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

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 6 children with learning disabilities and/or complex needs, including behaviour that may be challenging.

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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 the operation of this provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was 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 was undertaken on 2 March 2021. Significant failings were identified in the management and leadership arrangements of the home, and in 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

An assurance visit was conducted on 18 and 19 March 2021. Inspectors identified further breaches of regulations that were having a detrimental impact on the care and protection that children were receiving. During this visit, the inspectors found serious inadequacies in the recruitment, induction, ongoing supervision and development of staff. Due to these significant failings, Ofsted served an emergency suspension notice on 19 March 2021. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was carried out on 5 May 2021. Ofsted found that the provider had made some progress. However, the inspector found that the provider had not met all of the steps identified in the compliance notices. Two further compliance notices under regulations 13 and 33 were issued. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 2 On 9 June 2021 a further monitoring visit was conducted. The inspector found that the provider had met both the compliance notices. However, Ofsted issued a further emergency suspension notice. This notice was issued because the provider had failed to demonstrate, through their action plan, that they had made sufficient progress in order to safeguard children effectively.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was conducted on 20 July 2021. Ofsted found that the provider had made some progress. However, the inspector found that the provider had not secured sufficient staffing arrangements and that refurbishment of the home was not complete. The suspension notice remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was completed on 23 August 2021 to monitor the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice and the progress made to meet the previously issued requirements.

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This monitoring visit

The provider had complied with the suspension notice. A tour of the home confirmed there were no children living in any of the homes that are linked to this registration. Refurbishment of the home was not complete. Therefore, the home was not suitable to accommodate children.

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This monitoring visit

The interim manager, supported by the interim responsible individual, had been implementing the provider’s action plan. However, a significant proportion of the actions remained incomplete. The inspectors also found additional serious safeguarding concerns, and the provider had not considered the potential risks to children or made any arrangements to reduce these potential risks.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements previously issued under regulations 9, 12, 16, 26, 28, 33 and 35 were not met and were therefore reissued. A further requirement was issued under regulation 32 in relation to the processes for recruitment of staff.

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This monitoring visit

On 3 September 2021, a further suspension notice was issued because there continued to be a risk of harm to children. This visit was to monitor the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice.

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This monitoring visit

A tour was completed of the homes that are linked to this registration. There was no evidence found of children living in any of these homes. The homes have been refurbished and furnished and are ready for children to move in to. However, as the serious child protection allegations are still being investigated by the appropriate authorities, the suspension notice remains in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 3

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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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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; and

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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)) 23 November 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; 23 November 2021

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 5 have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Statutory requirements

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Statutory requirements

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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)) 23 November 2021

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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)) 23 November 2021

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

the person is of integrity and good character; 23 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 6 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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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

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

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Statutory requirements

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d)) 23 November 2021

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Statutory requirements

ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction

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Statutory requirements

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Statutory requirements

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Statutory requirements

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (1)(a) (4)(a)(b)) 23 November 2021

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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

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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Statutory requirements

has spoken to the user about the measure; and 23 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 7 has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Statutory requirements

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)(a)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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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. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 8

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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

Tina Ruffles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC035687 9 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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