Children's Home run by Wakefield Council in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 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 operated by a local authority. 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

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home and both were spoken with.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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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

Date of last inspection: 16 September 2025

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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: 2701362 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/09/2025 Full Good 12/11/2024 Full Good 12/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 3

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Summary of findings

Children’s day-to-day experiences vary. Police support has been required on numerous occasions because staff have been unable to manage children’s behaviour safely. Children do not consistently receive care that effectively responds to their needs or helps them during times of crisis and emotional or behavioural distress.

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Summary of findings

Staff are committed and resilient, remaining focused on meeting children’s needs despite the challenges experienced. Staff support children to see their families, promoting their identity and helping sustain relationships.

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Summary of findings

Staff maintain positive relationships with professionals and families. Staff report feeling well supported by their manager and colleagues.

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improvement to be good

Children’s day-to-day experiences vary. There have been numerous occasions when the police have been called to support staff to manage children’s behaviour. Children have been taken into police custody, including for extended periods overnight. These experiences do not provide assurance that children receive care that promotes their welfare.

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improvement to be good

Staff prioritise children’s education. Staff work closely with education providers and teaching staff. They seek to understand the barriers children face and identify any additional support they may need. This helps children to progress and reach their full potential.

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improvement to be good

Staff help children to build positive memories of their time in the home. They offer a range of activities and experiences. Some children choose to remain at home despite encouragement from staff to access opportunities in the community. Staff support children to keep in contact with their families and maintain these significant relationships.

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improvement to be good

Children learn skills that help them become more independent. Staff encourage children to cook, clean and complete everyday tasks. This helps children to develop important independent living skills and prepares them for adulthood. Children who move on from the home often maintain links with staff. This provides them with lasting relationships and a continued sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 4

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improvement to be good

Children’s risk assessments are regularly updated to reflect current risks and behaviours. However, staff have not always managed children’s behaviour effectively. Police support has been required on numerous occasions. Staff do not have the skills to confidently meet children’s needs or consistently protect children and others from harm.

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improvement to be good

When children leave the home without permission, staff follow appropriate safeguarding procedures. Staff spend time talking with children following missing from home incidents. This gives children an opportunity to talk about their experiences. It also reinforces that staff care about them and their wellbeing.

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improvement to be good

Physical restraints are only used as a last resort to safeguard children and others from harm. Staff hold reflective discussions with children promptly following incidents. Timely reflective discussions also take place with staff to support learning and improve practice. The manager maintains effective oversight of these incidents and ensures that interventions are appropriate.

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improvement to be good

Staff carry out focused work with children to help them understand risks and learn how to keep themselves safe. This work covers a range of important topics, including online safety, healthy relationships and the risks associated with going missing from home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have started to address some of the shortfalls identified during this inspection. However, further action is required to ensure that practice is consistently effective and that children experience good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is dedicated and works well with the deputy manager and staff team. Children feel confident approaching the manager to share their views. However, one child said that they do not feel that they can talk to any staff when they are upset. Staff are committed and resilient. Staff remain focused on meeting children’s needs, despite the injuries and challenges that they have experienced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff attend regular team meetings, training and supervision sessions. These provide opportunities for reflection and professional development. They are also used to share learning and improve practice. Staff spoke positively about the support they receive from the manager and colleagues. They said that they feel valued and part of a supportive team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager uses feedback from the independent visitor to review the quality of care that children receive. The independent visitor provides appropriate challenge and scrutiny. The manager and staff maintain positive working relationships with other Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 5 professionals and children’s families. This supports partnership working and promotes children’s wellbeing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 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 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

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)(b)) 11 September 2026

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv)) 11 September 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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 7 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: 2701362 8

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Cheryl Whitehouse

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Inspector

Evelyn Chafota, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2701362 9 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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