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Inspection report children's home: SC454484 1 SC454484 Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to five children who may have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection visit.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a temporary manager in post who is not registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 7 September 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Inspection report children's home: SC454484 2 This children’s home was judged inadequate by Ofsted at the full inspection on 21 July 2021. Following this inadequate judgement, Ofsted issued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. A monitoring visit took place on 7 September 2021. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and actions taken to meet the compliance notices issued. The provider had demonstrated sufficient improvement to meet the compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/07/2021 Full Inadequate 02/03/2020 Full Good 31/10/2018 Full Good 12/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC454484 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the most recent inspection due to concerns around safeguarding practice. The actions of leaders and staff left children at risk. Two compliance notices were issued. This inspection considered the progress made since the last full inspection, as well as wider aspects of children’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusting relationships with staff and enjoy living in the home. Children are settled because of the care they receive from a committed staff team. As a result of these positive relationships, children invest in the home and respond to the care they receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment has improved considerably. The home is now a welcoming and comfortable place for children to live. The inspector found that children have personalised their bedrooms and recently enjoyed decorating the home for Halloween. Children benefit immensely from the notable improvements made around the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff undertake regular key-work sessions with children. Staff discuss and support children on matters such as health, staying safe, independence skills, education and positive relationships. Records of these sessions give a good insight into the support provided and the progress made by the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they are cared for, listened to and supported by staff. There is evidence of staff engaging with children creatively to establish their views, wishes and feelings. Children take part in meetings, and their views are recorded in their care plans and risk assessments. Children know that their views, wishes and feelings are valued and acted on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop their creative and social interests and skills. There are planned activities for them to take part in, and they are consulted and take part in the planning of activities. These opportunities help to ensure that children have the same experiences as their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported in relation to their education, employment and training. Two children are currently having some difficulties with their education, and staff have provided good support to them. The manager and staff do everything that a good parent would do to support children to access and benefit from education and training. Inspection report children's home: SC454484 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The individual risk assessments for children describe their vulnerabilities and set out the strategies that staff should follow to reduce the known risks. Risk evaluation is accurate and clear. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed. Good-quality, up-to- date risk assessments help to minimise the risk of children being harmed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Missing protocols are up to date and are regularly reviewed. Staff have a good understanding of what to do if a child goes missing. The protocol gives clear direction to staff. This means that staff have an accurate understanding of what action to take in the event of a child going missing from the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Behaviour is managed well by the manager and staff team. This is because staff have good relationships with the children. The manager and staff team can identify any changes in the children’s behaviour, which ensures that the right level of support is quickly identified and put in place. This has resulted in very few challenging incidents, and there have been no recent incidents of physical restraint.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Individual staff members have a good awareness of safeguarding. They have up-to- date safeguarding training. Staff have the knowledge and skills to better protect children from harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

New staff are recruited safely, and appropriate checks are carried out. There are no concerns in relation to safer recruitment practices. Staff receive good induction and training when they start their employment. This helps to ensure that children are looked after by people who are skilled and suitable to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home currently does not have a registered manager. An acting manager is in place and they have a good knowledge of the home’s operation, its strengths and areas for development. Managers and staff are committed to achieving high standards of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a good grip on and oversight of the running of the home. This has made a real impact and staff feel valued, listened to, well supported and cared for. Leaders and managers are committed to securing continual improvements for the benefit of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel valued and well supported. Supervision is planned and team meetings are taking place. One member of staff said, ‘Support from senior managers has been fantastic; they have been brilliant and cannot do enough for us. It has been really lovely. Senior managers have been to team meetings and have been really supportive.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers operate the home to meet the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose. Staff work in line with the statement of purpose and have the skills, experience and qualifications to create a safe environment for children. Inspection report children's home: SC454484 5 Leaders and managers ensure that there are effective systems in place to monitor the quality of practice and record-keeping. An up-to-date quality of care report has been completed. Monthly visits from an independent person are commissioned from an independent agency in order to ensure scrutiny of the home. This helps the regulator to have appropriate oversight of the home and ensures that the home provides a good standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have up-to-date training, and they have the skills and the knowledge to meet the children’s needs. Mandatory training is up to date. The Leaders and managers ensure that staff have the skills and training to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication with children’s social workers and other professionals is good. Staff provide regular update reports, and they share any incidents of concern. One professional said that communication is really good. Good communication provides better support and guidance for the children and their families.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children's home: SC454484 6

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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

Brian Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC454484 7 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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