective and focus on staff practice. This helps with staff development as it gives them the opportunity to adapt their way of working to better meet the children’s needs. Leaders and managers refer to the good work and commitment that staff have towards the children, and this ensures that staff feel valued and supported in their roles.

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

Staff training has improved. Staff are now up to date with all mandatory, and child- specific training. This helps to equip staff with the knowledge and skills they need to do their roles effectively.

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

Professionals spoken to share no concerns about the quality of care that the children receive. Professionals said that staff advocate well on children’s behalf during care planning meetings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC033326 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 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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)) 8 September 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all children’s risk assessments are up to date and reviewed. Any irrelevant information to be removed from the child’s risk assessment to ensure that the document is easy to read and understand. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5.)

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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: SC033326 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic 3, Market Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 2EY

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Katryn Medina-Hamilton

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC033326 7 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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