Children's home run by Wakefield Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2706449 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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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 provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spent time with one child during the inspection and spoke with another child who has moved on from the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in March 2023, and the suitably qualified manager registered in February 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 24 September 2024

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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: 2706449 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/09/2024 Full Good 15/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2706449 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are developing relationships with staff. Children sometimes enjoy spending time with staff, and this is helping them to develop a strong sense of belonging. Staff are sensitive to children’s individual needs and are committed to providing stability for the children. The children can share their views and wishes in ways that best suit them. One child said: ‘I really like staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in all aspects of their health. Staff have a good understanding of children’s individual health needs. The children’s engagement with their daily care routine varies. This can influence some children’s progress and their engagement with health support. However, staff are committed to supporting and encouraging the children to access health appointments. Staff work alongside emotional well-being and sleep support services. This additional support helps staff better understand children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are aspirational for children and want them to do well in education. Staff take some children to college and support others through working closely with education and the virtual school. This helps staff and professionals to understand children’s individual circumstances and help them to overcome any obstacles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The nurturing support and encouragement from staff helps children build their confidence and make progress. For example, children have applied for jobs, carried out voluntary work, spent free time with friends and enjoy activities such as fishing and dance. Additionally, the support from staff means children have positive time with family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to develop their independence skills and move from the home into independent accommodation. One child talked positively about their care and has ‘lovely memories’ of their time living at the home. Staff enjoy the opportunity to remain in contact with children who have left the home. This helps children to have lifelong relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who move into the home are supported to have well-planned moves. Staff understand the sensitivity involved in children moving home. However, one child was not provided with appropriate support to understand aspects of their daily care and reduce any potential anxieties before they moved.

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

One child said they feel safe living at the home. The staff understand children’s risks and take actions to reduce potential risks to the children. They spend time talking to children to help them understand events and associated concerns, for example safe relationships, Inspection report for children’s home: 2706449 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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

risks associated with criminal behaviour and internet safety. This helps children to manage their behaviour and relationships, which helps them to feel safe.

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

Staff use effective de-escalation techniques and strategies that help distract children and prevent incidents from escalating. Staff offer the children sensitive support and positive praise that helps them to understand their behaviours. They celebrate children’s achievements, such as positive behaviours and attending health appointments.

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

The children do not go missing from the home. Should this happen, staff understand children’s missing-from-home procedures. Staff support the children to take age- appropriate risks in line with their development and individual needs. This has led to children having free time in the community and the opportunity to develop their social skills.

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

The children’s risk assessments and plans do not provide staff with all the required information regarding the actions that they must take to safely promote children’s daily care. One child’s risk assessment has not fully considered how their health needs could influence the support that staff can offer when the child is in crisis or struggling emotionally. One member of staff was also unclear about the current support offered to children during the night.

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

On occasions, staff have had sole care of the two children. However, there is insufficient guidance on the steps that staff should take to mitigate any risks associated with sole care arrangements. Gaps in assessments and plans mean that managers are unable to be assured that staff are offering the children consistent care that supports children’s safety and welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is supported by a deputy manager. They both know the children’s needs and are ambitious for the staff team to offer a high level of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals talked positively about the care offered to the children and the frequent and effective communication from staff. The managers ensure that they seek the views of significant others to help develop the quality of care to the children. They value the children’s views and encourage them to take part in recruiting new staff. This means the children have a say about the individuals who care for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers and staff ensure that the home has a welcoming atmosphere. At the time of the inspection, the home was decorated with a Halloween theme. Children’s photos and artwork are on display in the home. These factors ensure that the home environment is homely and provides the children with a sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by managers. Leaders and managers are committed to ensuring that staff have development opportunities. Staff have regular development reviews and access mandatory and specialist development support. Team meetings take place on a Inspection report for children’s home: 2706449 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

regular basis and offer staff the opportunity to develop their practice further in areas such as completing care plans and ensuring clear representation of children’s views. The ongoing development opportunities help progress staff skills and the quality of care offered to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have not ensured that all staff access reflective supervision sessions in line with the home’s procedures. Some staff have gaps in supervision. This means that staff are not consistently provided with the opportunity to discuss children and their development on an individual basis. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706449 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments and care plans provide staff with detailed actions that they must take to promote children’s daytime and nighttime care. This includes clear details regarding children’s care ratio and steps that the home will take to manage any risks associated with sole care arrangements. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments and individual crisis support plans give full consideration to children’s health needs. This includes how staff support children when they are in crisis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)  The registered person should ensure that all staff receive supervision that allows for reflection on their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced

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Recommendations

professional and that a record of supervision is kept for staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraphs 13.2 and 13.3)  The registered person should ensure that each child is provided with appropriate support and communication aids that assist them to understand and participate in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)

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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: 2706449 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Bond Street, Wakefield WF1 2QW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Cheryl Whitehouse

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Inspector

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2706449 8 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspector

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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Inspector

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Inspector

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