Children's home run by Wakefield Council

Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 1 Registered provider: Wakefield Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a local authority and provides care for up to 2 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, and both were spoken with.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager left their position in January 2026. The new manager has submitted an application to be registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 12 November 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2024 Full Outstanding 10/10/2023 Full Outstanding 09/08/2022 Full Good 08/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care and support from staff, which is tailored to their individual needs. As a result, their experiences are positive and they make significant progress in all aspects of their lives. When asked, children scored their overall experiences of the home as 9 out of 10.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have excellent relationships with staff. They say that they regard staff as their 'family', indicating the high level of connection between them. Children go to staff for love and assurance and receive this in abundance. This allows the children to feel safe and secure, and to make the progress that they do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Before coming to live at the home, both children had experienced many moves but are now settled in the home long term and enjoying the stability this gives them. Children perceive their home as a family home, rather than a residential placement. This reinforces a sense of identity and belonging for the children, and they are thriving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children are making exceptional progress in their emotional development. Through targeted therapeutic support, they are becoming more emotionally resilient. This has led to stronger friendships and family relationships. In turn, this is increasing children's self- esteem and their overall happiness.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are provided with tailored support from staff to develop their relationships with their birth family. Staff also help the children to create wonderful life-story books, charting their childhood experiences. This helps the children to understand their journeys and promotes their family heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff place a high priority on children's education and understand the importance of this for children's futures. Children have been helped to navigate key transitions from primary to secondary education. One child is making exceptional progress in their education attendance and attainment, having previously struggled in their primary years. Another child is experiencing some challenges in relation to their education but is receiving strong support from staff to help them to navigate these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children clearly and confidently express their views to staff on a day-to-day basis through general conversations, focused one-to-one discussions and children's meetings. Staff listen to children and are proactive in responding to their views, wishes and needs. Additionally, the children are visited by an assigned advocate as and when needed. These measures help to ensure that children feel heard and know that their views are at the forefront of decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children's day-to-day experiences are positive and varied. Staff encourage children's interest in sport and exercise. One child is due to compete in their first cheerleading competition, showing commitment and dedication for many months leading up to this. Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 4 Another child has a keen interest in parkour and regularly attends a free-running club, safely honing their skills and discipline in this emerging sport.

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

Children are kept safe as a result of their strong relationships with staff. Children can talk to staff who they trust and feel safe with. Staff know the children well and this allows them to respond effectively to any risks. This includes following comprehensive risk assessments and support plans, which have clear strategies to help keep children safe.

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

There are very few incidents or indicators of concern for the children. On one occasion, a child was away from the home without authorisation. Staff responded promptly and in line with the child's plans. They searched for the child until they were located and safely returned to the home. Following the incident, staff talked to the child about what had happened, which helped the child to understand the risks of the situation. There have been no further incidents.

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

Staff model positive behaviours, which children respond well to. Consequences are rarely needed, but when they are used, they are natural and proportionate in nature. This helps children to develop an excellent understanding of what is expected of them and learn from any incidents of concern.

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

Children are only restrained as a last resort, and when their or others' safety is compromised. When incidents of physical intervention take place, records are detailed and the children receive comprehensive emotional support. Records are routinely reviewed by the therapeutic practitioner, who offers therapeutic advice to managers and staff. This helps staff to learn from incidents and consider any improvements that may be made to their practice.

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

The home is a safe and secure environment for children. The manager has taken action since the last inspection to ensure that fire safety equipment is visible and in good condition.

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

Children understand how to complain and say that they feel confident in doing this if they needed to. Safer recruitment processes are thorough. This helps to ensure that only those who are safe and appropriate can care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have high expectations of staff with regards to the quality of care provided to children. They are aspirational for children and want the best for them. A new manager is currently in the process of registering. They are working closely with the previous manager during this transition process. This has ensured continuity in effective leadership and care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive high-quality training and development, ensuring that they have the necessary skills for their roles. This includes a comprehensive programme of therapeutic Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 5 courses. Staff are also supported by a dedicated therapeutic practitioner, who attends the home regularly to advise and support them. This approach means that children experience highly attuned therapeutic care by staff who have an in-depth understanding of their presenting needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, reflective supervision with their line manager. This ensures that staff feel well supported and that children's needs are regularly reviewed and considered. Staff also receive an annual appraisal, which is used to review progress and set goals for their future development. Staff are overwhelmingly positive about the leadership of the home and the support they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff work incredibly well with other professionals from the children's local authority, healthcare and education provisions. External professionals consistently say that staff effectively communicate and collaborate with them. Managers also appropriately challenge external professionals when necessary and strongly advocate on behalf of children. This ensures a strong multi-agency approach, which leads to children's care being well planned and coordinated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an excellent understanding of relevant theory and link this to their practice. Children's support plans make links to theory, such as attachment and trauma. The children's life-story books also have appropriate links to theory and wider systems, such as children's services structures and the family courts processes. This is done in a way that is appropriate to children's individual needs and helps them to have a better understanding of their own backgrounds and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have a strong knowledge of the home and its model of care. They have introduced processes to embed this model into staff practice. Leaders and managers have met with managers of other homes, including those in other authorities, to disseminate good practice. This means that not only children living in this home are benefiting from this but also children living in other settings. Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 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: 2542730 7

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Children's home details

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

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Cheryl Whitehouse

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Inspectors

Jon Collins, Social Care Inspector (Lead) Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2542730 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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