Children's Home run by Laska Care and Education Ltd in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 1 Registered provider: Laska Care and Education Ltd

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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 private organisation. 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 in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spent time with both children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in August 2020, and the suitably qualified manager registered in August 2023.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2022 Full Good 22/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have positive relationships with staff. They are relaxed around staff and feel able to share their views. Staff actively work to build relationships with the children. The nurturing approach from staff helps the children develop a sense of belonging and feel comfortable to embrace their individuality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to have their health needs met and assist them to access ongoing and emergency health services. Staff work closely with a clinical psychologist, who assists them to better understand the children’s individual needs. The psychologist said that staff are more aware of therapeutic practice, which has had a positive impact on the quality of care provided to the children. One child’s social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has made progress since living in the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are making progress in their education. One child is attending college, and one child has returned to education since living in the home. The staff work with education services to ensure that the children continue to access support to overcome any obstacles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to develop their independence skills. They celebrate children’s achievements and use incentives to help children to carry out tasks, such as laundry, preparing meals and tidying their bedroom. The children access activities in line with their interests. They enjoy free time and activities with staff, including meals out, cinema trips and a holiday to Wales. These opportunities provide children with the time to have fun and develop life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers work with other people and professionals to support the children to have planned moves into the home. On occasions when these plans change, leaders and managers visit the children to reduce any anxieties and offer sensitive support. This helps children feel welcome and settled into the home.

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

The children have close and trusted staff that they can share their worries with. One child identified this person as the registered manager, because they informed them of a concern and they listened and took the necessary action. The staff understand children’s individual experiences and risks. They spend time talking to the children about risks, such as online danger, alcohol and substance misuse, self-harming, and safe relationships.

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

The staff respond to incidents and their nurturing approach helps de-escalate situations. Staff are restorative in their approach, and the use of consequences is minimal. They carry out room searches sensitively and consult with children unless there is an Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 4 immediate safeguarding concern. The approaches used by staff, help children to understand their behaviours and develop alternative strategies.

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

Staff understand the provider’s procedure for the management of allegations and escalate concerns appropriately. The registered manager ensures that any concerns are taken seriously and shared with the necessary safeguarding agencies. The registered manager has effective working relationships with the children’s social workers and the local authority’s designated officer.

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

The staff take action when children go missing from the home. They try to maintain in contact with the child and search for them, hoping to find them and help them to return home safely. Staff contact children when they are away from the home on planned free time. However, one child’s risk assessment lacks guidance regarding the required frequency of these check ins. This means the registered manager is unable to be assured that staff take consistent action to ensure the child’s welfare.

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

On one occasion, there was delay in leaders and managers taking effective action when a child was missing from the home without staff knowledge. The lack of effective action meant the child went missing again without staff’s knowledge and could have been at risk of harm. Following this additional incident, leaders and managers implemented strategies, including increased nighttime supervision, reducing the likelihood of further incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children well and has a positive relationship with them. The staff feel supported by the registered manager. They have regular team meetings and supervision sessions, with additional supervision being provided to newly appointed staff. This consistent support has ensured that staff have the required skills to provide the quality of care that is given to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to mandatory development opportunities. Leaders and managers take action to ensure that newly appointed staff have the required skills while they await formal training. Leaders and managers support staff to have annual development reviews. They have plans in place to assist staff to complete their essential qualifications in the required timescale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers respond to complaints and take action to address any identified areas of development. Feedback from professionals is positive regarding the support the staff offer to the children. Leaders and managers have listened to feedback, resulting in improved communication between staff and the children’s parents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the home and have systems in place to support their oversight and review the quality of care provided to the children. However, the registered manager has not demonstrated how the children’s views have informed the delivery of care. Additionally, the registered manager has not shared all significant incidents with Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 5 Ofsted. This affects Ofsted’s independent oversight of incidents and the safety of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff ensure that the home is welcoming for the children and embrace the opportunity to decorate the home. Leaders and managers ensure that the home is physically safe. However, one child stated that the use of security cameras restricts their opportunity to enjoy activities in the garden. Although the provider deems these arrangements as necessary, the consistent use of them is restrictive. Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any decision to limit children’s privacy should only be in place to safeguard children and be under review to consider if any modifications can be made. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure timely and effective oversight of incidents and that staff have clearly recorded actions of the steps that they should take to support children and manage risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that when reviewing the quality of care offered to the children, this gives due consideration to the views of significant others, in particular, the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 54, paragraph 10.23)  The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted of safeguarding or

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Recommendations

welfare incidents relating to the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2593046 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Laska Care and Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Euroway House, Roydsdale Way, Bradford BD4 6SE

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Inspector

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2593046 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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