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

Inspection report children's home: SC481444 1 SC481444 Registered provider: Doncaster Children’s Trust Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

An independent trust operates this children’s home and its registration enables it to take up to four girls with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 December 2016

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children's home: SC481444 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people experience good care, support and nurturing from staff who are interested in their well-being. This helps the young people to settle and invest in their plans.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are responsive to the routines and boundaries. This helps them to behave better and show good manners and social graces towards others.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are safe and professionals and parents consider the young people to be safe.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people’s wishes and feelings inform how they are cared for and their views influence how the home operates. Independent advocacy services provide the young people with adults who they can talk to and raise any concerns.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Effective relationships with other agencies and families ensure that the young people have good opportunities to develop and make positive transitions.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The new acting manager has high expectations for the young people. She has a strong track record for raising standards.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are not always recording restrictions of young people’s liberty as a restraint.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Supervision records are not consistently including a focus on the young people’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 10/05/2016 Full Outstanding 17/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC481444 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

In order to complete the quality of care review, with particular reference to compiling good-quality, factually accurate and strong evaluative reports, the registered person must maintain a system for monitoring and evaluating the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(5)) 19/05/2017

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Recommendations

 Restraint also includes restricting a child’s liberty of movement. This includes, for example, changes to the physical environment of the home (such as using high door handles) and removal of physical aids (such as turning off a child’s electric wheelchair). Restrictions such as these, and all other restrictions of liberty of movement, should be recorded as restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.42)  A record of supervision should be kept for staff including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with Regulation 33 (4)(b). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3). Specifically, ensure that supervision is recorded effectively with a focus on children’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback. Inspection report children's home: SC481444 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people experience good care and support from staff who are interested in them and are helping them to prosper. One young person described the home as a ‘good’. They look comfortable in the home. The young people are responding positively to the routines and boundaries implemented by staff who actively challenge their negative behaviours. This is resulting in the young people causing less disruption, staying at the home more often and engaging with staff. As a result, they resume their relationships with staff and focus better on their education plans and future goals. A social worker said about one young person’s progress, ‘It’s been a difficult four months, but now you can see a light at the end of the tunnel.’ A parent said that staff had ‘done wonders’ with her child. Staff recognise that they are not always able to meet some young people’s changing needs in a safe way despite their determined efforts. A professional said ‘it has not been

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

for the want of trying’ with regards to the care of one young person who has highly complex needs. Appropriate challenge from the provider and good collaborative working with other professionals and agencies has resulted in bespoke care and transition planning for young people. This ensures the least distress to the young person. Those young people who have moved on since the last inspection have done so in a planned way. Staff treat young people in a caring and nurturing way that promotes mutual respect. Young people’s engagement in their key work sessions allows them to discuss issues, such as positive relationships, bullying, behaviour and changes to the staff team. Young people’s involvement in their plans and the running of the home makes them feel listened to and involved. A staff member said, ‘If it’s reasonable and feasible then we will look at it.’ For example, staff acted on one young person’s wish to move bedrooms and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

she is now considering the colour scheme. Another young person’s modelling of good manners from staff is helping her to improve her social graces and manners in the home and in the community. Young people’s engagement with a visiting advocate provides an independent adult with whom they can share their views about home life and any concerns. Young people’s life experiences improve by the activities that keep them occupied. It also provides some educational value, builds on the relationships around them and improves their confidence. This includes visiting the cinema, bowling, ice skating and go- karting. Young people’s contact with their family develops their positive bonds and promotes their culture and identity. Effective relationships with health professionals make sure that young people’s health and well-being are monitored and protected. Young people are supported to attend their health appointments. Regular consultation with healthcare professionals, such as the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

looked after children’s nurse, promotes good staff practice and a positive source of advice and guidance on a range of health issues. Young people develop life skills that will help them now and in the future. Included are the young people who have limited ability who although need more support are encouraged as far as possible to help themselves. Other young people are learning Inspection report children's home: SC481444 5 practical skills, such as budgeting, preparing meals and carrying out their personal care, in preparation for the next stage of their journey. Young people live in a welcoming and friendly home. The furniture and decoration are to a good standard and provide a pleasant abode that values the young people who live there.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people feel safe and overall, parents and professionals agree with this view. This is due to the action taken by staff to protect young people from risks associated with radicalisation and child sexual exploitation. A social worker said, ‘Child sexual exploitation issues have subsided. Staff were on it and dealt with the issue last year really quickly and there has been nothing since.’ Young people have reduced the occasions that they go missing from the home, which maximises their safety because staff know where they are. When young people have left the home without authority, staff search for them and follow the agreed missing from care protocols in conjunction with the police. Staff effectively use the services of the independent advocate. Her good rapport with the young people enables informal chats about the reasons why they go missing. Strategy meetings address any safeguarding concerns and make sure that young people who

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

often go missing receive the right guidance and support. Risk management strategies and key work sessions allow staff to talk to the young people about keeping themselves safe. Staff act on safeguarding concerns and report to the placing authority and other safeguarding agencies to ensure a full investigation into the issues. Where an investigation outcome has been inconclusive, staff continue to check on young people’s well-being to secure their continued safety. Allegations made by the young people against staff and peers are properly dealt with. Senior management oversight shows the level of seriousness when these incidents happen, which promotes transparent outcomes and protective strategies. Sound staff recruitment and vetting practices make sure that the adults appointed to care for the young people are suitable. Checks on visitors before they enter the home prevent any unauthorised people from entering the home who may wish to harm the

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

young people. Until recently, the dynamics between some of the girls have been very challenging. For example, bullying, intimidation, threats of violence and anti-social behaviours between peers and towards members of the public have been common features. The positive action taken by staff challenges poor, disrespectful behaviour and educates the young people about acceptable behaviours, thus reinforcing clear routines and boundaries. This also helps the young people to settle down into home life. It also enables them to take responsibility for their actions and focus on their individual goals. The young people enjoy the praise from staff, which boosts their self-esteem and is showing positive signs of improved behaviour. Specific behaviour management strategies make sure that those young people with highly challenging behaviours stay safe. Physical intervention is a last resort to de- escalate outbursts and safeguard everyone. However, on at least two occasions, some of

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

the protective measures used have been restrictive and not recorded as restraint. Inspection report children's home: SC481444 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a new manager appointed since the last inspection. Her application to register as the manager is with Ofsted. The acting manager is no stranger to this home, having held deputy and acting manager posts here in recent years. She has also been a registered manager in another home within the organisation and is a familiar face to the young people. The acting manager is suitably qualified and experienced with an ambitious vision and high expectations for the young people. She brings a wealth of knowledge and credibility to the role and has a strong track record for raising standards. The staff team welcome her clear direction and support. A member of staff described the acting manager as ‘fantastic’. The acting manager has a supportive management team. Included is a new deputy manager who brings significant years of knowledge and transferable skills to the team. The acting manager’s fluent understanding of the young people’s care plans helps her to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

meet their needs and negotiate services with other professionals and agencies. She spends time talking with the young people, supporting them to invest in their plans. The acting manager’s understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses helps her to prioritise and improve services for the young people. She monitors the activities in the home to make sure that young people receive the right services, helping to improve their life chances. For example, attending meetings to improve the continuity of care and ensuring the oversight of the specialist nurses caring for a young person. External monitoring from the independent visitor provides appropriate challenge and helps the acting manager to correct any shortfalls. The action taken to meet the requirements made at the last inspection shows that the provider has learned lessons from previous shortfalls and has the capacity to improve the young people’s experiences. This includes improved management oversight and the

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

promotion of positive relationships between the young people and staff. Better safeguarding practices and medication management keep the young people safer. Notifications sent to Ofsted about all serious incidents enable Ofsted to carry out its regulatory duties. The manager’s six-monthly report is due to be submitted to Ofsted, therefore the progress made cannot be determined at this stage. Changes in the staff team have caused some disruption in the home. However, temporary staff member’s contribution to the core staff team provides consistent care to the young people. The acting manager knows that the further planned staff changes may destabilise the young people, but she is keeping them informed regularly and supporting them during this transitional phase. New and existing staff receive good management and peer support. In addition, the training opportunities and supervision help the team to meet the young people’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although staff supervision takes place, the records do not consistently detail the discussions held about the young people’s experiences, needs, plans and feedback. Attention to detail in this area would support practice and care planning decisions. Overall, professionals and parents speak positively about the quality of care at this home. A parent said, ‘What they do is fantastic, despite the different staff and shifts.’ A social care professional said, ‘Communication is good. If there is an incident, we will find out straight away.’ Inspection report children's home: SC481444 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children's home: SC481444 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Doncaster Children’s Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Blue Building, 38–40 High Street, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 1DE

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Inspector(s)

Jacqueline Malcolm: social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC481444 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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