Children's home run by Wakefield Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2702150 1 Registered provider: Wakefield Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection, and one child was spoken with.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in December 2022, and the suitably qualified manager was registered at the same time.

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 requires improvement to be 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: 5 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: 2702150 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/11/2024 Full Good 03/07/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2702150 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have successfully moved on from the home. One child moved into supported accommodation and the other child returned to live with their family. Both children are reported to be progressing well.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from positive and trusting relationships with staff. Staff provide consistent emotional support, which helps children to feel safe and valued.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met. They are registered with local health services, and staff ensure that they attend all necessary appointments. Staff work closely with emotional wellbeing professionals to implement strategies that support children’s individual needs. Nutritious and balanced meals are provided, and children enjoy an active lifestyle. These measures promote positive health outcomes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is prioritised and tailored to each child’s individual needs. Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the importance of education and actively support children’s attendance. Staff encourage children to participate in household chores, fostering a sense of community and teaching essential independence skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make complaints and they feel confident approaching staff if they have concerns. Regular meetings enable children to express their wishes and feelings, and they have access to independent advocacy services. This ensures that children’s voices are heard and respected.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities that reflect their interests and talents, including swimming, visits to theme parks and holidays. These experiences provide opportunities for new learning and help to build children's confidence.

p.3

improvement to be good

Staff's care of children is not always delivered in a consistently safe way. Despite risk assessments and behaviour management plans being in place, staff have not followed this guidance. As a result of these inconsistencies, there was one serious incident where a child was not safeguarded effectively. This shortfall does not promote the wellbeing and safety of children.

p.3

improvement to be good

When children go missing from the home, staff follow appropriate protocols. They work closely with local police teams and social workers to locate children quickly. Staff ensure that children receive independent return-home interviews. However, on some occasions, staff have not gone out to search for children due to insufficient staffing levels. This does not ensure that children are consistently protected from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 2702150 4 Children benefit from a restorative approach that helps them to learn from and manage their own behaviour. The trusting relationships that children have with staff enable them to talk openly and explore their feelings. This supports children to manage their emotions more effectively. Consequently, there has been no use of physical intervention since the last inspection.

p.3

improvement to be good

When incidents occur, the manager maintains oversight and ensures that staff, generally, record these events well. Staff hold regular discussions with children about how to keep themselves safe. These conversations help children to understand risks and increase their safety in an informal way.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a permanent and suitably experienced registered manager, who is supported by a committed deputy manager. Leaders and managers respond promptly to poor staff practice, following safeguarding procedures to protect children. This ensures that children are better safeguarded from harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable staff team in the home, which provides consistency and stability for children. Staff report feeling valued and well supported. They are given opportunities to take on additional responsibilities, helping them to develop their practice and creating an ethos of shared ownership in improving the quality of care for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff are well supported to carry out their roles effectively. Staff have completed a variety of suitable and relevant training to enhance their knowledge and skills.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular, reflective supervision sessions. Supervision records are detailed and include evaluations of children’s progress, guidance and professional challenge. This ensures that staff receive the right support to improve their practice and promote children’s wellbeing effectively.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly, providing staff with opportunities to share information and work collaboratively. This promotes a consistent team approach to meeting children’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively with other professionals on a day-to-day basis and demonstrates a clear understanding of the importance of effective communication and multi-agency working. Inspection report for children’s home: 2702150 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii)(b)) 30 January 2026

p.5

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: 2702150 6

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Cheryl Whitehouse

p.6

Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2702150 7 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.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7