Children's home run by Doncaster Deaf Trust in Doncaster

Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 1 SC035241 Registered provider: Care Afloat 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

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people thrive in a specialist and bespoke care setting where they are enabled to communicate their needs, wishes and feelings.  Young people are supported to celebrate their diversity, they have confidence in their abilities and feel included and cared for.  Excellent collaborative working with families and professionals ensures that the safety, health and education of young people remain a priority.  Young people have many opportunities to express themselves. In addition, they are supported to engage with the wider community. This improves their confidence and self-esteem.  Young people are helped to understand risk, in turn they learn how to keep themselves safe.  Young people receive consistent high-quality care from a caring and committed staff team.

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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

 Amend the home’s statement of purpose to reflect the frequency of staff supervision accurately.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Outstanding 15/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 3

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Recommendations

 The following elements of the workforce plan should be included in the Statement of Purpose: (in accordance with Schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20)) the staffing structure; experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10) In particular, ensure that the plan for supervision is accurately reflected in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people live in a purpose-built home in the grounds of their specialist school. Although the home is in close proximity to the school, staff ensure that there is a clear break from education. The environment is homely and cosy. Young people are involved in the decoration and furnishing of the home as well as having personal choice for their own rooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people flourish and progress in this home. They are cared for by both hearing and deaf staff. All staff members are fluent in British sign language and use this to communicate with the young people. In addition, they encourage young people to develop their vocal skills. As a result of the consistent support they receive, young people are confident in their communication abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people enjoy a wide range of activities, from swimming and sports clubs to days out and short breaks away. A young person said, ‘The activities we do are great. We plan something every week and, in the holidays, there’s always something going on.’ This ensures that they enjoy events outside in the wider community. Young people grow in confidence as a result of new experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Equality and diversity are explored and celebrated. Young people look at different topics every month and enjoy associated activities. This gives them knowledge of other cultures, religions and belief systems. In turn, this increases their social inclusion and their understanding of their society and the world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff promote and support independence skills. Previously isolated young people now have a close community around them. Staff ensure inclusion within a deaf community, in addition to engagement with the wider community. For example, encouraging the young people to use alternative communication methods helps them to integrate confidently and, as a result, their independence has increased. Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 4 The young people make outstanding progress in their education. Staff ensure that there is daily communication with the school. In particular, the manager of the home is visible throughout the school day and provides additional support when necessary. School staff and home staff work seamlessly together. This ensures that young people receive a consistently high level of care and education. Young people are happy and thoroughly enjoy school. They have excellent relationships with their teachers and enjoy socialising

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The young people enjoy a wide range of healthy food both in their home and at school. They are involved in meal planning and shopping. Being active is part of their experience; young people have regular fun physical activity and benefit from an onsite swimming pool and football field. The young people have a wide range of health needs. These are addressed by nurses and specialist health professionals who work within the setting. Health needs are quickly assessed and treated by staff who know the young people. As this staff team is familiar, this reduces anxiety in the young people.

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

Staff have an excellent understanding of risk. A comprehensive range of individual risk assessments helps to safeguard the young people. As a result, staff provide high-quality, safe care while allowing the young people to enjoy a range of pastimes. Young people feel safe and this enhances their self-confidence to try new activities.

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

The use of the internet and social media sites is a crucial communication tool for the young people. Online safety is a high priority for the staff. There is appropriate monitoring software installed on computers. In addition, young people engage in regular discussions about ‘stranger danger’ and internet safety. Young people are not prevented from accessing the internet. However, this is done safely and young people understand the risks associated with online activity. Young people respect the rules that are in place to protect them.

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

Young people respond well to consistent boundaries and they have strong, trusting relationships with staff. As a result, any incidents of inappropriate behaviour are swiftly defused. Sanctions given for behaviours that challenge are appropriate and relative to the incident. Sanctions are agreed and discussed alongside parents and carers. There is greater emphasis on rewarding positive behaviour, and this has led to a reduction in the use of sanctions as a way of managing behaviour. A parent said, ‘There has been a significant change in [name of child’s] behaviour. I follow the same methods as the staff when he is at home. There are rarely any issues when he is at home.’ Staff are trained in physical intervention; however, there have been no incidents recorded since 2016.

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

The young people rarely go missing from the home, and there has been one brief episode in a year. Staff are quick to take action and locate young people. Up-to-date and accurate profiles of young people are used in the event of them going missing. The profiles are of excellent quality and show clearly the vulnerabilities of the young people as well as their communication ability. This ensures that any professionals involved in Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 5 locating young people have clear information.

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

Staff and young people have trusting relationships based on mutual respect. The young people get along well with one another and respect each other’s differences. As a result, there is no bullying in this home. The young people know how to complain and do so when necessary. In the last year there has been one complaint from all the young people in relation to the speed and quality of the internet. Staff responded promptly and secured a new internet provider.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is experienced and appropriately qualified. She has been the home’s manager since 2011. The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home and continuously strives for improvement. She is committed to young people and has significant knowledge and understanding of the issues that deaf people face. She is supported well by an equally strong deputy manager and senior staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team is well established. It is made up of a combination of hearing and deaf staff. Some staff have transferred to work within the school. However, they continue to maintain strong relationships with the young people in the home. Staff receive regular supervision in which they are supported to reflect on and progress their learning. A staff member said, ‘Support from the management team is excellent. We get regular supervision but we can approach them at any time; they’re always there for us to talk to.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is focused on the progress of young people. The manager strives to establish and maintain strong links with family and with social workers. As a result, young people receive the same positive messages whether they are in the home or with family. Everyone involved in the care of the young people receives a weekly newsletter in addition to regular phone calls. Staff attend all meetings and provide high-quality support to both young people and their families. Staff advocate tenaciously for the rights of young people. They are confident in their approach and successfully secure extra support when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses external monitoring visits from an independent person effectively. In addition, the manager completes her own efficient evaluation of the service. This contributes towards the safety, protection and well-being of young people. Risks are managed well and plans for care are seamlessly delivered to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s statement of purpose is, in the main, accurate. A small adjustment is required to reflect the frequency of supervision. The manager and staff consistently meet the aims of the statement of purpose. Young people receive high-quality bespoke and individual care. This helps to ensure their continuous progress. Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 6

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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 differences 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 whom 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: SC035241 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Doncaster Deaf Trust

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Doncaster Deaf Trust, Doncaster School for the Deaf, Leger way, Doncaster, DN2 6AY

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Inspector

Abigail Maspero, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035241 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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