Children's Home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2704517 1 Registered provider: Calderdale Borough Council

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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 offers care for up to three children who may experience emotional and social difficulties. At the time of the visit, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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This monitoring visit

On 8 and 9 October 2024, Ofsted carried out a full inspection and identified serious shortfalls relating to the care planning and the safety and protection of children. Compliance notices under regulation 12 and regulation 14 were raised.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress that the provider has made against the regulatory shortfalls detailed within the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have reviewed practice and amended their processes. This includes the management of complaints, allegations, placement escalation, missing- from-home events and serious incident response. These changes are clearly referenced for staff in flow charts and revised pro-forma documents. This promotes adherence to the organisation’s policies and procedures.

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This monitoring visit

Senior managers have promoted joint working with partner agencies, particularly in respect of collaboration when children go missing from home. In addition to staff searching for children, they can gain assistance from the closed-circuit television team to help successfully locate missing children. This new resource has been identified and incorporated into children’s missing-from-home plans. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2704517 2 Children’s risk assessments and safety plans are up to date and incorporate a useful chronology and new and emerging risks. This supports a consistent and effective response from staff.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have good oversight of staff practice and completed documentation. They have reliably notified Ofsted of significant events since the previous inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s statement of purpose has been reviewed to ensure that it aligns with the updated systems, in particular unplanned emergency admissions. Leaders and managers have revised the impact and compatibility process. The process involves wider consultation, and a mechanism not to move a child in when the assessment has raised significant concerns. This reduces risks around negative peer influence within the home. This is untested due to the provider placing a voluntary pause on further children moving in.

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This monitoring visit

Children have made progress since the last inspection. There are fewer notifiable events, a reduction in missing-from-home incidents, and improved family relationships and education attendance.

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This monitoring visit

The compliance notices from the last inspection have been met by the provider. A requirement from the last full inspection around the notification of serious events to Ofsted has also been met. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2704517 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2024 Full Inadequate 19/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2704517 4

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under The Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2704517 5

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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 - monitoring visit: 2704517 6 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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