Children's Home run by Calderdale Council in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 2704517 1 Registered provider: Calderdale Council Full inspection 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 inspection, one child was 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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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: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

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. These were found to be met following a monitoring visit on the 2 December 2024. Inspection report for children’s home: 2704517 2

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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: 2704517 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand that children have differing needs, and they provide emotional and practical support to help them to achieve their individual outcomes. When children are safer and happier living elsewhere, staff help them to experience a planned and supported move. This improves their chance of settling in their new home. Children’s views and wishes help to inform the decisions about their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Solid relationships with staff improve children’s experiences. Staff also work tenaciously to help children improve their family relationships. This improves the children’s sense of well-being and self-esteem. Children now rarely go missing from this home, and significant incidents have reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff integrate the child’s specific culture and religion into their day-to-day care. They are respectful of children’s backgrounds, and this helps children to understand their heritage and place in the world. Children’s sense of identity is strengthened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in their education. When this is disrupted, or children have barriers to attendance, staff consistently motivate them to engage with learning. Offering incentives is often effective, and one child received an award in recognition of their improved attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The provider placed a voluntary pause on children moving into the home. This has had a positive impact, as staff have more time to spend with children. Professionals use words such as ‘brilliant’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘above and beyond’ to describe the quality of care provided to children.

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

There is effective multi-agency working and collaboration with the police over community risks. Children’s risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the risks children face. Staff use the strategies in these assessments to help children manage and understand their risks and vulnerabilities. Professionals acknowledge that there are ongoing risks for some children, and they praise the way those risks are managed by the staff.

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

Staff take immediate action to help children to safely return home when they go missing. However, since the last monitoring visit, children have not been missing from the home. This is an improvement and reflects the changes made by staff to manage the pull on children from the community and family.

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

Staff help children when they become distressed, and there have been no incidents requiring the use of restraint techniques. Incidents are well reported and recorded. Allegations against staff are also appropriately managed, and records provide Inspection report for children’s home: 2704517 4 reassurance that both staff and children are protected through a fair and transparent process.

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

The manager ensures that staff receive relevant learning opportunities, including training about radicalisation. This helps to develop a skilled team of staff who understand and recognise these risks for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are well respected by staff and external professionals. They are described as nurturing and caring, and this approach filters through the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers are creating a home where children can flourish and reach their potential. Following the voluntary pause on moves into the home, the managers have a clear plan for a group of children to live together again.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers escalate and challenge effectively. They ensure children have access to advocacy, either from the staff team or from independent specialists. Managers are described as being very child-focused, and their actions have directly benefited children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The team remains dedicated to children, years after they have moved on from the home. The manager ensures that children’s moves into and out of the home are smooth. The staff have a thorough understanding of what is needed to enable children to move to more independent living, and they help children to gain these skills and build resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide a supportive environment for staff. They encourage practice development and take pride in the calibre of their staff. This culture, combined with formal team-building exercises, leads to a stable and cohesive staff group.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have made significant improvements that are now embedded and are improving the quality of care for children. Managers also recognise the personal impact that managing risks over a sustained period has on their staff. They have taken effective action to support staff through this. Staff say that morale is much improved, and the home has a positive feel. Inspection report for children’s home: 2704517 5

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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: 2704517 6

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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: 2704517 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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