Children's home run by Wakefield Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 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

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to children’s care through an integrated health and children’s services staff team. The home provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2025

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2025 Full Outstanding 30/08/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This home provides exceptional support to children with complex needs, offering stability and security during uncertain times. Children thrive in this home and receive high-quality care from a dedicated team who know them well. Staff understand each child’s individual needs and follow the home’s ethos, ensuring consistent and safe parenting. Therapeutic care is embedded throughout the home. This provides the consistency, routines and boundaries that children need to flourish.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are ambitious for children. They understand children’s early life experiences, work tirelessly to overcome barriers and support children to make progress. Staff demonstrate trauma-informed practice, and resilience is embedded within the home’s approach. Staff’s sustained efforts to meet children’s physical and emotional health needs are evident. Children who have experienced significant childhood trauma now feel safe and reassured. As a result, children have developed trusting relationships with staff and a strong sense of emotional safety. Both children were spoken with during this inspection. They said that they are happy and have a trusted adult they can approach if they are worried.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support the children with their education. They are interested in the children’s learning and celebrate their achievements. Where there are barriers to learning, staff work closely with the children’s schools and other appropriate agencies to address any obstacles. This includes identifying bespoke timetables for children that reflect their learning styles and their interests. As a result, children make good progress from their starting points.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help children to manage their move into and on from the home extremely well. Children who leave the home have exceptionally positive endings. They are supported well to develop life skills. Additionally, each child is given a personalised life-story book that captures their experiences and journey in the home. This helps children to reflect on their time, maintain a sense of identity and feel valued. There is a strong research- informed ethos regarding the importance of continued connection with children who leave the home. Staff keep in touch with them and children share news about their progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children access a variety of new opportunities and activities. Their interests are nurtured inside and outside the home. Children’s views are sought regularly, and this ensures that they can contribute to all aspects of their care. They are supported to attend and contribute to their care planning meetings. This gives a message that their voice is important. Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 4

p.3

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

Children feel safe and protected from harm. This is because staff are attuned to the specific needs and risks affecting children and excel in managing them effectively. Managers work with the clinical team and other professionals to devise comprehensive risk management plans. These documents are thorough and tailored to address the individual needs of each child. Staff follow these plans and foster an environment conducive to positive behaviour.

p.4

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

Staff are highly trained in de-escalation and behaviour management. Incidents where children have been physically restrained are rare. When this is considered necessary to keep children safe, it is used proportionately and is well documented. Strong management oversight also helps to ensure that physical intervention is used only as a last resort.

p.4

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

When children leave the home without permission, staff provide a clear message that their safety and wellbeing are important. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations to understand the reasons behind their absence. Return home interviews are offered, providing further opportunities for reflection. This highly nurturing and child- centred approach ensures that children feel listened to and supported, while promoting positive behaviour change and reducing future risks.

p.4

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

Staff show a strong commitment to ensuring that children’s rights are protected, particularly when receiving high levels of staff supervision. Careful and considerate measures are implemented to ensure that children feel respected and valued at these times. As a result, children experience care that is not only safe but also respectful of their rights, promoting trust and a positive sense of self-worth.

p.4

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

When allegations are made about staff’s conduct, leaders and managers address concerns without delay and take action to protect children from harm. Managers use learning from these experiences to strengthen practice and implement changes that further enhance safeguarding arrangements.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A dynamic, experienced manager leads a staff team that strives for the best for children. A dedicated and committed management and staff team provide excellent and consistent care to children. Staff work flexibly to support children and ensure that they have positive experiences. Careful recruitment of newly appointed staff ensures that their skills match children’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working between the home and local health services is exceptionally positive. This is a considerable strength of the service. Feedback from professionals indicates that the manager consistently has the children’s needs at the front and centre of her decision-making. Leaders and managers have continued to disseminate the Inspection report for children’s home: 2707715 5 collaborative model of joint working with the local medical services to other local authorities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings continue the thread of therapeutic care, and children are central to all discussions. Staff make meaningful use of the clinical team to explore relationships and identify consistent parenting approaches. Staff training and development needs are identified and met effectively. There is a strong emphasis on staff’s professional progression and development through their induction, regular, reflective practice-based supervision and high-quality training. This helps staff further develop their practice and improve the quality of the care provided to the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s monitoring and oversight of the home is extremely robust. Leaders and managers respond to any complaints received swiftly and effectively. They show an openness and commitment to learning and welcome feedback of all kinds. Any complaints raised are resolved in a timely manner.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection.

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: 2707715 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: 2707715 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 .

p.7

Inspector

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