Children's home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 1 SC034441 Registered provider: Kirklees Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a local authority. It is registered to provide medium- to long-term care for up to six children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024. At the time of the inspection, six children were living at the home.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Outstanding 15/03/2023 Full Outstanding 11/05/2021 Full Outstanding 04/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have lived at the home for a significant period, and time was spent interacting with each child during the inspection. Notably, staff have ensured that the children’s bedrooms and the decor throughout the home have evolved to reflect the children’s age and interests during this time. Furthermore, low staff turnover and staff’s continued dedication to the children’s care has reinforced the children’s sense of home and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

An experienced professional is commissioned to visit the home to support staff to meet the children’s needs. In doing so, staff are more confident and knowledgeable to support older children to learn about human growth and development, in particular bodily changes that occur during puberty. One member of staff said that they had been ‘re- educated’. This showed the positive effect that this intervention has had on this aspect of the children’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is good planning to better support children’s transition to adult services. This involves working closely with the child’s prospective future placement alongside professionals from adult social care. In doing so, all necessary legal safeguards are considered as part of this process. Cumulatively, these factors combine to better support the child through this significant journey.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Collaborative work with professionals continues to be an area of strength. This involves constructive professional challenge and solution-seeking. As a result, children experience better outcomes associated with their education and their experience of accessing healthcare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In general, communication with parents and carers is good. Parents say that they are always made to feel welcome at the home and are reassured about their child’s care. However, some parents are not informed or do not understand the context around some of the decision-making about their child’s care. This has resulted in confusion and a lack of clarity for some parents about some of their child’s day-to-day care arrangements.

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

Staff use various methods to communicate effectively with children, such as the use of social stories. This supports children to manage infrequent experiences, such as attending health appointments, including planned operations, and preparing for a holiday. Staff are patient but persistent to better prepare children for these important life events.

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

Night staff compile the children’s individual nighttime support and care plans. These staff have developed an expert understanding of meeting the children’s needs throughout the evening hours. The manager recognises the unique insight that night staff have Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 4 developed about the children’s care throughout this vulnerable period of the day. In doing so, the children’s plans accurately reflect the children’s needs and can be better relied upon.

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

The manager keeps good oversight of the administration of the children’s respective medication. When there have been minor shortfalls, staff are quick to identify these and report to the manager. This enables issues to be quickly addressed and a learning review to be undertaken. In doing so, the risk of a significant error is minimised. Furthermore, for one child, staff have supported the child’s understanding of why they are prescribed medication. This has been an empowering experience for the child.

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

Non-permanent staff who infrequently work at the home have not had safeguarding training for a significant period. Consequently, not all casual staff know the processes to pursue if they experience a safeguarding event with a child in their care. This undermines the role that casual staff have in the home and creates an unnecessary vulnerability regarding the children’s care.

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

Staff support children’s exploration of the internet. However, for one child, this was not pitched at their level of ability. This has curtailed the child’s potential to develop these necessary life skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The care of the children does not wane when the manager is absent from the home. The deputy manager, supported by senior staff, is confident and able in these circumstances. This is testament to the experience, accountability and confidence across the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff say that they are well supported throughout their induction process. Additionally, new staff say that they have been welcomed by the established team and that their ideas have been embraced. This shows the team’s adaptability and their awareness of the importance of evolving as a team to avoid the children’s care becoming stagnant.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good accountability and oversight of the children’s care. When there are incidents involving children that could have been managed better by staff, the manager appropriately challenges and promotes reflection and learning. This ensures that standards of care are maintained and do not slip.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children’s social workers value and trust the information that they receive from the manager about the children’s care. This better enables the local authority in its care planning. Additionally, one social worker referred to the excellent relationships that staff had established with a child and their family. This had resulted in the child experiencing significant developments concerning the quality of time spent with an important family member. Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all casual staff have access to appropriate training so that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to act swiftly during safeguarding events to keep children safe. 1 May 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should seek to develop the home’s effective working relationships with each child’s parents; in particular, consulting parents on significant features of their child’s care planning and care needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)  The registered person should tailor the children’s care to reflect the child’s needs. In particular, where appropriate, teach children how to navigate the internet safely. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 21, paragraph 4.5) Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 6

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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: SC034441 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic 3, Market Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 2EY

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Inspector

Steve Guirey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC034441 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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