Children's home run by Bradford Children and Families Trust

Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 1 Registered provider: Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

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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 operated by Bradford Children’s and Families Trust. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were five children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was re-registered on 1 April 2023 when the local authority arrangements were taken over by the Trust. The manager registered with Ofsted in April 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with structure, consistent boundaries and nurturing individualised care. They understand how children’s past experiences have an impact on their lives. Staff are committed to building secure and trusting relationships with the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home they experience positive and well-planned introductions. However, one child became unsettled when the group dynamics changed and one child who moved into the home has found group living difficult. Staff have lots of conversations with the children about their relationships with each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are attending school and making progress. Staff understand the struggles that children face that can cause barriers to children attending an educational resource. Staff advocate for children to ensure that they receive the right support in school. Staff are proactive in their approach to support children with their education. For example, they stay at school throughout the day with one child, which has helped the child to continue to attend, as well as this resulting in reduced incidents of unwanted behaviour in school. The manager and staff work collaboratively with education professionals. One said, ‘Working with staff and their psychologist has helped us to support [Name of child] in school.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are reported to be in good health. They enjoy a healthy lifestyle and staff help them to attend medical appointments. When children have additional health needs, they receive support from specialist health services. Furthermore, staff understand children’s emotional and mental health needs. Children with an identified need for support are accessing therapy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a wide range of activities which reflect their individual hobbies and interests. Some children have swimming and diving lessons and some children train and play football with a local team. Most of the children enjoy being active and like to be outdoors doing things like climbing, bike rides and dog walking. Some children had a new experience of a holiday abroad in the summer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with lots of opportunities to develop the skills needed for independent living. One child has made remarkable progress in developing independence skills because staff have helped them to build confidence and reduce their anxieties in social situations. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 4

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

Children’s risk assessments are detailed, and they are kept under review by the manager. Staff understand children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities and they are clear about the steps to take to mitigate some of those risks.

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

Some children continue to be unsettled during the night which has led to incidents where children have shown unwanted and risky behaviours. This has sometimes resulted in the police being called to the home. When children are unsettled, staff talk to them to help children to reflect on their behaviour.

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

Children do not go missing. There is a detailed plan in place should this happen, and staff are clear about their responsibilities to locate children quickly.

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

Records show that when children have been physically held or guided, the action taken by staff has been necessary and proportionate to reduce the risk of harm to children. Staff reflect on incidents when children have been held and they talk to the child about how they are feeling.

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

One child indicated that they feel bullied. Staff are proactive and challenge incidents of bullying. Furthermore, there is sufficient staffing to ensure that children are provided with high levels of supervision. Staff utilise a range of resources and activities to educate children about positive relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a strong management team at this home. The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She has a child-centred approach and role models positive practice to the staff team. The manager values her staff and provides them with effective leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager keeps a good oversight of the quality of care provided to children as well as ensuring that there are good opportunities for staff development. There are effective systems in place to review and monitor the risks to children, the progress children are making, and staff performance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has positive relationships with professionals and there is evidence of good partnership working. Professionals hold the manager and staff in high regard. One professional said, ‘The manager and staff are committed to the children, despite the challenges, they never give up.’ The manager is a strong advocate for children. She appropriately challenges and escalates concerns ensuring that children’s needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an established core staff team at this home, which means that children are provided with consistent care. Staff are up to date with required training, and they have completed additional training to ensure that they can meet the needs of the children living at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 5 Staff receive regular supervision that is of a high quality and this allows them the opportunity for reflection and to talk about the children. Team meetings happen regularly and are well attended. They provide staff with training opportunities and activities to refresh their safeguarding knowledge. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 6

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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: 2729264 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sir Henry Mitchell House (5th Floor), 4 Manchester Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5 0QL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Pamela Stanyon-Carr

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2729264 8 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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