Children's home run by Dove Adolescent Services Limited in Wakefield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 1 SC018238 Registered provider: Dove Adolescent Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2018.

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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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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 February 2020

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/04/2019 Full Good 29/08/2018 Interim Not judged 09/01/2018 Interim Not judged Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 3

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outstanding

The quality of care provided at this home has made a real difference for the child currently living in the home. The staff demonstrate great skill and tenacity in promoting and sustaining the child’s progression, with examples of highly creative and innovative approaches to meeting the child’s needs. The progress that the child has made since living in this home is excellent and life-changing.

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outstanding

The progress that the child has made in education is remarkable; they have achieved qualifications. One professional said: ‘There is no way that [child’s name] would have got those GCSEs if it was not for the staff at the home.’ This clearly demonstrates that staff work hard to support the child’s education attainment.

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outstanding

A parent described the relationship with staff as ‘absolutely brilliant’. Staff have actively encouraged and supported family time. This has helped to improve and rebuild the relationship between the child and their family. This excellent partnership working with family has resulted in really positive outcomes in relation to family relationships.

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outstanding

The staff record regular key-work sessions. There is a wealth of information recorded about the work completed on matters such as substance misuse, staying safe, education and life skills. Records provide the reader with an insight into how staff offer support and the progress made by the child. The quality of this direct work from staff has resulted in outstanding progress for the child.

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outstanding

Staff have used creative and innovative methods to support children to express their views, wishes and feelings. The work undertaken is exceptional. For example, staff have supported a child to write, perform and record a song as a means of challenging decisions made about their future.

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outstanding

The child’s progress and journey are captured in detail in memory books. A record has been kept for the child to take with them as part of their journey and life story. This will help the child to remember the time they lived at this home and their positive experiences.

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outstanding

The progress made by the child has been quite remarkable from a starting point where they were at risk. They have developed in confidence and made some amazing measurable achievements. The impact for the child has been truly life- changing.

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outstanding

The home environment is very welcoming, comfortable and homely. The child has personalised their home and their bedroom. This provides a very comfortable home environment for the child and it is maintained to a high standard. Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 4

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outstanding

The child has enjoyed stability since coming to live in the home. Their individual risk-taking behaviour has significantly reduced, to the point where there are no high-risk concerns.

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outstanding

Careful planning was evident in relation to the placement of the child. Planning considered their needs, vulnerabilities and risks. Planning was informed by good multi-agency consultation and communication. This ensured that strategies were put in place to mitigate all of the assessed risks.

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outstanding

The individual risk assessments describe the child’s 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, with clear managerial oversight. Staff have an excellent understanding of risk. As a result, the child is better protected from harm.

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outstanding

Behaviour is managed exceptionally well by the manager and staff team. This is because the staff team is very well trained. The manager and staff team can identify any subtle changes in the child’s behaviour, which ensures that the right level of support is quickly identified and put in place. This has resulted in no challenging incidents and there have been no incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection.

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outstanding

The home has not had any recent missing-from-home incidents. However, missing protocols are up to date and are regularly reviewed. The protocol gives clear direction to staff as to what to do and when to report the child as missing. This helps to ensure that staff know what to do in the event of the child going missing from the home.

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outstanding

New staff are recruited safely, and appropriate checks are carried out. There are no concerns in relation to safer recruitment practices.

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outstanding

Professionals and family said that communication with the home is ‘amazing’. Staff keep them informed through regular verbal updates and weekly reports, and detailed reports are provided for reviews. Good multi-agency communication gives better support and protection for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been an excellent advocate for children and raised challenges and escalation in relation to a child being moved on from the home when the child was not ready. One professional said: ‘They [staff and the manager] advocate for the child. They really have been outstanding and have gone above and beyond. The commitment I have seen from them has been amazing. The manager is passionate about supporting the child and everything they do is child-centred.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 5 The staff are very well supported in their roles by the manager and have regular supervision and team meetings. Supervision is very detailed and covers staff welfare, their skills, training and development, safeguarding and outcomes for children. This high-quality supervision supports staff to reflect on and improve their care practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training is up to date and the registered manager is aware of when training requires renewing. The manager ensures that staff have the right knowledge and skills to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff take part in regular reflection and team meetings. This helps to embed their learning into practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

New staff receive very good support through their induction period. Staff go through a robust probationary review period, which allows the manager to monitor staff progress and identify any areas requiring improvement. Staff are well prepared to care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 6

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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 for children’s home: SC018238 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dove Adolescent Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Saxon Business Park, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD

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Inspector

Brian Wood, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC018238 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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