Children's home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Wakefield

Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 1 SC355839 Registered provider: Dove Adolescent Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children or young people who may have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home offers short-, medium- and long-term care and will consider emergency admissions. The home endeavours to ensure that a warm homely environment is created to inspire children and young people to feel safe and secure. The daily routine of the home is centred on the children and young people’s needs. Every effort is made to involve children and young people as much as possible with the decisions around the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is currently undertaking her level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She has been the registered manager of the home since August 2019.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2018 Full Good 01/08/2017 Full Outstanding 08/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/12/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatizing way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is with particular relevance to focused work being pre-emptive and child- centred. Recording activity should evidence the views and the voice of the child.  Staff should be skilled in understanding the range of influences that friendships can have and should encourage those with a positive impact and discourage those with a negative impact. Homes that care for children who have, or are likely, to sexually offend should establish the extent to which friendships can be

p.3

Recommendations

supported, in line with the child’s relevant plans and subject to the safety of all concerned. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.8) This is with particular relevance to completing a shared living risk assessment when considering new admissions to the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality and delivery of care are individualised, and the children and young people are making progress relative to their starting points. Staff want the best for them. The staff listen to, negotiate and engage with the children and young people. This helps the children and young people to settle into the home so that they have positive experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are reliable and good role models for the children and young people. The children and young people benefit from stability of care from a committed and competent staff team. The home is warm and welcoming and it offers a nurturing environment where children and young people can feel a sense of belonging. One child is now accepting that this is his home after many months of uncertainty.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people have opportunities to engage in a range of activities in the home and in the local community. One child could not decide which musical instrument to learn and has had taster lessons in drumming, keyboard and guitar. Another young person enjoys having her nails done and going clothes shopping. Visits to Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 4 Harry Potter World, wildlife parks and the seaside have been first-time experiences for some of the children and young people.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Any discord between the children and young people is immediately addressed. Focused work is undertaken to help them understand the impact of their behaviours on others. Good staffing ratios ensure that the children and young people continue to enjoy individual attention and structured time. The children and young people would benefit from some focused work that prepares them as they grow and develop.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have worked through some difficult times in stabilising the behaviour of one child who suffered early-life trauma and family bereavement. Staff are proactive and seek advice from specialist services, and that underpins their approach in managing challenging behaviour. A social worker said: ‘Staff are very much on the ball, using good strategies to de-escalate situations and manage behaviour. I am very impressed with the progress [name of child] has made.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Much effort has been made to support and prepare the children and young people for their return to education. For one child, this has followed a significant period of non- school attendance. The manager has been a good advocate and professionally challenged to ensure that good decisions are made in the best interests of the children and young people in her care.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Contact with extended family is promoted, and, when appropriate, the nurturing and promotion of family relationships are supported. A family member said: ‘Staff are doing a wonderful job and they make me feel welcome when I visit the home.’

p.4

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

The risks and vulnerabilities of children and young people are clearly assessed, identified and recorded. Actions are in place to reduce risk-taking behaviour, and the children and young people are looked after in a safe and nurturing environment. The need for physical intervention has been minimal. Only on the rare occasion has it been used to safeguard the child or young person from harm to self and/or others. The children and young people reported that they feel safe and well cared for.

p.4

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

The children and young people respond well to consistent boundaries that are in place, which are fair and age appropriate. Restorative practice and the use of incentives have helped the children and young people to understand the consequences of their behaviour.

p.4

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

The management of negative behaviour and the triggers for each child and young person are well documented and clearly understood. There is a clear risk management strategy in place that responds to and manages incidents as and when they occur.

p.4

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

Engagement in a multi-agency framework informs future planning, and decisions are not made in isolation. The best interests and the needs of the children and young people are paramount. Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 5 Shared living assessments are completed when a child or young person is admitted to the home. The manager would benefit from assessing all known risks and vulnerabilities in order to mitigate and minimise potential or actual risk. This would ensure the safety and well-being of all the children and young people living at the home.

p.4

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

For one young person, the balance of increasing independence and free time with appropriate levels of supervision is managed well. This has resulted in a marked reduction in missing from care incidents. The young person has settled down well and has developed a good rapport with all the staff. The young person responds well to the safe agreements in place about contact with friends because her opinions have been sought.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recently registered manager has ambition and demonstrates her own style of leadership skills combined with a very hands-on approach. There was a seamless transition and good handover between the departing manager and the new manager. The staff team and the children have embraced the change well.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children and young people very well; behaviour management plans and risk assessments are individualised and well documented. Recording activity is detailed and of good quality. The change to a new electronic recording system still has its challenges and some drawbacks in ensuring that the voice of the child is clear and evident.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and quality assurance activities are undertaken through a range of processes, such as independent regulatory reports, consultation with children young people, supervision of staff and surveys.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment practices are in place. The staff are regularly supervised, and there is comprehensive training available that supports staff development. This helps the staff to meet the specific needs of the children and young people and to keep abreast with current issues, such as county lines and all types of exploitation. Continuous professional development is given priority.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is developing the home through new ideas and initiatives, such as more planned focused sessions and journey books for the children and young people. She has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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: SC355839 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dove Adolescent Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Barbara Whittaker

p.7

Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC355839 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.

p.7

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 http://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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8