Children's Home run by Doncaster Children‟s Services Trust Limited in Doncaster

Assurance visit report: SC481439 1 SC481439

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home provides medium- to long-term care for children and young people aged between eight to 17 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since August 2019 and has been registered with Ofsted for this home since February 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: SC481439 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

The atmosphere at the home is warm and nurturing. Staff have developed trusting relationships with the children. This provides children with a sense of belonging and stability. One young person said, ‘This is my home and I am happy here.’

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The care of children

The staff team understands the individual needs of the children. Consistent routines and boundaries provide children with the structure, support and high-quality day-to- day care to help them to thrive.

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The care of children

Age-appropriate conversations take place between children and staff. Children are confident in sharing their wishes and feelings. Staff respond sensitively, giving children opportunities to better understand matters that have an impact on their lives.

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The care of children

Good partnership working between the staff team and health specialist helps to reduce children’s anxieties about their care. This also promotes children’s physical and emotional health and well-being.

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The care of children

Where appropriate, staff have supported children to stay in touch with their family. As COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed, children have benefited from face-to-face time with their family and friends.

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The care of children

Staff have promoted a mixture of formal and informal learning to ensure the children continue to engage in some form of education during the lockdown period. Children have embraced the different learning styles and opportunities given by the staff team. This has made it easier for children to return to school in September.

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The care of children

The staff team is creative in engaging children in different activities. New opportunities and experiences, such as an inflatable drive-in cinema, glamping, and den building in the garden, have extended children’s interests.

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The safety of children

The staff team understands the children’s individual vulnerabilities and risks. Comprehensive risk assessments and safety plans provide the staff team with strategies to reduce and manage the risks.

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The safety of children

Incidents of children going missing from the home are minimal. When children have gone missing, staff have responded effectively to ensure children’s safety. The staff’s consistent and restorative approach in response to children’s behaviour means the need for sanctions has been minimal. Assurance visit report: SC481439 3 Child-friendly information has been shared with children about COVID-19. During the lockdown, children and staff have often sat together to watch the daily government briefings. This has given the children opportunities to discuss issues arising from COVID-19 and wider society issues.

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The safety of children

High staffing levels allow the staff to support and supervise the children effectively. During the COVID-19 pandemic, children have benefited from a core and consistent staff team.

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Leaders and managers

The manager understands her role and responsibilities to provide a safe and secure home for all the children in her care. She leads by example and has clear expectations relating to, and standards of care for, the children from her team.

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Leaders and managers

Good communication with professionals and regular meetings have continued during the restriction period. The manager advocates for the children and ensures a joint multi-agency approach to support the individual needs of children.

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Leaders and managers

Staff receive regular supervision and support to enhance their learning and development. They are keen to improve their practice and outcomes for children.

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Leaders and managers

The comprehensive quality assurance systems provide the manager with good oversight of the strengths and areas for development at the home. Notifications relating to serious incidents are usually submitted to the regulator in a timely way. However, there has been a delay in the submission of one serious notification to Ofsted. However, this has not impacted on the safety or care of the children in the home.

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Leaders and managers

The requirement and recommendations made at the last inspection have all been actioned and met.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 30/10/2020 Assurance visit report: SC481439 4 (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Doncaster Children’s Services Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Colonnades House, Duke Street, Doncaster DN1 1ER

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Inspector

Sue Hatton, social care inspector Assurance visit report: SC481439 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 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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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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