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. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children or young people on a two-to-two ratio. The home accommodates children or young people of any age, irrespective of gender. However, normally they are between 12 and 18 years old. The admission process is robust and includes the completion of a shared living risk assessment, which allows the young people’s needs to be carefully matched with co-residents to ensure that the placement is in the best interests of all the young people. Since the last inspection, there have been no admissions or discharges and the young people in placement are settled. The manager has been registered since February 2017 and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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

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

09/10/2018 Full Good 01/11/2017 Full Good 13/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/01/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 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, the 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that bedrooms are free of hazards, are clean and well maintained in accordance with health and safety standards. Ensure that the monitoring of illegal substances being brought into the home is undertaken in accordance with the young person’s care plan. 25/10/2019

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged to develop positive relationships with others both in and outside the home as set out in the positive relationships standard. However, staff should be alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from such relationships including with other children in the home, staff, family members, friends and others outside the home, and they therefore should take appropriate steps to protect a child where there are concerns for a child’s safety. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13) In particular, when young people have long periods of free time, staff should utilise this time to engage in positive activities with the young people to progress their independence or to support them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people living at this home are making good progress. This home has been the longest placement for both young people. They have settled well because the young people can rely on the consistent support and guidance from a well-established staff team. The staff have worked hard at building trusting relationships with the young people and they have been able to grow and learn in a caring environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate, through their actions, that they care and enjoy the company of the young people. The rapport and light-hearted banter create a relaxed, homely atmosphere. Staff make every attempt to encourage the young people to engage in activities, with some success. Generally, the young people prefer to spend the majority of their free time with their respective peers, boyfriends or girlfriends. One young person said: ‘We communicate a lot on social media. We celebrate our birthdays together and we are there for each other.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and encourage the importance of education and employment. The staff have been proactive in supporting one young person to transition from school to college. Another young person has completed a hairdressing apprenticeship and is actively being supported to apply for jobs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use a range of consultation methods to engage with the young people. Consultation often takes place in the evenings or when travelling to and from college or to their various appointments. This is when focused work is at its best and most effective. The work has covered pertinent issues, such as smoking, sexual health and improving relationships. Staff would benefit from utilising periods of free time to further engage with the young people in relation to, for example, independence work.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Continuous communication between the care staff, professionals, parents and also the young people ensures that everyone is aware of the goals the young people are working towards. The young people have experienced well-planned transitions and are engaged in housing projects where they work towards getting their own tenancy. Their futures are well planned, with good transitional support in place.

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

Most importantly, both young people state that they feel safe and protected since living at this home. They enjoy close relationships with staff and work is done with the young people around staying in touch and keeping safe. One young person said: ‘Basically, without all the support that I have received, I wouldn’t be where I am today.’

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

Young people have up-to-date risk assessments and care plans. These documents clearly evidence the progress the young people have made and continue to make. Risks associated with child sexual exploitation, petty crime and going missing from care are much reduced. Effective multi-agency working practice has contributed to this significant Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 5 progress. A youth offending worker said: ‘I have applied for early revocation of the order as [Name of young person] has turned his life around.’

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

Due to the positive relationships with the young people, staff are more attuned to identifying any anxieties or worries facing the young people. The young people respond well to open and honest dialogue, where they can reflect on their behaviour. This has helped the young people to move forward with their lives and to have realistic aspirations for their futures.

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

The health, safety and well-being of the young people are taken seriously, and staff are conscientious in their efforts to support the young people in adopting a healthier lifestyle. As a result, one young person has lost a significant amount of weight through healthy eating and cycling. Staff must actively respond to health and safety issues in the home which are a potential hazard, such as young people smoking in their bedrooms.

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

Daily visual welfare checks are completed on one young person to support her transition to independent living. A social worker said: ‘Staff continue to be as supportive as they can and provide an incredible safety net for [Name of young person].’ Staff are very involved in pathway planning and strive to ensure that the plans are completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager of this home has been in post since February 2017 and is suitably qualified for the role. She is confident and ambitious for the young people in her care and leads by example. The manager’s hands-on approach has enabled her to develop a good rapport with the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All professionals and carers involved in the care of the young people state that communication is ‘excellent’, with weekly written reports and regular emails and telephone calls. Working in partnership is a key strength that has improved the young people’s outcomes and has kept them safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular team meetings and daily handovers guarantee that there is a consistent approach to staff’s engagement with the young people. Staff spoken to said they were ‘effectively supported’ and are ‘passionate’ about their work. The manager and staff are able to express their views and challenge other professionals to achieve better outcomes for the young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are very well trained in a wide range of subject areas. In addition to mandatory training, staff have completed training in relation to county lines, gang culture, knife crime, female genital mutilation and mental health in children. All of these areas of risk have a current impact and are of widespread concern for young people today. This increased understanding has helped the staff to talk more knowledgeably with the young people and in turn this has helped the young people to make more informed choices.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is generally well maintained and furnished to a high standard. It has a very teenage-friendly feel. The young people’s friends and families are welcome to visit, Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 6 subject to risk assessments in place. One young person said: ‘It’s just like being at home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and areas for development in the home. The manager has maintained strong leadership skills since the last inspection to ensure that service delivery and staff practice meet the needs of the young people in her care.

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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 7

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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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Inspectors

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Noel Cooper: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC064454 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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