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 for up to six 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

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 2 March 2021. This visit identified significant failings in the management and leadership arrangements of the home, and in the employment of staff. Ofsted issued compliance notices under regulation 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. This visit identified further breaches of regulations that were having a detrimental impact on the care and protection that children received. During this visit, the inspectors found serious inadequacies in the recruitment, induction and 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 regulation 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 were 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 reissued. A further requirement was issued under regulation 32 in relation to the staff recruitment processes.

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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.

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This monitoring visit

A further monitoring visit was completed on 14 October 2021, to monitor the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice. The provider had complied with the suspension notice. A tour of the home confirmed that the home had been refurbished. 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 monitoring visit was conducted off site. This visit was carried out to monitor the provider’s compliance with the suspension notice, and to monitor its progress in meeting the previously issued requirements. During the off-site visit, the provider stated that it wished to make an application to Ofsted to voluntarily cancel the registration of this children’s home, and another one of its registered provisions. Therefore, the previously issued requirements were not considered during this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 3 Ofsted received the provider’s request to voluntarily cancel its registrations in writing on 22 November 2021.

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This monitoring visit

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 its registered provisions with immediate effect.

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This monitoring visit

Serious child protection allegations continue to be investigated by the appropriate authorities. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 4

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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 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 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)) 30 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;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 30 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 6 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;

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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)(vii)(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)) 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)) 30 November 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— 30 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 7 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

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

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Requirement Due date

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)) 30 November 2021

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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)) 30 November 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; 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 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record 30 November 2021 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 8 confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 9

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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 10

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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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Inspectors

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Joanna Warburton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035687 11 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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