Children's Home, Residential special school run by Hesley Services Limited in Doncaster

This monitoring visit

The compliance and monitoring visit was undertaken on the 28th of April 2015; its purpose was to check that the statutory notice issued on Regulation 20 (1)

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This monitoring visit

(2) (c) and the progress to implement the previous requirements made at the last interim inspection on the 2nd of March 2015.

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This monitoring visit

The statutory notice issued has been met. All the staff interviewed are aware of the medical conditions and of the prescribed medication for young people in their care; they know what to do in the event of the young people requiring medical attention relating to any medication given as a result of their condition.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection in March 2015 the majority of the work force has received updated medication training. This included the safe administration of emergency medication required by individual young people.

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This monitoring visit

All staff working with young people who are prescribed emergency medication for conditions such as epilepsy have a specific storage bag secured on their person while working. This bag contains all the required emergency medication and other supporting equipment.

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This monitoring visit

Monitors are in place to assist staff to provide constant close supervision at night for young people with assessed health conditions requiring this; some are listening devices only; some are video/sound devices. These were found to be in good working order and in situ in the specific child's bedroom and staff areas. The service has spare monitors in the event a monitor is found not to be working. Daily checks of the monitors are taking place to ensure all monitors are in good working order and action can be taken to address and make sure the equipment can be replaced if broken.

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This monitoring visit

Staff can verbalise the risk assessment content relating to medical conditions and the action they need to take in the event of the need for medical intervention. Staff have signed to confirm that they have read and understood the risk assessments, help profiles and emergency medication procedures. All these measures facilitate young people's medical and health needs being met.

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This monitoring visit

Some requirements set at the previous inspection have been met within the timeframes stipulated; these relate to the independent visitor monitoring the service reporting in more detail on the effectiveness of safeguarding. Suitable food provisions are provided in each house to ensure young people have their own choices and food requirements at all times. Physical restraint incidents are now being recorded in a secure volume, within 24 hours of the event occurring. This is to assist the manager in assessing such events and practices in line with agreed methods in use.

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This monitoring visit

The following requirements have not been met within the required timescale of the 24th of April 2015. Regular formal supervision which includes reflective practice continues not to be provided to all staff. This does not ensure all staff are suitably supported and care practice adequately monitored. The manager’s monitoring of the service is not robust enough. Not all omissions found on this inspection have been identified through internal monitoring systems. It is not evident that young people, parents and other professional’s views have been sought to influence improvements to the service in all instances. Ofsted have not received the manager’s monitoring report at the stipulated frequency, as required by the Regulations.

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This monitoring visit

While some alternative arrangements have been made to provide those young people not attending school with an education, not all are receiving a full time education programme by qualified staff. This still does not ensure all young people’s education attendance is good or that they are consistently learning and achieving. Some risk assessments have not been reviewed, dated or signed by all appropriate persons. This does not demonstrate that all risk assessments are current. Consequently, guidance may not be up-to-date to enable staff to follow and meet some young people's needs in full.

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This monitoring visit

Some agency staff were receiving training in behaviour management and physical intervention at the time of the inspection. However, there are other agency staff who have not received this training. This does not ensure that all staff are adequately trained to support young people safely when they present challenging behaviour when anxious or distressed.

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This monitoring visit

The service has been recruiting staff to address continually occurring vacancies within the home. The retention of staff remains an ongoing concern, with the turnover of staff being constant. Continued changes in staff compromises the stability of care and can have a negative impact for young people, particularly those with autism.

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This monitoring visit

Further requirements and a recommendation have been made as a result of the findings of this inspection. The transitional arrangements of a particular young person to adult services have had a significant delay, which means that their needs are not being met in full. Omissions have been found relating to staff references not being verified during the recruitment process. The behaviour management policy and practices have not been reviewed in relation to the number of safeguarding and supine holds used within the service.

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Information about this children's home

This provision is a residential special school and is owned by a private organisation. The school can offer accommodation for up to 40 children and young people between the ages of eight years to 19 years. Children and young people have complex needs and severe learning difficulties, including autism.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards . The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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(Regulation 26 (1) (5) (b) schedule 2 (4))

ensure that the registered person considers, or staff 28/07/2015

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provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of

children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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(Regulation 8(1) (2)(a) (i) (iii) (viii) (ix))

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since their last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. procedures set out in the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

and inspects to 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information

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Information about this inspection

Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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