Children's home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Wakefield

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress in various aspects of their lives. Some of their achievements are exceptional. One young person who previously shied away from going out, now goes to college independently. He has excellent attendance, was elected as class representative, volunteers his time to encourage others and attends a support group. He has developed his social networks through a weekly badminton club and his physical health is also improving through regular trampolining. His development is remarkable considering his needs when he first moved into the home. His education, social skills, self-esteem are all signs of considerable progress and his physical activities have helped him lose excess weight. The other young person started well at college and made some good achievements but attendance has become variable. Staff work closely with the local college and help her consider her options. Staff also help her apply for jobs and prepare for job

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

interviews. Previous risky behaviour such as missing from home is now almost non- existent. The staff have worked hard with the placing authority and the young person to support overnight visits to friends in her home area. There is good support to repair and maintain contact with family, especially where these relationships break down. This is particularly important given the distance of the home from the young person’s home area. Keeping young people safe is a high priority and risk management is effective at balancing the need for independence as part of young people’s developing maturity. For example, young people learn the risks associated with the internet and use social media responsibly. The manager works closely with other safeguarding agencies promoting a young person’s wishes to stay overnight at her friend’s home. This has helped reduce ‘missing from home’ incidents and promoted the young person’s safety. Previous risks of child sexual exploitation, drug and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

alcohol misuse are no longer an issue. The manager ensures behaviour management strategies, care plans and risk assessments are promptly reviewed. There is good communication with social workers about risk to young people and joint planning with regard to future plans. Alongside direct work with young people, this limits the impact of any inappropriate behaviour on their safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is good support for both young people to develop their independence skills. This includes travel, budgeting, shopping, cooking, housework and making their own appointments. They have their own crockery, cutlery and free reign in the kitchen. They have responded to this with maturity and enjoy the opportunities this gives them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The patience and reliability of staff provide young people with a positive experience of trusting relationships with adults. Staff give young people a stable and consistent environment that is emotionally secure. This helps young people to open up, be less secretive, address previous risky behaviour and develop their social skills and confidence. Staff know the young people well, spend time with them, showing they are invested and committed to their positive well-being. There is effective care planning that celebrates young people’s achievements and reviews their needs. Staff know where young people still need to make progress in their lives and efforts are sensitively targeted to promote this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improving the quality of care by developing staff knowledge further through internal and external training is important to the manager. She uses relevant research to keep up to date with practice developments ensuring that this is shared with the staff team. She is particularly keen to develop the therapeutic model of care in place. The registered manager has a strong presence in the home and she maintains very positive relationships with the young people. As a result, she has an extensive knowledge and understanding of their needs. She is effective at advocating on their behalf. Recently, she effectively challenged the local police and placing authority ensuring a young person’s needs continue to be appropriately met. This approach extends to the well-established and committed staff team, with one young person saying, ‘All staff listen and help out and will fight my corner’. One requirement raised at the last inspection, to ensure care and pathway plans

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

from the placing authority are up to date has been fully met. There are no further areas for improvement identified at this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and behavioural needs

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. 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

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 Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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