Children's Home run by Future 19 Social Care Limited in Doncaster

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and/or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered on 13 March 2020. The previous registered manager left in September 2020 and there is a new permanent manager in post. Ofsted has not yet received their application for registration.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

p.1

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).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

p.1

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: 2569163 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

Children are cared for by a consistent staff team. Staff provide routines and boundaries to help children settle, develop and achieve.

p.2

The care of children

Staff have positive relationships with children. Children are confident to speak with the staff about their worries and concerns and to share their wishes and feelings. This provides children with a sense of belonging and security.

p.2

The care of children

The staff team has promoted children’s education. Children have been supported by staff in their learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff have worked effectively with education professionals to ensure that children returned to formal education.

p.2

The care of children

Family time, where appropriate, has continued to be encouraged by the staff team. During the lockdown, children have kept in touch with family members through phone calls. As the restrictions have relaxed, children have enjoyed face-to-face time with family, which has been facilitated by staff. For one young person, this has resulted in reunification back home.

p.2

The care of children

Children have participated in a range of activities in the home during the lockdown. As the restrictions have relaxed, staff have safely promoted children’s interests, hobbies and day trips. As a result, children have returned to playing football, trampolining and bowling.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager and staff team understand the children’s individual vulnerabilities and risks. This informs the good risk management plans which identify children’s known and potential risks. The plans provide the staff team with strategies to mitigate against the risk of harm. Staffing levels allow for one-to-one support to meet the children’s individual needs.

p.2

The safety of children

The impact risk assessments when matching new children to the home are not consistently detailed or clear about which child they relate to. Neither do they demonstrate the impact of the new child moving in for the children already living at the home. Some negative behaviours following the admissions could have been better predicted, to prevent the provider from giving notice to end a child’s placement.

p.2

The safety of children

When children go missing from the home, the staff attempt to locate them and return them safely. Missing-from-care protocols are in place for each child in the event of them going missing. However, one missing-from-care plan does not provide Assurance visit report: 2569163 3 an individual reflection of the specific risks and responses for the child it referred to. This can lead to a generic response from the staff team.

p.2

The safety of children

The staff team has open and honest discussions with children to help them understand COVID-19 and how to keep safe in the home and out in the community. Staff have supported children to listen to the media to gain additional information about the infection. However, not all children have adhered to the restrictions when out in the community.

p.3

The safety of children

The manager and staff promote positive behaviour with children by using incentives. Negative behaviour is challenged and discussed individually to help children understand the consequences of their actions and give them time for reflection. As a result, sanctions and restraints have reduced.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The new manager understands her role and responsibilities to provide a safe and nurturing home for all the children. She is committed to supporting children to grow and develop and achieve positive outcomes.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager has continued to use the existing monitoring systems to ensure that children receive good-quality care. She has a good oversight of the day-to-day functions of the home. The manager has completed the first quality of care review; she has identified the strengths and development needs of the staff team and the home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Good multi-agency working has been established between the manager and professionals. The manager provides regular updates about the children to their social workers. A professional said, ‘The communication is excellent. I am always kept informed.’

p.3

Leaders and managers

Complaints are addressed in a timely manner. Children are fully supported by the manager and their issues are resolved quickly. The manager speaks directly with the neighbours to assure them about any issues involving children in the community. This has led to the manager having established positive relationships with the neighbours.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staff speak positively of supervision and the support they receive. However, for two staff, this was not consistent with the home’s supervision agreement.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Recruitment processes ensure that staff are vetted before they start working with children. However, not all references are verified prior to staff commencing their induction training. Assurance visit report: 2569163 4

p.3

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.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.4

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 5 February 2021

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 5 February 2021

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff are 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. This is with particular reference to missing-from-care protocols being individualised for each young person. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance visit report: 2569163 5

p.4

Children's home details

Registered provider: Future 19 Social Care Limited

p.5

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 9 Thorne Road, Rossington, Doncaster, Yorkshire DN1 2HJ

p.5

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Maxwell Muchenje

p.5

Inspectors

Sue Hatton, Social Care Inspector Matthew Reed, Her Majesty’s Inspector, Social Care Assurance visit report: 2569163 6 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.

p.5

Inspectors

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 .

p.6

Inspectors

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.6

Inspectors

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

p.6

Inspectors

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

p.6