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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 1 SC008015

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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 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 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

On 12 March 2021, an assurance visit was carried out. Inspectors found significant failings in the provider’s recruitment practice. Ofsted issued a compliance notice under regulation 32 of the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015.

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This monitoring visit

Another assurance visit was conducted on 23 and 24 March 2021. At this visit, serious and widespread concerns were found in relation to the care and protection of children. This resulted in Ofsted issuing an emergency suspension notice on 24 March 2021. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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This monitoring visit

On 5 May 2021, a monitoring visit took place. The inspector had a tour of the buildings and identified that the provider had complied with the emergency suspension notice and no children were living at the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 9 June 2021, another monitoring visit was conducted. The inspector found that the provider was working through their action plan to address the significant breaches in regulation that had been identified during the previous visits. However, Ofsted issued a further emergency suspension notice. This notice was issued because the provider had failed to demonstrate that they had made sufficient progress through their action plan to safeguard children effectively. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 2 On 20 July 2021, a further monitoring visit was conducted. The inspector found that the provider had not secured sufficient staffing, and that the refurbishment of the home was incomplete. 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, and 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

There were additional serious safeguarding concerns which the provider had shared with relevant professionals. However, the provider had failed to act proactively in response to these concerns. Additional safeguarding concerns emerged during the visit. These included the interim manager identifying shortfalls in the recruitment of staff during their audit, such as staff having insufficient checks before working with children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders were implementing the provider’s action plan. However, numerous actions were still incomplete. None of the previously issued requirements were met, and therefore they were reissued.

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This monitoring visit

On 3 September 2021, a further suspension notice was issued because insufficient progress had been made to safely accommodate children in this home.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was completed on 14 October 2021, to monitor the providers compliance with the suspension notice. The provider had complied with the suspension notice. The home had been refurbished and furnished. However, as the serious child protection allegations were still being investigated by the appropriate authorities, the suspension notice remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

This visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice, and to monitor their progress in meeting the previously issued requirements.

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This monitoring visit

During this visit, the provider identified that they wished to make an application to Ofsted to voluntarily cancel the registration of this children’s home, and another one of their registered provisions. Therefore, the requirements that were previously issued for this home, were not considered during this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted received the provider’s request to voluntarily cancel their registrations in writing on 22 November 2021. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 3 During a case review on 24 November 2021, Ofsted agreed to accept the provider’s request to cancel the registration of this home, and another one of their registered provisions with immediate effect.

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This monitoring visit

The investigation into serious child protection allegations continue to be investigated by the appropriate authorities. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 4

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/12/2019 Full Good 12/12/2018 Full Good 10/01/2018 Full Good 01/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 5

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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

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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

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

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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 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 30 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 6 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 30 November 2021

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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)) 30 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

These regulations do not prevent a child from being deprived of liberty where that deprivation is authorised in accordance with a court order. (Regulation 20 (2) (3)) 30 November 2021

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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. 30 November 2021

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Requirement Due date

A person may only manage a children’s home if— 30 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 7 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.

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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; 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 five 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)) 30 November 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. Children’s homes will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 8

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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: SC008015 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Hesley Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Central Services Hesley Hall, Tickhill, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN11 9HH

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Inspectors

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC008015 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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