Children's Home run by Doncaster Children‟s Services Trust Limited in Doncaster

Unique reference number SC481444 Inspector Stella Henderson Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Doncaster Children's Trust Limited Registered person address The Blue Building 38-40 High Street DONCASTER South Yorkshire DN1 1DE Responsible individual Paul Moffat Registered manager Carol Dawn Oliver Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 10 Inspection date 27/01/2015

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Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection of the home since it transferred to Trust status in 2014.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people live in a home that operates to an adequate overall standard. Individualised care planning enables young people to make good progress, some in a relatively short period of time.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are actively engaged with education and their emotional and physical health needs are well met. They benefit from good quality support from staff. Socially acceptable behaviour is effectively promoted and young people say they feel safe at the home.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff feel they have the necessary support for what can be quite challenging work at times. The manager ensures that they receive regular supervision and appropriate training opportunities.

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Overall effectiveness

Requirements are set to help focus improvement on monitoring, notifiable incidents and restraints. Aspects of recording, such as strengthening the voice of the child, 3 of 10 clearer definition of desired outcomes and preparation for independence are also identified as areas for development. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is an independent Trust. It can accommodate up to four girls with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17A (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose which shall include all the points referred to in this regulation (Regulation 17(B)(3)(a - i)(4)(a)(b) 27/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that if, in relation to a children's home, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table (Regulation 30)(1) 27/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the independent visitor forms an opinion as to whether children accommodated at the children's home are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the children's home promotes the wellbeing of the children accommodated there (Regulation 33)(8)(a) 27/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain a system for monitoring the matters set in Schedule 6 at least once in every 3 months and improving the quality of care provided in the children's home. The system referred to in 27/02/2015 5 of 10 paragraph (1) shall provide for consultation with children accommodated in the home, their parents and placing authorities (Regulation 34)(1)(a)(b)(3)

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that all children communicate their views on all aspects of their care and support (NMS 1.3)  ensure the home's location and design promotes children's health, safety and well-being and avoids factors such as excessive isolation and areas that present significant risks to children. This is with specific reference to the home's location assessment (NMS 10.2)  ensure that children receive care which helps them to prepare for and supports them into adulthood, so that they can reach their potential and achieve economic well-being. This is with specific reference to points (a) to (g) (NMS 12.1)(a-g)  ensure that information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. This is with specific reference to setting clear measureable outcomes in plans and strategies. (NMS 22.5) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

This is a home which provides stability and security for young people. Some young people have been at the home for some time so staff know them very well. This has enabled them to make sustained progress over several years. These young people feel that their lives have improved during their time at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

When young people first arrive at the home, the transition is sensitively planned and managed so as to promote consistency of care. This helps young people to feel welcome and quickly settle. It means they can continue their education without interruption and continue to receive the services to which they are entitled. Over a short period of time this has resulted in steady progress and a decrease in problematic behaviours.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people experience good health and they are generally fit and well. They are able to access primary health care and specialist services as the need arises. There are no concerns regarding any form of substance misuse and young people who choose to smoke are discouraged from doing so.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Specialist therapeutic services are available to young people, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and specific interventions such as drama therapy. The staff team have access to regular consultation and feedback from a CAMHS psychologist. This supports staff to develop strategies and interventions to promote young people's emotional resilience and well-being.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are fully engaged with their education. They have excellent attendance and are progressing well in line with their abilities. Older teenagers are investing wisely in their future career opportunities by undertaking regular voluntary work. This gives them valuable experience in the world of work and demonstrates to future employers that they are reliable and committed.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people participate in day-to-day decision making in the home. They have ample opportunity to express their opinions through daily conversations, young people's meetings and via the independent visitor. Young people are also consulted about their future and contribute to review decisions.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are of an age where they exercise choice about things such as contact with family and what they want to do with their spare time. This reflects their increasing independence on such matters.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people who are eligible have pathway plans and have acquired some skills to help them take care of themselves. However there is a lack of clear planning to move things forward for young people. This limits their opportunity to test out and develop 7 of 10 new skills and make mistakes in a safe environment.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The environment is homely, clean and comfortably furnished. It has a nurturing atmosphere, and a fish tank, which helps to create a sense of calm. Young people appreciate the fact that there is a separate computer room, and particularly that one of the rooms has been converted into a beauty parlour.

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Quality of care good

The standard of care planning is good, reflecting the individuality of young people. This assists staff in providing young people with a consistent, supportive approach. The home supplements the care plan with more in-depth plans, strategies and other documentation. However these lack clarity about the outcomes that staff are working towards.

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Quality of care good

This makes it difficult to measure some aspects of progress, particularly where more complex needs are concerned. Young people's views on the content of these documents is not always evident. This means some of their needs, or better ways of meeting their needs, may be overlooked.

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Quality of care good

Staff are skilled at forging and sustaining relationships with young people, particularly those who are new to the home. The home’s diligent and friendly approach means young people become receptive to the advice and guidance of staff. This contributes to them achieving good progress in their lives.

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Quality of care good

There is a strong focus on education. This ensures that all young people have good attendance at school and are making good educational progress. The manager and staff work in close partnership with young people’s education providers. They are in regular contact with teachers so that any issues can be addressed quickly. The home offers quiet places to study and internet access for young people to support their learning.

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Quality of care good

Staff work well with health agencies to promote young people's health and ensure they have prompt access to the services they need. Young people are supported to maintain good health ,regular health checks and information is avaiable on a range of health matters. Young people are provided with healthy, varied diets which meet any specific needs they have. Some young people cook very well for everyone else in the home and enjoy sharing what they have made.

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Quality of care good

Young people are of an age where they decide for themselves how they want to spend their spare time. This has included going to the theatre and cinema, the local wildlife park and bowling. There are plenty indoor past times available too, such as books, art materials and board games. 8 of 10

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people’s safety and protection is effectively promoted. No young people are at risk of exploitation and they choose not to abscond from the home. Initial presenting risks of young people who are new to the home are understood by staff and have reduced since admission.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people's complex safeguarding needs are well-addressed and there is a effective joint working with other professionals. This helps to keep young people safe. Young people say they feel safe in the home and can talk to any of the staff who look after them. They know how to make a complaint and have access to advice and representation through independent visitors and advocates, should they need support or be concerned about the care provided.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Staff are very consistent in their approach to behaviour management. Behaviour management is effective and incidents of restraint have reduced. The recording of the sequence of some restraints is not always entirely clear however. This has no adverse impact on young people but may give a misleading picture of events. It also means that young people do not have a full and accurate record of such events and makes it difficult for the manager to monitor the effectiveness of the measures employed.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The physical environment is safe and secure and regular checks are carried to avoid exposure to unnecessary risks. Young people confirm they know what to do in the event of an emergency and practice fire drills. The administration of medication is approached safely in the home. Staff are trained in the safe handling of medication and records demonstrate that safe procedures are followed.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

A range of risk assessments protect young people from known or likely behaviours and environmental hazards. However the locality risk assessment overlooks intelligence that may be provided from other agencies. This limits the action that staff can take to improve safety if needed.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

No new members of staff have been employed at the home for some time, but recruitment checks are in place to avoid unsuitable carers working with vulnerable young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role. She holds suitable social work and management qualifications and has managed the home for the past 18 months.

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Leadership and management adequate

A number of shortfalls are identified. The manager's monitoring exercise offers more description than evaluation. It fails to capture the regular consultation that takes 9 of 10 place with young people, their parents and stakeholders. This means that opportunities to further improve performance, based on that feedback, are missed.

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Leadership and management adequate

Independent monitoring does not evaluate the extent to which young people are safeguarded and their welfare is promoted. The regulator is not always informed about notifiable incidents. This prevents the regulator from taking action to safeguard children, should it so wish.

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Leadership and management adequate

The managers and staff work collaboratively with the police, schools and other professionals so that high quality information is shared at an early opportunity. This offers a consistent approach and ensures that all professionals have the required information in order to make informed decisions.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff regularly participate in core and specialist training events. This enables them to update their knowledge and skills and give young people the best possible care. Staffing levels meet young people's needs for support, attention and protection. Staff report that the manager is very supportive and they have regular professional supervision and appraisal.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Statement of Purpose and children's guide provide up-to-date information about the service, so that young people, social workers and families know what to expect from the service. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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