Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 1 SC390293

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First 4 Care Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned and operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered by Ofsted in December 2018. She has a level 5 qualification in leadership and management and has the relevant experience and knowledge for the role.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was carried out to assess the safety and welfare of children, following information shared with Ofsted regarding a serious safeguarding concern in relation to the care of a child. This visit combined on- and off-site inspection activities, including the review of documents and discussions with children, staff and relevant professionals. Ofsted last inspected this home in December 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector found serious concerns which compromised on the children’s welfare and safety. As a result of this visit, Ofsted issued one compliance notice and made a further two requirements. The two requirements and one recommendation made at the last inspection regarding fire safety procedures, record-keeping and the maintenance of the home were not assessed as part of this monitoring visit. These are repeated.

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This monitoring visit

Following alleged serious safeguarding concerns with regard to inappropriate staff conduct, other staff failed to act immediately to prevent physical and emotional harm to a child. The staff did not report or record the safeguarding concerns in line with safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. Consequently, the child was left at risk of harm. Furthermore, there was an unacceptable delay in sharing information with the social worker about a potential injury to the child. As a result, there was a Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 2 delay in the child being seen by a medical practitioner. This hindered the investigation into this matter.

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This monitoring visit

The staff have completed training courses including safeguarding and positive behaviour management. However, not all staff consistently transfer the skills and learning from these courses into practice. Consequently, staff practice is inconsistent. This means that the child’s welfare is not always protected.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager regularly reviews and updates children’s risk assessments. These documents provide actions for the staff to follow to manage and reduce potential risks to children’s safety. For some children, this means that the risks to their safety continue to reduce and they make good progress in all areas of their development. However, the risks for one child are increasing. This is because not all staff follow the risk-reduction strategies detailed in the child’s plan.

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This monitoring visit

The staff are unable to manage all children’s behaviour effectively. As a result, one child is regularly in a state of crisis. The frequent disruptive behaviour when this child is experiencing periods of crisis and trauma impacts on the children’s relationships with each other. This is detrimental to the children’s emotional well- being.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/12/2019 Full Good 13/03/2019 Full Good 07/02/2018 Full Good 07/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; protect and promote each child’s welfare; treat each child with dignity and respect. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii)) 11 April 2021

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and 11 April 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 4 are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the

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Requirement Due date

registered person to ensure— 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)) Specifically, repair all the damage and wear and tear throughout the home. 11 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(a)(c)) 11 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home— the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b)) Specifically, ensure that fire extinguishers can be easily accessed by all staff in the event of an emergency, and that the staff have a clear understanding of arrangements should any fire equipment be relocated within the home. 11 April 2021

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 5 and clear recording. Specifically, ensure that all incident records are evaluated for effectiveness. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 313 Goodison Boulevard, Doncaster, Yorkshire DN4 6TP

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Inspectors

Jamie Richardson, Social Care Inspector Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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