Children's Home, Residential special school run by The Hesley Group Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 1 SC008015

p.1

Hesley Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a residential special school owned by a private company. It is registered as a children’s home and offers care and accommodation for up to 32 children and young people who have a learning disability and/or learning difficulties, together with complex needs. The manager was registered on 23 April 2019.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This was a monitoring visit following concerns being brought to the regulator’s attention in relation to staffing shortages. The concerns related to staff being left alone to care for three children or young people who were subject to a recommendation that they had one-to-one supervision. The provider fully cooperated, looked into the matter and responded to the regulator’s request for information.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

During this monitoring visit, the inspector observed staffing rotas and spoke to managers and staff. The inspector did not find evidence to support the allegations of three-to-one staffing. However, there had been three occasions during a four-week period when children and young people had not received the correct level of staff supervision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Staff rotas are drawn up in advance so that staff know which shifts they are covering. The issues relating to staff shortages have arisen when a large number of staff have phoned in ill on the day of their shift, creating gaps in the rotas. In these situations, the management team uses relief staff or offers staff overtime. Also, the managers who are on duty are expected to cover to minimise any negative impact on the children and young people. Staff spoken to in relation to rotas, staffing and covering shifts did not raise any concerns about being left alone and unsupported with individual children or young people. They reinforced the view that managers assist them with their caring responsibilities as and when needed.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the previous full inspection, a requirement relating to staffing was raised. Staff turnover had been high, which resulted in staff shortages and a lack of continuity of Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 2 care for children and young people. The registered manager has reflected in her quality of care report on the staffing improvements. The provider’s response to these shortfalls demonstrates that they have taken steps to increase the management capacity and to improve the recruitment and retention of staff. The previous requirement has therefore been met.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A recent safeguarding concern involving unexplained injuries to a young person identified gaps in the provider’s communication with the placing authority. The provider appropriately alerted the designated officer for the host authority, but the communication with the placing authority was not sufficiently robust. The provider has reflected upon the shortfalls in their safeguarding procedures and is making attempts to address these. A requirement has been raised in respect of updating their policy and procedures when safeguarding concerns arise.

p.2

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/12/2018 Full Good 10/01/2018 Full Good 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure–

p.3

Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(e)) 01/06/2019

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hesley Services Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hesley Hall Coach House, Hesley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN11 9HH

p.4

Inspector

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 5 to 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.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5