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

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481444 1 SC481444

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Doncaster Children’s Services Trust Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A children’s trust operates this home. It is registered to accommodate up to four children who may have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The experienced and qualified manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

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This monitoring visit

The monitoring visit was completed due to information shared with Ofsted in safeguarding notifications. This information indicated that some children may be at risk of harm in the home or in the community and that fire setting may be an issue in the home. Ofsted last inspected the home in March 2020 and completed a full inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the restrictions in place relating to COVID-19 (coronavirus), this monitoring visit comprised both on- and off-site inspection activities. These included discussions with one of the children and with the registered manager, staff, professionals and children’s families.

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This monitoring visit

Some children have tried to set fires in the home. The manager and staff have been resourceful in finding different ways to educate children about the health and safety risks of fire-starting behaviour, for example inviting fire professionals to deliver sessions for children. The impact of the current interventions to prevent a fire in the home is yet to be fully determined due to repeated incidents. Fire safety measures, such as installing fire-resistant curtains have not been considered as a means of preventing the spread of fire. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481444 2 Over recent months, some children have been spending more time with other children in the community. This has not always been positive. Some children have engaged in anti-social behaviours that place them at risk of harm, and some of these children have been physically harmed. The effective multi-agency responses ensure

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This monitoring visit

that all professionals are working together to share intelligence and agree on strategies so that they can safeguard the children. However, the manager has not notified the designated officer for the local authority about all relevant concerns, such as when a child made an allegation after a physical intervention. Ofsted was not notified about the allegation. This has limited Ofsted’s ability to seek assurances about how the incident was managed.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s risk management plans are kept up to date. They guide the staff on what actions to take to protect the children from harm. The staff are talking to the children about the risks. This reinforces to the children that the staff care about them and they want to keep them safe. Despite the robust risk management plans, one child remains highly vulnerable in the community. The manager has escalated her concerns to the relevant professionals to ensure that this child receives the support that they need.

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This monitoring visit

Some children have been missing from the home or remained away from the home for longer than agreed. On these occasions, staff follow the children’s individual missing from care protocols. This includes the staff going out looking for the children to ensure their safe return. The written discussions between the children and staff do not include the children’s views. This means that it is not always clear what the children think about the discussions that the staff have with them.

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This monitoring visit

The children are settled and enjoy living at the home. They have formed good relationships with the staff and they trust the staff sufficiently to talk to them about any concerns they have. The children’s wishes and feelings are listened to and respected. They are involved in decisions about their care and in decisions about the running of the home. This inclusion promotes their sense of safety and belonging.

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This monitoring visit

Professionals spoke positively about the quality of care, support and communication from the staff team. One professional described the ‘above and beyond’ attitude with which the staff team cares for and protects the children.

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This monitoring visit

The one requirement and two recommendations that were made at the previous inspection have been met. This is in relation to the home’s workforce providing continuity of care to the children. Improvements have been made to the risk assessments, and restraint records now identify when debriefs with the staff have been completed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481444 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 10/03/2020 Full Outstanding 14/08/2018 Full Outstanding 20/04/2017 Full Good 21/12/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481444 4

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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 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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)(a)(vii)(d)) 3 May 2021

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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. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 3 May 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. In particular, the record of one-to-one discussions with the children should include the children’s comments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481444 5

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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: Doncaster Children’s Services Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC481444 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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