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

Good

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:

 A skilled, experienced and nurturing staff team provides children and young people with consistent care, empowering them to engage with the service and make good progress.  The innovative ‘edge of care’ service prevents family breakdown and supports children and young people to remain living safely with their parents and carers.  Children and young people placed in the home on an emergency basis are sensitively and skilfully prepared to move on to a permanent placement or to return to their family home.  Children and young people report that they feel safe.  Good behaviour management policies are effectively applied, providing children and young people with a sense of security.  Good partnership working with relevant professionals protects children and young people from the risks of going missing and sexual exploitation.  The home is meeting its responsibilities as described in its excellent statement of purpose.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Robust internal and external monitoring systems contribute towards promoting children’s and young people’s well-being and their protection.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that- within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes - a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) - has spoken to the user about the measure has signed the record to confirm it is accurate within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 31/08/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely domestic environments (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). In particular, that the ‘emergency bedroom’ is decorated, the obsolete telephone is removed from the hall and the locks on the shower room door are repaired.  The home should be located in an area that supports children’s safety, well- being and personal development. The location of the home should support its aims, objectives and ethos, as described in the statement of purpose (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.23). In particular, that the locality assessment should reflect the

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Recommendations

area in which the home is located and the risks posed by nearby railway lines and the river.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by Doncaster Children’s Services Trust. It provides time-limited intervention to children and young people who are at risk of entering the care system. This includes offering an intensive support package to young people, with overnight stays if necessary. An ‘emergency bed’ is also available.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Children and young people enjoy their overnight stays in a spacious detached home. The property is well equipped to meet their needs. There is a large lounge, dining room and separate activity rooms in which to engage in shared activities with staff, or spend time alone if they wish. Children and young people each have their own bedroom and a choice of a bath or shower. The home is in a residential area with easy access to the town centre and a wide range of amenities. A young person reported, ‘I like coming to (Name of the home) because I get to do lots of games and I like the staff because they are funny and kind.’ At the time of the inspection, there was only one young person in residence. He was staying on an emergency basis until a placement in a therapeutic unit became available for him. During his time in the home, the committed staff team worked extremely hard to engage with him and provide him with a sense of security and

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Good

belonging. This included turning one of the rooms into his ‘play-room’ and encouraging him to participate in inclusive activities in the community. As a result of the trust the young person developed with staff, he was able to meet calmly with people from the new home. The home staff also took the young person to the therapeutic placement on the day he moved, which increased his chances of settling positively as he felt cared about and valued. A youth offending service worker said of staff and the young person, ‘They are definitely doing their best so he can do his best.’ Detailed and comprehensive care plans incorporate all of a child or young person’s assessed needs. These, coupled with day-to-day activities and well-recorded key work sessions, empower children and young people. For example, the use of the targeted ‘bullseye’ sheets allows children and young people to track their progress over a 12-week period. This builds self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to

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Good

try more productive ways of expressing themselves or to engage further with services. A young person wrote, ‘My mum doesn’t look as stressed. I feel I have calmed down towards my mum in general. On a scale of 1-10, I feel a 10 today.’ In addition, the improved use of genograms with children and young people empowers them to understand their place within their families. This also enhances their understanding of their culture. A staff member said, ‘By working with the families we are making the young people’s lives better.’ Children and young people report extremely positively about the impact this service is having on their lives and on preventing admissions into care. One example of how effective the combination of services has been involved a 16-year old young person. A senior staff member said, ‘She was admitted to the emergency bed on a Friday in May. She had previously been sofa surfing after a fallout with

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Good

mum. She spent the weekend here and we did some edge of care work with her about risky behaviours and then had a 72-hour meeting on Monday with mum and nan. She returned home with edge of care support and that has continued up until now.’ Children and young people build close, trusting relationships with staff, empowering them to avail themselves of the care provided. This sense of security and being heard allows them to address presenting issues together with their families. A parent reported, ‘I feel this is the only service that has helped my family. Without their support, my kids would not have been with me. They were a great support and I wish they could stay with us. They were a great support at home and late at night when I needed them.’ Although, as stated in the statement of purpose, ‘attendance and issues surrounding a young person’s education will remain a matter of parental responsibility,’ children and young people receive consistent encouragement to

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Good

rekindle their interest in education. This, coupled with good partnership working with schools, promotes positive outcomes for young people both now and in their future adult lives. A young person wrote, ‘You have helped me return to school as I never used to go to school. I like coming here, it’s a laugh and I have fun.’ As children and young people involved with the service either remain living with their parents or carers, or are resident on a short-term basis, the home does not have primary responsibility for their health. Any specific needs are addressed and met as necessary but children and young people maintain contact with their known health professionals. Nevertheless, children’s and young people’s emotional health and well-being improve as they grow in confidence in their abilities to make positive choices in their lives. The statement of purpose states that, ‘A young person’s needs will be met by

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Good

promoting the use of music, books, skin care, hair care, fashion and dress, and the home will overtly recognise and celebrate the different festivals and seasons of various religions.’ Reports from children and young people about how much they enjoy spending time in the home, demonstrate that this aim is being met. Carefully arranged activities reflect children’s and young people’s identified interests and introduces them to new, positive pastimes. They feel listened to and respected. This gives them the confidence to express their views and engage with key working sessions around any areas of concern. A social worker reported, ‘The input has been absolutely fantastic and parents state that they can see a tangible difference in (Name’s) behaviour. The input has given the family hope that getting (Name) to behave is achievable.’ Although there are planned refurbishments for this home, some immediate improvements are needed. The decorating in the emergency bedroom is tired and

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Good

evidence of damage by previous residents needs to be rectified. The obsolete telephone on the wall in the hallway and the addition of new locks on the shower room door, without removing the old ones, give the home an institutionalised feel.

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Good

Children and young people report that they are, and feel, safe in this home. A comprehensive range of risk assessments, both generic to the home and individual to the child or young person, identify specific vulnerabilities. Staff incorporate these into care planning and behaviour management strategies, providing protection and learning opportunities. A young person said, ‘I felt safe and staff were helpful and explained why I was here.’ It is rare that there is more than one young person resident at a time. Nevertheless, good bullying procedures specify how any such behaviours will be addressed in the home and community. These include the potential impact of ‘banter’ on children’s and young people’s self-esteem. Consequently, children and young people have the confidence to raise any concerns they have, protecting them and enhancing their well-being. Robust fire drill processes ensure that all children and young people, and staff,

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Good

would know what to do in the case of an emergency. In addition, the home has made positive links with the local fire service. These provide young people, who may have been involved in fire starting, with the opportunity to address such behaviours and prevent recurrences. The home’s locality assessment covers areas such as involvement in gang-related activities, substance misuse and whether there are risks of sexual exploitation. This information positively informs risk assessments, thereby protecting children and young people. However, the home is located close to railway lines and within walking distance of a large river. These have not been included in the assessment, so the full risks of their proximity have not been assessed. There has been an increase in the number of missing from home episodes since the last inspection. These have mostly been from young people who have been placed in an emergency. Very good missing from home procedures, linked with

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Good

locally agreed protocols are effectively applied. The conscientious staff team has built strong relationships with specialist police officers and services, enabling young people to be swiftly located and returned home. As well as young people receiving appropriate visits from an independent person following their return, key workers undertake specific worksheets with them. This allows young people to explore the reasons for their behaviours and engage with the boundaries applied within the home. Consequently, once young people settle, their missing episodes decrease. Not only does this safeguard children and young people but it also increases their future placement options, whether this is a return to the family home or a move to a long-term residential establishment. The well-trained staff team recognises the risks associated with child sexual exploitation. Each child or young person’s individual vulnerabilities are

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Good

comprehensively assessed, allowing specific strategies to be employed. Children and young people are safeguarded by these measures. The members of the skilled and experienced staff team are good role models. Their adherence to consistent and nurturing boundaries allows children and young people to build good relationships swiftly and to learn positive behaviour strategies for themselves. As a result, for the most part, children and young people behave appropriately and there is little need for any physical intervention. When restraints do occur, recording is not sufficiently detailed. This does not provide children and young people with opportunities to reflect on their behaviour and learn from the event.

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Good

The suitably qualified registered manager has been managing this home since January 2002. Her consistent, organised and nurturing approach is evident throughout the care provided in the home. She empowers staff to take responsibility for specific areas that further enrich care for children and young people, such as appointing a child sexual exploitation champion. Such is the staff’s confidence as a result of her leadership, and her guidance of the senior workers in the team, that they are able to maintain the smooth running of the home in any periods of absence. The highly motivated staff team is clearly committed to obtaining the best possible outcomes for children and young people. There have not been any changes in staff since the last inspection and all of the members of the team have been employed in this home, or sister homes, for over 10 years. This continuity and consistency provides children and young people with a sense of security. A young person, who

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Good

returned to the home for an overnight stay after a lengthy absence said, ‘It was nice to have the same staff all still working here, it makes it nicer, familiar innit.’ Staff all report positively about the good quality supervision they receive. The reflective practice applied allows staff to build on their strengths and to address any areas of development. Regular attendance at both generic and specialist training courses further enhances their knowledge and skills. This has enabled the staff team to meet the needs of the children, young people and families involved in the edge of care service, as well as those needing emergency support. Records evidence that children and young people are benefiting from the good relationships the manager and staff have with all partner agencies. This proactive approach ensures that children and young people receive all appropriate, and necessary, services to meet their needs.

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Good

There were no requirements or recommendations raised at the last inspection. Nevertheless, the manager has used her internal monitoring processes, and the wishes and feelings of all interested parties, to enhance the service. For example, the initial time-span for the edge of care service was eight weeks. After reviewing outcomes and listening to the views of all concerned, this has now been extended to 12 weeks. A social worker commented, ‘I feel the support offered to the parent and young person has been really productive. I have noticed a definite change in how the parent has addressed issues and she has been calmer in her approach towards her daughter. Both now have time to listen to each other. The service has been approachable from a professional point of view.’ The external monitoring visits result in good, detailed reports which give a thorough picture of the care provided, as well as a range of action points for the

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Good

manager to implement to improve standards. They fully meet with legislation and contribute to the quality of care and safeguarding in the home. The comprehensive and detailed statement of purpose provides a clear picture of the service. This ensures that children and young people are placed appropriately, either for the edge of care provision or in the emergency bed. Clear guidelines on the use of the emergency bed prevent the children and young people receiving edge of care support from any negative impact. As a result, there is a significant reduction in the number of children and young people needing to come into the care of the local authority. This effectively demonstrates that the home is meeting its aim that, ‘We will assist children, young people and their families to repair their past and support them to prepare for their future.’

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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 children looked after 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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

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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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