Children's Home run by Bradford Children and Families Trust in Bradford

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 1 Registered provider: Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home re-registered with Ofsted on 1 April 2023, when the local authority arrangements were taken over by Bradford Children and Families Trust. It is a short- break setting and provides care for up to six children with physical or learning disabilities and who may have a sensory impairment.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were 21 children accessing the home in total. On the day of the inspection, three children were visiting the home for their overnight stay. The inspector spent time with all three children during this visit.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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: 2729412 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

Ofsted 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

Relationships between the staff and children are positive and nurturing. Sensory activities are thoughtfully prepared to welcome the children into the home for their overnight stay. The children are given a varied choice of activities such as singing, dancing, spending time in the soft-play area and arts and crafts.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The staff communicate well with the children’s parents. The staff complete pre-visit phone calls to the parents and carers to discuss any changes to the children’s needs and to ensure that all relevant information is shared. This helps the staff to best prepare for all children’s overnight stay.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There continues to be an ongoing need for the correct beds to be sourced for some children. The manager continues to work on addressing this issue. For those children who are not sleeping in the correct bed, parents are informed and appropriate risk assessments and safety measures are in place.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The procedure for administering medication has been revised. The staff can talk through the process with confidence. The recording process is easy to follow. This has resulted in a reduction in medication errors. However, there have been two medication errors since the last inspection. When errors do occur, appropriate action is taken. Medical advice is promptly sought for the child, and staff are provided with training to improve their practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Clearer processes are in place for the reporting of children’s accidents or injuries. The staff make checks with the children’s parents or carers before their child’s stay to complete an up-to-date body map. Any new marks or injuries are reported to the relevant professionals to establish if the injuries are accidental. This practice ensures that the children are kept as safe as possible.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

All children have consent on file from someone with parental responsibility should the child require any medical or health intervention.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There have been two occasions when physical intervention has been required. The holds were brief and necessary to prevent harm to others. The staff are aware that physical intervention is only used as a last resort. The staff know the children well and are successful in de-escalating potentially risky or harmful incidents.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has made improvements since taking on the role. He is open and honest that this has not been at the speed he would have hoped. However, the manager has focused the development on strengthening safeguarding practice and improving the management reviewing tools. Progress has been made in the Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 3 reporting of accidents, addressing poor staff practice and revising the medication procedures.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The staff speak positively about the manager. They feel that the home is calmer and more organised and that the manager gives clear direction. They have trust and confidence that he will support them in continuing to improve the quality of care provided to the children.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

While the manager has made several attempts to source college placements, staff have not yet been enrolled to start their qualification. This qualification will help to embed staff’s learning and provide them with a deeper understanding of their role in caring for children.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The manager has reported serious incidents to Ofsted. However, the quality of care review report was of a poor quality.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The manager has met some of the requirements raised at the last inspection; however, some requirements were restated as they were either not reviewed at this inspection or work was still needed to address the shortfalls. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/05/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.5

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that any care that is arranged or provided for a child that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

relates to the child's development (within the meaning of section 17(11) of the Children Act 1989) or health; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

is not arranged or provided as part of the health service continued under section 1(1) of the National Health Service Act 2006(1), satisfies the conditions in paragraph (3).

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the care is approved, and kept under review throughout its duration, by the placing authority. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(i)(ii) (3)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 12 March 2025

p.5

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.5

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 12 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety.

p.6

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children's home; or

p.6

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.6

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

p.6

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.6

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or 12 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 7 in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual—

p.7

Requirement Due date

does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part- time basis. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b) (6)(a)(b))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.7

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.7

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.7

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”). (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c) (3))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 12 March 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bradford Children’s and Families Trust

p.8

Children’s home details

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

p.8

Inspector

Jo Birtwhistle, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2729412 9 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.

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