Children's Home run by Gravitas Care Limited in Calderdale

Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 1 Registered provider: Gravitas Care Limited

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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 operated by a private company. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home, and the inspector spoke with them. Two other children have lived in this home and have since moved out during this inspection period.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024. The manager is also registered to manage another children’s home for the same provider.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/05/2025 Full Good 24/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive stability and consistency of care. Children’s complex needs are well understood by the manager and staff and the quality of care that children receive is trauma-informed. Despite the strenuous efforts of the staff and manager in encouraging positive relationships between the children, an increase in safeguarding concerns meant that one child moved out to a home that better suited their needs.

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Summary of findings

The manager with the support of the responsible individual has addressed the shortfalls identified at the last monitoring visit, seeing improvements in care planning, risk management and their oversight of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming, recent damage to the home has been repaired in a timely way that has caused least disruption for children. The home is equipped with a range of resources, such as games, books and arts and crafts. Staff and children use these resources to enjoy time together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s varied life experiences shape their individual needs, including complex emotional and learning needs. The standard of care is trauma-informed and children benefit from a consistent approach from staff that genuinely care. One child said, ‘I am happy and I get on well with staff and enjoy spending time with them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Promoting children’s education is a key strength. The manager has been proactive in challenging education providers, including the special educational needs (SEN) service. This has helped to identify suitable provision for children and ensure that any education, health and care (EHC) plan is up to date. Staff promote structure to the child’s day and engage them in educational activities, such as worksheets, arts and crafts, and going to places of interest. This helps the child to stay motivated for learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s time with their family is promoted and supervised when required. The manager understands the significance of family connections for children. They supported a child to make a complaint to their responsible local authority to progress their wish to see their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and engage with children to have fun and enjoyable activities of their choosing. One child loves adrenaline fuelled activities and goes off-road biking, go- karting and ice-skating. Another child enjoyed baking and cooking and going on day trips. Children’s wishes, feelings and interests are listened to and promoted. Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 4

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

Staff have a good understanding of the specific needs of each child, including associated risks and how these may present in complex behaviours. Children have gone missing from the home and these incidents have highlighted that concerns around exploitation and online grooming are prevalent. Staff and the manager work closely with external agencies and this proactive approach provides reassurance that children’s safety and wellbeing are at the forefront. The children’s plans are an excellent tool for staff and reinforces an individualised approach to children who have gone missing.

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

Children’s care plans and risk assessments are individualised and regularly updated. They are shared across the staff team to ensure a consistent response. There is notable improvement in the quality of recording activity. ‘Key working’ discussions and ‘let’s reflect’ sessions use simple language that helps children to reflect on their behaviour.

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

On occasion, children have been physically restrained. This has been carried out by trained staff and only used as a last resort and for the shortest period of time, to prevent harm to the child and others. Children are spoken with following incidents, and the manager maintains oversight of all interventions. One child is now subject to restrictions on their liberty due to the level of concern about their welfare. However, staff create as much normality as possible to enable the child to have positive experiences.

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

There are positive and decisive relationships between staff and the wider professional network. There is effective co-working with social work teams, specialist services and the police. This has helped to keep the impetus up in care planning for children, when untimely endings have occurred.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have reflected on the shortfalls identified at the last Ofsted monitoring visit. Actions taken to address these shortfalls have contributed to more effective management oversight and a more trauma-led approach to children’s day-to- day care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children who have lived and currently do live in this home have very complex needs. Maintaining and promoting positive relationships between the children has, at times, been testing. Children’s suitability assessments are not always accurate, impacting on the manager’s ability to carefully consider all relevant information. Changes to children’s care planning contributed to heightened feelings of unfairness and resentment for children, that effected the dynamic in their relationship. This ultimately resulted in one child experiencing an unplanned move, out from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager continue to be motivated and have aspirations for the home and children who live there. It has been a challenging time for staff, however, they say that they feel well supported, receive regular supervision and advice when needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 5 This has helped to build resilience in the staff team, who remain motivated, providing stability of care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is aligned to the needs of the children and the manager provides a range of practice guidance to enhance staff knowledge and practice. The manager has used specialist services to deliver bespoke training that align with the identified needs and risks associated with the children. This ensures that staff have the skills and knowledge to keep children safe and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When children have made disclosures, leaders and managers take this very seriously. Thorough investigations are conducted alongside supporting staff and children during the fact-finding process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals and parents is positive. They say that managers and staff have a good understanding of the children. Collaborative working practices are recognised as a strength and the manager is valued for providing consistent and dependable leadership. Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that children’s suitability assessments carefully consider all relevant information, including essential information that may impact or inform decisions regarding the compatibility and quality of care for children in the home. 30 June 2026

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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: 2636225 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gravitas Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1-3 Annes Place, Pellon Lane, Halifax HX1 5RB

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2636225 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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