Children's Home run by Netheredge Care Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 1 SC489226 Registered provider: Netheredge Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company and offers care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection and both children were spoken with.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2024 Full Good 08/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/09/2023 Full Inadequate 17/10/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children, who are siblings, say that they are happy and settled living together in this home. The manager and her staff team understand and respect children’s individual needs and wishes. Children benefit from staff who provide warmth, empathy, consistent boundaries and routines. As a result, children develop strong and trusting relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in this home make progress in many areas of their lives. The manager promotes good health, and one child has bravely had a tooth extraction despite their fear of the dentist. Children are encouraged to eat a healthier diet and were proud of their efforts when a recent annual health medical confirmed that their weight has stabilised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager advocates for children to help them develop and maintain relationships with those who are important to them. She works hard to ensure that any barriers for engagement with family are overcome. Grandparents reported that it is due to the manager’s influence that they are now able to take the children away to their caravan. Staff welcome the grandparents into the home, and they work together well by providing united messages to support care planning for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where possible, children are prepared for their transition from the home. One child has commenced independence work to develop the skills that he requires as he prepares for adulthood. Two children have recently returned to the care of their local authority. Although the manager challenged the timing of this decision, she supported an appropriate transition plan, which included sharing information with the new care staff and visits. The manager helped one child to access an advocate who provided independent support to help him understand the move. As a result, the children have transitioned smoothly, and relationships have been maintained with the children to support them as they settle into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress in education is mixed. School attendance improved significantly for the children who have recently left the home. For the current children, their school attendance has deteriorated. The manager and her staff team are tenacious in their encouragement and advocate for changes within school to improve children’s chances of success. However, despite these efforts, children are currently not consistently receiving the educational opportunities that they need to learn in line with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly talk with children about things that are important to them, such as family time, activities and their education. Although there is management oversight of these key- working sessions, the manager has missed opportunities to guide staff to follow up conversations with more meaningful direct work. Although no detriment was seen, children therefore do not always receive the most-effective support to understand and address areas that they find challenging. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 4

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

Children living in this home are effectively safeguarded. The manager works collaboratively with social workers and other professionals to understand children’s vulnerabilities and risks. Staff facilitate appointments to ensure that the right services, such as counselling and advocacy, are in place to support children when they need help.

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

Children’s risk assessments provide staff with comprehensive strategies and guidance to protect children and keep them safe. Children’s plans are reviewed in line with their changing circumstances and needs, such as before one child commenced sleepovers at their friend’s house.

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

Children benefit from appropriate staffing ratios, and new staff are safely recruited. Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures in the home, including whistle-blowing. Daily care practices around issues such as online safety help to keep children safer.

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

Staff have not needed to physically intervene to keep children or others safe since the last inspection. Children have trusting relationships with staff, who communicate effectively to help children regulate their behaviour and emotions. Children rarely receive a consequence following inappropriate behaviour. The manager encourages consistent boundaries, which the children understand. Staff place a greater emphasis on recognising appropriate behaviour, however small. Staff offer immediate rewards from a ‘grab box’. Children respond well to this and enjoy receiving toiletries or sweet treats. Staff also support children to work towards bigger rewards, such as vouchers. This helps children to develop patience and determination as they work towards longer-term goals.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. There has been one incident, which was well managed by staff to reduce potential harm to children. Staff followed the children’s missing procedures and used their relationships to engage with the children. This helped the children to reconsider their behaviour and swiftly return home.

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

The manager listens to children’s views and takes time to understand their wishes and feelings. Staff support children to live safely and happily alongside each other. Children understand how to complain but have not had to because their needs are met through discussion with the manager and staff, or through children’s meetings where they actively participate in planning their daily routines.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced manager. She knows the children well and strives to improve their outcomes. The manager’s enthusiasm for high standards of care is reflected by the commitment of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by the responsible individual, who has regular oversight through supervision and dip-sampling children’s records. This provides an independent Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 5 layer of scrutiny to ensure that children receive good care and are effectively safeguarded. Furthermore, the owner has a visible presence in the home and provides a further layer of oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works hard to address shortfalls identified through inspections by Ofsted or regulation 44 visits undertaken by an independent person. Decoration is underway and new seating benches have been built around the dining table to create a warmer and more homely environment for the children. The manager has recently introduced monthly monitoring systems, which provide improved oversight of the running of the home and the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager. They say that she is supportive and knowledgeable. The manager creates a warm and open culture in the home. As a result, staff morale is high, and staff spoken to enjoy their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff mainly receive regular supervision. The annual appraisal process is underway and involves feedback from children living in the home. This provides the manager with insight on children’s relationships with staff and their experiences living in the home. Staff attend regular team meetings where they reflect on children’s progress, agree care plans and contribute to further development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains positive relationships with all professionals involved in the children’s care. The children’s social worker and education professionals speak highly of the manager. They say that communication is ‘excellent’ and praise the commitment and care she demonstrates to getting the best outcomes for the children living in this home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff practice actively promotes positive behaviour. In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour through targeted direct work, and encourage children’s attendance at school. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14).

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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: SC489226 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Netheredge Care Limited

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Inspector

Jo Warburton, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489226 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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Inspector

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