Children's home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 1 Registered provider: Calderdale Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. The former manager left in October 2024. The assistant manager is acting as a temporary interim manager until the newly appointed manager starts in December 2024.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 17 October 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/10/2023 Full Outstanding 29/11/2022 Full Good 07/12/2021 Full Outstanding 10/03/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive excellent care, which is highly individualised. Staff go to great lengths to understand the children and tailor care carefully to their needs. Managers ensure that staff develop specific knowledge and receive additional training relating to the children. This results in competent staff who support children to make significant progress. One child spoke with the inspector during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make progress in all areas of their development. This includes education, health, social and emotional skills. Children are making significant achievements at school, and this is helped by their 100% attendance. If children have gaps in their education, additional tutoring is delivered to help them catch up. In meeting children’s educational needs so effectively, children will reap the benefits later in life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There are strong, respectful relationships between professionals who work collaboratively with staff. This ensures that children benefit from the expertise of specialists and clinicians and receive consistent support in all settings. Professionals speak highly of leaders and the staff, citing effective communication and the provision of a warm and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children gradually spend increased time with their family, which is supported by staff when needed. This helps children to develop their sense of identity and sustain relationships that are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work closely with social workers to progress children’s care plans. This includes when the objective is for children to return to the care of their parents. This is done at the child’s pace and in line with their wishes, which promotes the chance of a successful reunification.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s relationships with staff are natural and relaxed. There are effective mechanisms for ensuring that children’s wishes are sought and understood. Children’s views are heard and captured during group and focused one-to-one discussions. The children also have access to advocacy and their own independent visitor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children enjoy participating in varied and interesting activities. They are members of local football teams and youth groups. These opportunities provide them with new experiences that help them to mature and understand their own likes and dislikes. Some of these activities also firmly embed the children in the local community and help them to form friendships and understand the wider world. For example, one child had their poem published in a book, and another child laid a wreath at a Remembrance Day event.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand that not all children mature at the same rate and that some children need introducing to life and social skills in an adapted slower way. They support the children to develop these skills in a way that does not overwhelm or confuse them. Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 4

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

Children and staff have close, caring relationships. The quality of these relationships directly impacts on children not going missing and not requiring staff to use physical restraint techniques to keep them safe. Children have not been missing from the home since the last inspection. There has also been a meaningful reduction in physical restraints, with staff not using these techniques at all this year.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood by staff. Their plans clearly set out actions for staff to take to mitigate risks. When an incident happens, the review of the incident is reflective and has clear management oversight. Any remedial actions are promptly taken.

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

As risks emerge or change, children’s plans are amended. The mechanism for evidencing that staff read and understand the new plans is flawed. This has not impacted on children as managers have close oversight of staff practice. Managers are routinely observing staff practice and holding reflective discussions during team meetings and supervision sessions.

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

Children are helped to recognise, manage and express their emotions. Staff are skilled in managing the children’s emotional and behavioural responses. Staff say that any change in behaviour is better promoted through focused conversations with children, rather than imposition of a consequence. Managers are in the process of removing the use of consequences entirely from staff practice, as it is identified that they do not help children to understand and learn.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The interim manager shares the same aspirational vision as the recently departed registered manager. He is maintaining her high standards and expectations of staff. The staff speak very positively of the managers, saying they are supportive and encouraging and help them to develop professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular training and have reflective discussions that align with the specific needs of the children. Newly recruited staff have a comprehensive induction into the home. These areas of practice ensure that there is a consistent approach from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Key management tasks are reliably carried out. Leaders act when they identify areas for improvement. For example, they have recently identified that the monthly independent reports do not support them to improve the quality of care. The lack of consultation in the reports does not help leaders to understand the views of all stakeholders. As a result, steps have been taken to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers utilise professional relationships effectively. They have sought advice and guidance around pertinent subject matters, such as supporting children’s emotional regulation, improving engagement in education, and promoting healthy Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 5 relationships and sexual well-being. This expertise is shared and then implemented by the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers lead by example. They demonstrate and encourage staff to build solid relationships with the children. Managers also educate staff on keeping pertinent and non-judgemental records that are child focused. This approach is described by managers as ‘one team, one parent’. This team ethos results in consistent and ambitious care for children who thrive and flourish. Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they have effective systems to monitor that all staff consistently know and follow the home’s policies, plans and procedures. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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: 1236540 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Calderdale Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Princess Buildings, Princess Street, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 1TS

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Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1236540 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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