Children's Home, Residential special school run by Hesley Services Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 1 SC035687

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Hesley Services Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a residential special school that is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered as a children’s home and offers care and accommodation for up to 37 children with learning disabilities and/or complex needs, including behaviour that may challenge. The home consists of 16 separate houses.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018. However, they are not currently in day-to-day charge of this provision.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit undertaken on 2 March 2021 found significant failings in the management and leadership arrangements of the home and the employment of staff. Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulations 13 and 33 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

A further assurance visit was carried on 18 and 19 March 2021. This visit identified further breaches in regulations which had an effect on the care and protection children received. During this visit, the inspectors found serious inadequacies in the recruitment, induction and ongoing supervision and development of staff. Due to the significant failings, Ofsted served an emergency suspension notice on 19 March 2021. The report is published on our website.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was carried out to monitor the progress made against the compliance notices. The visit found that one compliance notice was met, but the other two notices were reissued. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 2 This monitoring visit was conducted to monitor the provider’s compliance with meeting the emergency suspension notice and the steps identified in the compliance notices. The provider has complied with the emergency suspension notice. A tour of the home confirmed that there are no children living in any of the 16 homes that were previously linked to this registration.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has an action plan in place to address the shortfalls found in previous visits. This plan is reviewed regularly by leaders, and progress has been made against some of the identified actions. The provider has now addressed all outstanding steps in the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last monitoring visit, the provider has ensured that all supervisors have received supervision training, and refresher training has been provided for other staff who have previously done the training.

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This monitoring visit

Supervision is taking place regularly for all staff and reflective discussions are taking place about the home’s current situation and the impact this has on individual staff members. This is helping staff to feel supported through a particularly challenging time.

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This monitoring visit

Training sessions are delivered via short workshops that focus on compliance and the practical aspects of supervision. While this is ensuring compliance with the supervision process, not all supervisors have yet developed the advanced skills needed to robustly manage complex supervisory situations. The provider is aware of this, and there is ongoing development work taking place with supervisors. All of the night staff are now receiving regular supervision, and the quality of this is improving, but further development by managers is needed. There are plans to use a wider range of supervision tools and questionnaires to improve supervision.

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This monitoring visit

Auditing of supervision files is taking place. The audit tool is well designed and has follow-up actions that allow the auditor to embed learning from themes. The quality of the audits is variable and not all audits are capturing actions for the learning sets to help drive improvements in supervision. The provider acknowledges that there is still room for improvement in these audits to understand the themes, issues and concerns as and when they arise.

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This monitoring visit

A knowledge assessment book is given to staff to test their knowledge and learning. This is helping staff to safely reflect on their knowledge and understanding. However, at present, staff can only complete the booklet once, using fixed scenarios. This is because they are not able to carry out direct work with children, as no children are living in the home due to the suspension. There are plans to develop a night staff book with more specific scenarios for them to reflect on.

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This monitoring visit

Forms for recording observations of practice are in place, and managers are reminded that they must complete them every two weeks. This is a challenge, given that only a few staff are on site and no practice with children taking place. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 3 The recruitment and induction pathway has improved, although this has yet to be put into practice, as no new staff have been recruited due to the notice of suspension. The effectiveness of this has therefore not been tested.

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This monitoring visit

The current interim manager is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and realistic about the improvements that need to happen in order to meet the requirements and recommendations, that would allow the provider to reopen.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/11/2019 Full Good 28/11/2018 Full Good 12/12/2017 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 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, the 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 enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community;

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) 1 October 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.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 1 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 5 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(b)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 1 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; 1 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 6 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)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

An individual may only carry on a children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (5).

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Requirement Due date

have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (1) (7)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the responsible individual’s capacity and skills to supervise the management of the home effectively. 1 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

the person is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

having regard to the size of the home, its statement of purpose, and the number and needs (including any needs arising from any disability) of the children—

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Requirement Due date

the person has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills to manage the home effectively and lead the care of children. (Regulation 28 (1)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager’s capacity and skills to manage the home effectively. 1 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff being sufficiently skilled and qualified to support children with communication needs. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b)) 1 October 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 7 The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to those staff who work night shifts. 1 October 2021

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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

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hesley Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hesley Hall Coach House, Hesley, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN11 9HH

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Inspector

Louise Hollick, Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 8 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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