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

Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 1 SC064454 Registered provider: Dove Adolescent Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and run. The home is registered as a two-to-two ratio residential children’s home that accommodates children or young people of both genders who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home can accommodate children or young people of any age. However, normally they are between 12 and 18 years old. The admissions process is robust. It includes the completion of a shared living risk assessment. The assessment allows the children’s and young people’s needs to be carefully matched with co-residents, including age, stage and emotional development. This matching ensures that the placement is in the best interests of all the children and young people. There is an experienced and suitably qualified registered manager in post.

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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: 1 November 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2017 Full Good 13/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/01/2017 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 3

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Recommendations

 A child’s bedroom should not generally be entered without their permission, though it may be necessary to establish routines to allow for rooms to be cleaned regularly. Usually, rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20) In particular, ensure that all room searches are recorded regardless of who undertakes the search and that attempts are made to inform the young person prior to the search taking place.  Under regulation 46, the registered person should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented

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Recommendations

by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) In particular, ensure that the location risk assessment includes any information on risks associated with county lines and radicalisation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living at the home have been appropriately matched. Transition plans are highly individualised and the young people are consulted at every stage. Both young people have settled well. They are relaxed and comfortable in their surroundings and get on well together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff clearly understand each young person’s risks and vulnerabilities and staff tailor care to meets young people’s diverse needs. This has helped the young people to establish positive relationships with the staff. Young people are treated with dignity and respect and this is reciprocated. A young person said: ‘I really like living at this home. I get on well with the staff and they are really helping me to get back on track.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people’s health and well-being are promoted. Staff offer age-appropriate supervision and guidance while acknowledging the young people’s need for privacy and free time. This has helped the young people to settle down and to make positive progress in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote and facilitate bespoke education packages that are tailored to the Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 4 young people’s interests and strengths. This approach has seen a significant improvement in both young people’s engagement in education and post-16 training. One young person has been supported to apply for an apprenticeship in hair and beauty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both young people are in good health, physically and emotionally. Monitoring of any health concerns is acted upon and staff are proactive in liaising with healthcare professionals. Young people are now taking more responsibility for their own health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships and regular communication with professionals and partner agencies ensure that the well-being of the young people is at the centre of their practice. Care plans are reviewed and updated regularly and are used to inform current and future practice. Young people’s achievements are celebrated and rewarded.

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

Children and young people are safe in this home. Young people trust that members of staff will keep them safe. The young people know that members of staff will look for them if they do not return home.

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

The young people in the home go missing far less often than in previous placements. The staff team follows the local missing from home and care protocols. This includes talking to the young people when they return. Staff members encourage young people to think about their risky behaviour. Room search records have not routinely been completed in line with procedures when undertaken by other professionals. A recommendation has been made at this inspection.

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

Risk assessments are up to date and are detailed. When the risk of child sexual exploitation is an issue, members of staff liaise with other professionals. This means that staff take the right action when needed. Staff have not always considered risks from county lines behaviour. There is no evidence of this being a problem in the home now.

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

Drug and alcohol misuse is not a significant problem in this home. Members of staff talk to the young people about the risks associated with this behaviour. Staff members impose sanctions if a young person takes drugs. These sanctions are proportionate and are accepted by the young people.

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

The behaviour of the young people in the home is good. The staff team builds positive relationships with the young people. As a result, the young people respond well to boundaries and expectations made of them. There have been no physical restraints.

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

This home uses safe recruitment processes. Staff members are vetted, and background checks are carried out. Staff members complete safeguarding training and physical intervention training as part of their induction.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 5 The manager is suitably skilled and experienced. She is highly motivated and leads a well-established and cohesive staff team. She has managed the home for over two years and clearly knows the staff and young people very well. This helps the young people to settle quickly into the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff offer stability and consistency of care. The young people have effectively grown up in the care of the same staff team. Family and friend relationships are encouraged and nurtured. This enhances the safety and well-being of the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has robust measures in place to review and monitor day-to-day practice. She uses external and internal reports to evaluate and improve the service and the quality of care. The manager has grown in confidence and by her own admission has become more robust when assessing referrals and admissions to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that is both reflective and meaningful. New staff have the opportunity to complete a clearly defined induction process and staff report being well supported by the manager. This enables staff to feel confident in their practice and to make decisions when the manager is absent from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training opportunities for staff are wide-ranging and all staff are up to date in their mandatory training. Continuous professional development is a key strength, and all staff have either completed or are on track to complete their level 3 diploma.

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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: SC064454 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dove Adolescent Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 170 Southgate, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 1QJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Barbara Whittaker

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Inspector(s)

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Jane Titley: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 7 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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