Children's Home run by Gravitas Care Limited in Calderdale

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 1 Registered provider: Gravitas Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home and they were spoken with during the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024. She also manages another children’s home that is owned by this provider.

p.1

Inspection date: 4 December 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 4 December 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children make good progress. They have positive, trusted relationships with staff that help them to feel safe and settled. The manager gives careful consideration to the group dynamic and compatibility of children. She identifies if children have common interests, and this provides opportunities for friendships to be formed.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There is regular, inclusive communication with families to help sustain children’s relationships. This also promotes plans for potential reunification, where this is safe and appropriate for the child. Parents speak highly of the care that their children receive.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

If children are not attending school, staff actively try to compensate for the lack of formal education. They advocate successfully for children to be offered a school place, and support the child with their planned return to school. This helps to reduce the child’s anxieties during this period of time.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff have focused discussions with children that align to their risks and support the progression of their care plans. The quality of this work has improved since the previous inspection. The resources used with children during their focus discussions are also used with the children’s families, which promotes a consistent understanding.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been no missing events for children, no use of restraint, no allegations and no complaints. This shows that children are settled and supported effectively by staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Plans to manage children’s behaviours that challenge, or missing incidents, are in place. Although there have been no occasions for staff to implement the actions from these plans, they are prepared should an event occur.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Significant incidents have been appropriately managed. However, on at least one occasion, the manager failed to notify Ofsted. As a result, Ofsted has not had the necessary oversight to ensure that appropriate action has been taken by the staff to maintain the safety and well-being of children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Children’s risk assessments are up to date, and risk management strategies are clearly set out for staff to follow. However, one important strategy to manage risk for a child has been overlooked by staff, and the audit tools that the manager uses have failed to identify this omission.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager’s audit tools are not effective in ensuring that staff complete actions arising from significant events. Neither do they effectively provide information Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 3 required to inform the quality of care review. The six-monthly quality of care review does not evidence sufficient consultation with stakeholders. The manager has gaps in her knowledge and training about conducting this review, and also in responding to allegations. This does not support the manager to carry out her role.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has a clear vision to develop a more therapeutic culture in the home. She encourages this throughout the team, and the staff are now trained in, and implement, the model of care as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Wider staff training has been provided and an improved induction programme has been introduced. Staff say that this helps them to support the children. However, staff supervisions are not being delivered in line with company policy. This reduces opportunities for managers to review staff practice, competence and well-being.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

Shortfalls identified at the full inspection have been addressed. The three requirements and two recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that actions to mitigate children’s risks are completed. 19 January 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 19 January 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 19 January 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. 19 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 6 In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

p.6

Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that the staff, including the manager, can access appropriate resources to support their training needs, specifically about undertaking the quality of care review and managing allegations. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they actively seek independent feedback and scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 7 independent and internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 8

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gravitas Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1-3, Annes Place, Pellon Lane, Halifax HX1 5RB

p.8

Inspector

Rachel Ruth, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 9 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9