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Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454484 1 SC454484

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Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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 local authority. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has been in post since August 2012. The home is currently at full occupancy.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, this monitoring visit was carried out off site. The visit included review of documents, a virtual tour of the building and discussions with children, staff and relevant professionals. The visit was to investigate potential breaches of regulations, following information being shared with Ofsted in notifications that indicated a potential risk of harm to children.

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This monitoring visit

Most of the children have lived at this home for a long period. They are very settled and make significant and sustained progress in all aspects of their lives. This is because the children have effectively grown up in the care of the same staff team and have established really positive relationships.

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This monitoring visit

The stability and longevity of the staff team have given the children a sense of belonging. As one child commented, ‘I’m currently the longest and oldest child living at this home. I would like to tell you what amazing people they are and how far they have helped me progress. Staff are easy to talk to and I feel safe. They want what is best for me and want me to achieve big things when I leave in 2022.’

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This monitoring visit

A very recent admission to the home has resulted in some instability. Despite this being a planned move with planned introductions to the home, the child moved in Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454484 2 crisis. This meant that the child experienced a very traumatic beginning that resulted in the need to use physical intervention. Communication and collaborative working with the previous care home for this child could have been better and may have resulted in a more positive transition into the home.

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This monitoring visit

There is room for improvement in the recording of incidents and physical interventions. There is no evidence that all staff involved in the restraint have been debriefed, and managerial oversight and evaluation are lacking. This means that any lessons learned are not being captured to ensure that the best approach to managing children in crisis is being applied.

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This monitoring visit

In addition, aspects of the ‘new referral risk assessment form’ lack a child-centred approach. The use of control measures appears to be quite punitive, and the language used lacks empathy. This does not give the inspector confidence that de- escalation techniques and a more restorative approach are being applied. This is in stark contrast to the very nurturing and caring approach used by the staff in their day-to-day practice.

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This monitoring visit

Care plans and risk assessments, in contrast, are much more child-friendly and clearly identify the needs of the children and how they can be met. Staff spoken to are very attuned to each child’s individual vulnerabilities. This is helping the children to reach their full potential and make progress relative to their time at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Recommendations made at the last full inspection have not been addressed at this monitoring visit and are carried over until the next inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/03/2020 Full Good 31/10/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Good 08/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454484 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

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv)) 31 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  The registered person should ensure that children’s homes comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that clear records are maintained following fire evacuation drills.  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

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Recommendations

children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454484 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 in a non-stigmatising 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)

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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: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Gateway Plaza, Sackville Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2RD

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jonathan Banwell

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC454484 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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