Children's Home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Barnsley

Good

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

p.2

The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people are supported to build secure and stable relationships with adults in the home, who listen to and value the young people.  Young people live in a safe environment, and staff take appropriate actions to support and protect them.  The home is warm, comfortable and welcoming. Young people are encouraged to take ownership of the home and personalise their living space.  A stable and familiar staff team contributes to the overall consistency of the operation of the home.  Staff know the young people very well and are attuned to their needs.  Care plans are updated with an accurate assessment of risk factors and desired outcomes.  Young people’s positive behaviour is recognised and reinforced.

p.3

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Challenge the child’s education provider if insufficient support is provided to progress as outlined in the relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.11)  Update the safeguarding policy with information on female genital mutilation and radicalisation. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.22)

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/06/2015 Full Good 04/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/10/2014 Full Good

p.4

Good

The home provides a warm and positive environment for young people in which they feel safe and well looked after by the staff and manager. Young people’s wishes and feelings are taken into account, and a range of activities are offered to enhance their experiences. Residents meetings serve as a place where young people can voice their thoughts on the matters that directly concern them. Relationships between staff and young people are positive. One young person said ‘I love this house’ and described one member of staff as being ‘like a mum to me’.

p.5

Good

Young people have individualised care plans that assess their needs and strengths, as well as desired outcomes. Focus sessions cover what matters to the young person at the moment, as well as any risks identified from the care plans and any action items from incidents. This allows for reflection on what can be done differently by the young person and the staff for better outcomes.

p.5

Good

Young people know that they can talk to the staff and manager. They enjoy a good level of contact with family members. One parent stated that the staff are ‘brilliant’ and communicate very well with her.

p.5

Good

Young people are supported to attend school regularly and make progress in their education. Staff liaise regularly with the school in an effort to help young people to engage with their learning. However, more could be done to escalate concerns when young people are not having the support that they need to make progress with their education. The assistant virtual headteacher shared that the staff attend meetings and have supported one young person through a change of schools. Another education provider stated that there is ‘good communication’ with the home.

p.5

Good

An independent reviewing officer indicated that young people have made good progress from their starting points. A children looked after nurse also felt that young people’s health needs were well met and that young people were safe here.

p.5

Good

Partnership working is effective. Staff attend private providers meetings and keep themselves well informed of what is happening in the area, which informs the home’s overall care of the young people. Judgement grade

p.5

Good

Young people’s health and risk assessments are updated, including any risks associated with self-harming, misusing drugs or alcohol, going missing and child sexual exploitation as well as physical health. Assessments are clear, current, detailed and informative, with expectations and preventative actions as well as appropriate levels of interventions to respond to any increased risks. These interventions are effective in reducing risk. For example, the number of self-harming incidents have decreased through the efforts of the staff to support the young people.

p.6

Good

When young people go missing, the home consistently follows its ‘missing from home’ procedures. Return home interviews are offered and staff interventions have helped to reduce the number of such incidents. One social worker wrote to the home in relation to one young person whom the staff have kept safe ‘during the most vulnerable time of her life’. Another professional was impressed with how the staff were personally proactive to ensure that a young person who was missing from the home was safe, in addition to making contact with the appropriate authorities.

p.6

Good

One young person stated that she can talk to the staff and feels well supported. Staff teach independent living skills to the young people at the home to help them to prepare for life beyond care. This is successful, as young people are able to cook for themselves, do their washing, go grocery shopping, travel and manage their money.

p.6

Good

The home promotes positive behaviour, and the staff recognise young people’s achievements, however big or small. This leads to young people feeling valued and appreciated.

p.6

leaders and managers

The registered manager has been in post since October 2016. She has extensive experience of working with children and young people who are looked after. The manager’s energy and commitment to providing young people with good care is palpable, and her self-evaluation of her strengths and weaknesses is honest and thoughtful. This contributes to the manager’s assessment of the young people’s needs and ensures that care plans reflect the support required to achieve desired outcomes.

p.6

leaders and managers

The statement of purpose clearly sets out the ethos and objectives of the home, which the manager and the staff model in their work with the young people. Staff are clear about expectations and standards of practice. Staff supervision is regular and records capture feedback, progress towards objectives and learning from reflective practice discussions. The home’s safeguarding policy does not include information on female genital mutilation or radicalisation. The manager and staff are offered training on these, but such matters are not reflected in their safeguarding policy.

p.6

leaders and managers

The recruitment process is safe and child centred. Newly appointed staff receive appropriate induction and are supported to develop the skills and knowledge that they need to work with the young people. One new staff member shared that she has found the induction helpful and the team supportive. She stated that the home is ‘a really good environment’ in which to work.

p.7

leaders and managers

Most of the staff have been working at the home for a long time, resulting in a stable workforce which contributes to the consistency of practice and care delivered to the young people. A staff member who has been with the provider for 15 years stated how the home provides good training to staff and that the home has enjoyed a high rate of retention. This contributes to overall stability, benefiting the young people.

p.7

leaders and managers

The manager ensures that the appropriate authorities are notified of all significant events relating to the welfare and protection of young people living at the home and that necessary action is taken following the incident to make certain that the young person’s needs are met and that they are safe.

p.7

leaders and managers

Team meetings are child focused, and the minutes of these meetings demonstrate that manager’s and staff’s knowledge of the young people’s needs and strengths are clearly evident. They also share their views on future planning, better to equip the young people to experience a safe and enriching life beyond care. This feeds into young people’s care plans to help the young people to make further progress. This contributes to the overall care of the young people and the support that they need to achieve positive outcomes.

p.7

leaders and managers

The independent visitor’s reports reflect the progress that young people make. These assist the manager in monitoring the quality of care provided for young people.

p.7

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’. 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

p.8

What the inspection judgements mean

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

p.8

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

p.9

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.9

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 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,

p.10

Information about this inspection

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

p.10

Information about this inspection

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

p.10

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.10