Top marks for Leeds secure children’s home

Young residents of a secure unit in Leeds have an outstanding chance to turn their lives around according to government inspectors.

Adel Beck secure children’s home (formally known as East Moor) was rated as outstanding following a recent inspection by Ofsted.

The home provides secure accommodation for up to 24 young people aged between 10 and 17 years old who are either placed there because they have been remanded or sentenced to custody or for concerns about their welfare.

Government inspectors who visited Adel Beck earlier this year found that young people placed at the home make ‘exceptional progress’ and the positive impact whilst living in the home can be ‘life changing’ for some. One young person told inspectors ‘I wasn’t in a good place when I came here. I leave soon and feel as though I have a future.’

The staff and leadership at Adel Beck were highlighted as particularly strong, with the inspectors commenting: “Staff are skilled at forming and maintaining strong, trusting relationships with young people, even in very challenging circumstances.” And: “Managers understand young people’s needs very well and what is required to deliver positive outcomes.”

The report highlighted that young people benefit from programmes which help them prepare for their return to the community through engaging opportunities and experiences. Some young people at the home have been supported to achieve their gold and silver Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Inspectors judged that young people who reside at the home feel safe and are protected, that there are good arrangements in place to safeguard young people and that they are ‘very well supported to develop positive social skills and behaviour’.

Education is provided at Adel Beck in dedicated facilities. The Ofsted report comments that the number of young people achieving qualifications has improved significantly since the last inspection and most young people achieve their learning goals. Support for young people completing GCSEs is good, but the inspectors did suggest that young people should be challenged more to achieve maths qualifications at a higher level and that more young people should gain vocational qualifications.

The report was particularly positive about standards of teaching and lessons saying that the young people engage with learning sessions and make good progress, and lessons are lively and enjoyed by the young people.

An incentive scheme which enables the young people to set personalised targets and objectives has helped improve behaviour, and the use of restorative practice helps young people understand what they have done wrong and how their behaviour impacts others, and supports them to take actions to put things right.

Councillor Lisa Mulherin, executive member for children and families said:

“This is a fantastic achievement for everyone at Adel Beck. Helping vulnerable young people, who have often faced many difficulties in their young lives, make good progress and start to turn their lives around, is a massive challenge but such an important one. By working together and focusing on the young people as individuals, understanding their needs and building trust, the team at Adel Beck are really making a difference not just to the youngsters they work with, but for their families and the wider community. Through a combination of learning, restorative practice, improving social skills and behaviour and instilling ambition, Adel Beck is giving these young people a future and helping them contribute to society.”

A number of recommendations were also made, to help the home further improve the provision. Several of the recommendations were around improving learning outcomes for the young residents, whilst others included developing policies and procedures around ‘Prevent duty guidance and that staff can easily and readily access policies and procedures. The home is now working to implement all of the recommendations made.

Notes: Members of the media should contact the press office on 0113 2474713 to request a copy of the report.