Children's Home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 1 Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd.

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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 owned and run by a private company. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living in the home.

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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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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/08/2023 Full Good 06/02/2023 Full Good 01/03/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress and have positive relationships with staff. One child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘[Name of child] has made progress and is more confident and relaxed because of the care offered by staff.’ Staff spend quality time with the children and support them to discuss any worries. This helps the children feel safe and develop a sense of belonging. Both children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are doing well in education. Education staff said, ‘[Name of child] is thriving in education, and this child’s achievements are influenced by the positive working relationships between school and staff.’ Leaders and managers are working with professionals to help children to have positive care and education transitions. These actions are child-centred and have ensured that children feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to be healthy and develop their independence skills around their health and well-being. Children enjoy varied leisure activities, including going ice skating and playing football. Staff help children to capture these memories in personal memory books. Furthermore, staff sensitively help children to develop their understanding of their cultural identity and needs, and they work with children’s families so that children see people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children know how to make a complaint. However, staff have not supported children to understand their rights to access appropriate advocacy support. This hinders children’s opportunity to access independent support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have not assured that they only care for children with needs that are in line with their conditions of registration and statement of purpose. On this occasion, this has not restricted the care and progress of children. However, children will benefit from the home only providing care to children for whom they are fully equipped to provide care.

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

Children feel safe and can share their views with trusted staff. Staff provide the children with clear boundaries and focus on the child’s strengths and assets. Staff talk to children and encourage them to understand difficult emotions and triggers. Children are offered support to understand the dangers associated with bullying, exploitation and online safety. This approach ensures that children are better protected from harm and helps them to develop their understanding and form trusting relationships with staff.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of associated risks for children. Children’s risk assessments and plans are detailed and highlight actions that staff should take to support children. On one occasion, staff received information regarding a potential safeguarding risk for a child. They immediately created a safety plan with the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 4 Several days later, the child encountered the identified risk and was safe because they followed the safety plan. These proactive actions from staff help to ensure that children are better protected from harm.

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

Children benefit from staff’s restorative approach with the emphasis on incentives that support children’s positive behaviours. Staff have not needed to physically hold children to keep the child or others safe. Children do not go missing from home. However, in the event of this happening, staff have access to procedures that help them to understand the actions that they should take.

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

The registered manager understands the importance of safer recruitment, professional boundaries and staff conduct. The registered manager and staff are aware of the actions to take if they have concerns about staff practice and are directed by policies and procedures. Leaders and managers follow safer recruitment procedures. All these measures promote the safety of children.

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

One child’s risks assessment and some specialist assessments have conflicting information. On this occasion, this has not hindered staff taking action to safeguard the child. However, the staff need consistent information to help ensure that children receive the correct support and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is run effectively by a motivated and aspirational registered manager. The registered manager and staff have a clear vision and strong desire to support children’s positive development. The staff team is a stable and committed team. Staff talked about being supported by the registered manager, who leads by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is highly committed to staff development. She introduced a system that offers staff additional opportunities to develop their individual knowledge and skills. Staff have gained knowledge and confidence, and this assists them to strengthen the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the home and consistently uses monitoring and reviewing systems that provide effective management oversight. Additional tools are used to support their daily oversight of children’s individual progress. Furthermore, staff ensure that children’s views are central when reviewing their progress. These actions help progress children’s plans and are robust in improving children’s quality of care. This is a view supported by professionals, who talked about the positive progress that the children have made since living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the children’s plans and is proactive in taking actions to address shortfalls. She challenges local authorities to address communication barriers and ensure that children’s cultural and identity needs are considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. All staff have completed mandatory training, and additional training and learning opportunities are sought for staff, for Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 5 example learning opportunities for understanding brain development in children. Staff supervision is regular, reflective and clearly records staff’s development. Any shortfalls in staff practice is quickly identified and addressed through the implementation of additional support. Team meetings support staff to discuss the children’s needs, and this helps staff offer children consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals talked about effective communication with staff and the registered manager. Professionals value the weekly updates that staff send to them as they provide them with a greater independent oversight regarding the children’s care and progress. The registered manager supports staff to ensure that children’s case records are personal and written with a focus on the children’s strengths and achievements. In addition, children’s meetings offer children the opportunity to hear positive feedback regarding their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home presents very well, and it is very homely and relaxing. Leaders and managers ensure that the home is a safe place and is maintained to a high standard. When repairs are needed, these are addressed without delay. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children to be aware of their right to have access to appropriate advocacy support. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that all risk assessments that are created about children and the home are actively assessed and updated to provide guidance and up to date information for the staff. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that they only care for children that staff and the home are fully equipped to care for and that this is in line with the needs set out in the home’s statement of purpose and the children’s care plan. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2590942 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 69a Saddleworth Road, Greetland, Halifax HX4 8AG

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Kershaw

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Inspectors

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2590942 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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