Children's home run by Doncaster Deaf Trust in Doncaster

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The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children and young people thrive in this unique home, which specifically meets their complex needs.  This environment provides children and young people with a world in which their needs are understood and they can communicate with everyone.  Children and young people make outstanding progress socially.  Individuals’ identity, confidence and self-esteem significantly improve.  Children make good academic progress.  Clear, child-focused plans and risk assessments ensure that individual needs are met. Progress is not always fully evaluated and demonstrated in paperwork.  Improvements have been made to the downstairs of the home. The upstairs requires upgrading in all bedrooms and the bathroom.  Children and young people's bedrooms lack child focus and individualisation.  A clear line of staff delegation is not in place particularly at the weekend  External monitoring systems do not meet requirements.

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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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Requirements Due Date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (the independent person’s report) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether Children are effectively safeguarded, and; The conduct of the home promotes the children’s well-being (Regulation 44 (4) (a)(b)) 30/11/2015

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Requirements Due Date

13. The leadership and management standard (2)In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to ensuring clear lines of delegation at weekends and that staff are fully aware of their responsibility and accountability for the implementation of the care plans and risk assessments, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to – (d) ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. 30/11/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Children should be provided with appropriate furniture. Children should be given a choice about how their personal space is decorated in accordance with regulation 7(2)(a)(i). (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 16, paragraph 3.19)  Care which meets each child's needs and promotes their welfare, taking into account the child's gender, social identity, mental health and disability (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 14, paragraph 3.2). With particular reference to staff efforts to provide individual sessions around these subjects should be evaluated and their positive impact fully evidenced showing progress.

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Information about this children's home

The children's home is operated by a charitable trust and is registered to accommodate seven children and young people with a sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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people living in the home are

Individual needs are respected and understood. Diversity is celebrated. One social worker commented, `They are very, very committed to him. We want him to stay at the college there. They really understand his needs.' As a result, children and young people enjoy outstanding relationships with staff. The mix of hearing and non-hearing staff provides children and young people with a wealth of experience and positive role models.

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people living in the home are

Children and young people's communication significantly improves from living in this home. They are supported by staff with excellent communication skills, who use both verbal language and sign language. As a result, children and young people build strong relationships with adults and peers, some for the first time. Friendships develop as a result of children’s and young people’s increased communication skills, social opportunities and confidence. One parent commented, `He is a different person from being there. His confidence, social and planning skills have all improved.'

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people living in the home are

Children and young people benefit from a seamless approach between the home and the onsite school. Their targets are understood by both care and school staff. Consequently, they consistently work on their goals in both settings. This ensures that they continue to progress academically and socially. One teacher commented, 'Communication and working together between home and school is better than it's ever been.'

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people living in the home are

Children and young people's physical and emotional health is regarded as a high priority. Some access child and adolescent mental health services. Other individuals benefit from the range of onsite services such as the registered nurse and psychologist. The onsite facilities such as the sports courts, swimming pool and football pitch promote children and young people's physical health. One young person reported, `I like the swimming pool best.' Others enjoy being part of the football team.

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people living in the home are

The residence is homely and well-furnished downstairs. Children and young people enjoy a range of activities such as computer access and games. One young person said, `I love the football table.' The upstairs of the property requires upgrading and in some areas needs maintenance. The décor of the bathroom and bedrooms is tired, and damage has occurred to flooring and cupboards in some rooms. The majority of children and young people's bedrooms lack individuality and child focus. Providing good quality furnishings and a child-centred environment helps children and young people to feel a sense of value and belonging. Having individualised spaces encourages them to build their sense of identity.

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people are helped and protected

Children and young people benefit from relationships with staff built around trust and mutual respect. Consequently, all children and young people feel safe and said that they could share concerns with staff. Children and young people were clear about complaints procedures and felt that they could access them if they needed to. One social worker commented, ‘They provide a safe and stable environment.’

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people are helped and protected

Individualised behaviour-support profiles ensure that staff provide a consistent approach to managing behaviour. As a result, physical intervention is used as a last resort. For some individuals, incidents of physical intervention have significantly reduced in the last three months. All children and young people have made progress in their behaviour. One grandparent commented, `I cannot believe it’s the same person. Thank you for giving him a chance in life. He's now a different person at home.'

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people are helped and protected

Staff invest time with individuals talking about relationships, appropriate social behaviour, and staying safe. They use sign language and role-play to help children and young people to understand. The evaluation of their efforts and the impact for children and young people is not fully evident in recordings. These do not demonstrate children’s and young people's progress in full.

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people are helped and protected

Individual up-to-date risk assessments ensure that staff are fully aware of children and young people's risks and how to manage them. No children and young people go missing from this home or are involved in associated risks such as child sexual exploitation. Detailed missing-from-home risk assessments and personal missing profiles ensure that, should any event occur the appropriate information is available for staff to follow. This helps to keep children and young people safe. Judgement grade

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leaders and managers

The dedicated registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced to undertake this role. She has been in post since 2011. Staff report feeling well supported by managers. They receive regular supervision. This helps staff to feel confident in their role. One member of staff commented, `We are well supported. You can always have a talk with the manager. Having the deputy helps too.'

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leaders and managers

Staff receive appropriate training, which meets the specific needs of children and young people. During the week, there are clear lines of delegation. At the weekend, there is not. As a result, on occasion no one is fully responsible or accountable for the implementation of care plans and risk assessments.

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leaders and managers

The manager is aware of the strengths and weakness of this service. Consequently, effective management monitoring has swiftly identified practice shortfalls, which have then been quickly addressed. External monitoring systems do not meet regulation and do not provide opinion as to whether children and young people's well-being is promoted or whether they are effectively safeguarded.

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leaders and managers

Positive relationships with other agencies such as social workers, psychologists and the police benefits children and young people as any issues are quickly communicated and addressed. One social worker commented, `We have very good communication with them. The school and care staff work with us to explore issues.'

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leaders and managers

The manager continues to strive for improvement. She has an updated development plan and clearly knows where she can progress the service. As a result, any changes are focused and well planned in the best interest of children and young people. She networks with other homes and services. This helps her to explore new practice ideas and different approaches, potentially enhancing practice further.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 that 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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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