Children's Home run by GBA Care Limited in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 1 Registered provider: G B A 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 and provides care for up to 4 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 3 children were living at the home and they all were spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2025 but is currently away from the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/04/2025 Full Good 21/01/2025 Full Inadequate 01/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 3

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Summary of findings

Serious weaknesses in the senior leadership of the home have resulted in failures to meet regulatory requirements. Weaknesses in safer recruitment practice and ineffective oversight of the service have negatively affected the home’s overall judgement. These shortfalls have limited leaders’ ability to ensure that children are consistently and safely protected.

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Summary of findings

Despite these shortfalls, children are making progress and benefit from positive relationships with staff. Staff support children effectively to engage in education and access services that promote their health and wellbeing. Children said that they feel safe and cared for. However, weaknesses in safeguarding practice and shortcomings in the home environment mean children are exposed to unnecessary risks.

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improvement to be good

Children have all made timely progress since each of them moved into the home and all spoke positively about the care and support they receive. Staff have developed meaningful and trusting relationships with the children. Children value the guidance, encouragement and positive role modelling provided by staff. Children said that they feel safe, cared for and are happy living at the home. However, serious shortfalls in the senior leadership of the home have adversely affected the home’s overall judgement.

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improvement to be good

Children benefit from good support and encouragement to enjoy their education and attend regularly. Staff work persistently with education professionals to identify suitable learning opportunities and ensure that children continue to receive support when school placements are not immediately available. As a result, children are maintaining progress in their learning and achieving positive educational outcomes.

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improvement to be good

Children’s health needs are promoted effectively by staff. Staff support children to attend routine and specialist appointments and encourage healthy lifestyles through activities, diet and positive discussions about wellbeing. Therapeutic support and guidance are available to both staff and children, helping children receive individualised emotional support and enabling staff to respond more effectively to their needs.

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improvement to be good

Children engage well in regular, meaningful conversations with staff that help them reflect on their experiences, understand risks and develop confidence. These discussions are tailored to children’s individual needs and contribute to the positive relationships they have with staff. Children feel listened to and are comfortable seeking support and advice when required. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 4 Children enjoy a wide range of activities with one another and the staff, including an area devoted to outdoor pursuits and ‘forest school’. However, several shortfalls in the home environment prevail. Communal areas require redecoration to provide a more welcoming and comfortable living space. One child’s bedroom continues to have a persistent odour that has not been fully resolved, despite staff support. The garden and outside area is poorly maintained, with overgrown grass and weeds requiring attention.

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improvement to be good

In addition, there is broken plasterboard and debris in an outbuilding, and various discarded items including a broken washing machine presenting health and safety concerns. This detracts from the overall quality of care provided and can reduce children’s enjoyment of their home environment.

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improvement to be good

Practice to safeguard children is inconsistent. A lone working risk assessment relating to an individual staff member was not followed correctly. This resulted in the staff member being left to work alone with a child despite clear guidance stating they should not. This increased potential risks and left a child vulnerable.

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improvement to be good

Incidents are generally managed well and are informed by detailed risk assessments. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of children’s complex needs, behaviours and identified risks. Children are spoken with following incidents to help them reflect on events. Managers review incidents thoroughly, identifying learning points, updating plans and adapting support. This approach has contributed to a notable reduction in incidents for one child.

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improvement to be good

Physical intervention is used appropriately and proportionately when necessary to keep children and staff safe. Staff make every effort to reduce situations through communication, reassurance and other calming strategies before considering physical intervention. Records show that holds are used for the shortest time needed, and children are spoken with afterwards to help them understand the reasons for staff actions, explore their feelings and consider alternative ways of managing difficult situations in the future.

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improvement to be good

Episodes where children go missing from home are managed effectively. Staff respond promptly and follow procedures that reflect each child’s individual needs, risks and vulnerabilities. Relevant agencies, including the police, are informed when required, and return home interviews are regularly requested. Managers review these incidents carefully, identifying opportunities to improve practice and strengthen the support and safeguarding provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders have made poor recruitment decisions, including the appointment of a staff member who was subject to an open police investigation. Safer recruitment procedures were not followed, and leaders failed to carry out sufficient enquiries to fully assess Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 5 potential risks and the individual’s suitability. Safeguarding professionals had to contact leaders directly to share concerns about the appointment. Leaders did not proactively seek relevant safeguarding information and only notified Ofsted after being advised to do so by safeguarding professionals. These shortfalls demonstrate significant weaknesses in leadership oversight of safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Senior leaders have not maintained effective oversight of regulatory compliance during a period of management and governance change. Arrangements to cover the registered manager post during the registered manager’s prolonged absence are not compliant with regulatory requirements. In addition, required notifications to the regulator relating to the resignation of directors have not been submitted to Ofsted. These shortfalls indicate weaknesses in leadership oversight and demonstrate a failure to consistently meet statutory responsibilities and regulatory obligations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Although staff complete mandatory training, gaps remain in training linked to the home’s model of care. Staff were unable to clearly explain or demonstrate an understanding of this approach in practice. This means leaders and managers cannot be assured that children consistently receive care that reflects the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s views are sought through daily discussions and children’s meetings. However, their experiences are not consistently reflected in the quality-of-care reviews or independent visitor reports. This limits leaders’ abilities to demonstrate that children’s feedback informs service development and improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Team meetings are well attended and provide staff with opportunities to discuss children’s needs, emerging concerns and approaches to support. Regular supervision sessions enable reflection on children’s progress and any areas requiring further attention. Supervision also includes discussion around staff wellbeing and development. Staff generally report feeling supported and understand their role in contributing to positive outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 6

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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.

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Requirement Due date

* The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2; 30 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 7 the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(d) (7)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that safer recruitment procedures are rigorously implemented to safeguard children when employing new staff.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— 30 August 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 8 feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the person in day-to-day charge of the home registers with Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when directors resign from the company, the appropriate documentation is submitted to Ofsted.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the required skills, knowledge and experience to provide care and support that is consistent with the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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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; 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 9 that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all risk assessments relating to staff and the protection of children are implemented effectively, monitored and complied with at all times.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that all areas of the home’s grounds are free from items that could compromise the health, safety or welfare of children, staff and visitors.

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The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably;

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ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(vi)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that any wear and tear or damage in the home is repaired promptly and that redecoration is completed without unnecessary delay. In 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 10 addition, the grounds of the home must be maintained to a good standard and kept safe, clean and well presented.

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Requirement Due date

* This requirement is subject to a compliance notice.

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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: 2732583 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor Brian Royd Mills, Saddleworth Road, Halifax HX4 8NF

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Inspector

Deirdre Silkstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2732583 12 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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Inspector

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