Children's Home run by Formations Care Services Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: 2797425 1 Registered provider: Formations Care Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed 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

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024. The manager is also registered for another setting with the same provider.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child was spoken to as part of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 19 November 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2797425 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/11/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2797425 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager plans children’s admissions to the home well. They gather information and hold meetings with placing authorities beforehand. Children benefit from a smooth transition into the home over an agreed period. Staff make children feel welcome on arrival at the home. They encourage children to personalise their bedrooms.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and they invest in them. Leaders work hard to provide children with stability as far as possible. Staff are proactive in listening to children and acting on their wishes. They stand up for children’s rights, including offering them access to an independent advocate.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children make progress from their starting points when living in the home. Staff encourage children to be more open about their feelings. Staff support children to attend school and promote learning at home. A professional working with a child said that staff ‘went above and beyond’ to support the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and leaders create a positive atmosphere within the home. They celebrate and praise children’s achievements. Leaders ensure the environment is homely and well maintained. Staff challenge discriminatory attitudes and help educate children about different identities.

p.3

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

Staff have a clear understanding of children’s needs and risks and how to meet these. Risk assessments and plans are individual to children. They provide staff with clear guidance on how to keep children safe. Staff can describe the procedures to follow in key situations. Staff manage risks to children well, even when the level of risk is very high.

p.3

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

Staff knowledge and skills about how to promote good behaviour have improved. Staff provide children with clear boundaries based on mutual respect and trust. Staff draw on therapeutic approaches to help children manage difficult feelings. Staff avoid holding children or placing restrictions on their liberty wherever possible.

p.3

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

Staff work well with multi-agency partners to keep children safe. Staff provide an effective response when children go missing. They show curiosity about children’s whereabouts and carry out searches of known locations. They liaise with family members and professionals to help locate children as soon as possible.

p.3

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

Most children develop positive relationships with staff. If children struggle to bond with certain people, those staff continue to try and form a relationship with them. Staff draw on evidence-based models of care to engage children as much as possible. Staff show children care and affection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2797425 4

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children enjoy a stable and experienced management team. The manager and responsible individual have good oversight of practice within the home. An experienced deputy manager supports them. Senior leaders are visible and well known to staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders show ambition for children living in the home. They have met the previous requirements relating to children’s safety. They have improved the quality of care provided, based on feedback received. This includes offering greater challenge to external professionals when they have concerns. Leaders make use of escalation procedures to ensure they address this.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that leaders support them well. Leaders provide staff with a comprehensive induction and training opportunities. They tailor this to children’s needs. Staff work well as a team and feel valued. Leaders chair team meetings to help staff to reflect on and develop their practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders devise plans for children that focus on their individual needs. Staff keep records about children that are well written. They capture children’s voices and lived experiences. If children do not settle into the home, leaders ensure placing authorities review their plans early.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have updated their review of the premises to consider new information about risks within the local area. They consult with key stakeholders to inform this.

p.4

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: 2797425 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Formations Care Services Limited

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 St Paul’s Road, Shipley BD18 3EP

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Victoria Crabtree-Phillips

p.5

Inspector

Sam Saxby-Brown, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2797425 6 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.5

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 . 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.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6