Children's Home run by Doncaster Children‟s Services Trust Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 1 SC032167 Registered provider: Doncaster Children’s Services Trust Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A trust runs this home, which can provide care for up to 10 children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The premises are split into two adjoining bungalows, for which a refurbishment programme has been approved. Currently, the service offers short breaks, including a combination of overnight care, tea visits, and day care during school holidays for up to four children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2022.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/06/2019 Full Good 30/04/2018 Full Outstanding 03/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s short-break stays are changing as the first phase of a whole-premises refurbishment plan is taking place. Some areas of the home look sparse as items are no longer in the bungalow children currently stay in. Discussions around moving into the second bungalow and visits to their new rooms prepare and reassure children about the imminent changes to their care.

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improvement to be good

Staff communicate with children and use pictorial resources to support children to express their needs and wishes. The monthly children’s meeting and individual ‘my chat’ records are evolving. Staff respond to the requests children make, and how children contribute to their day-to-day care is becoming more easily understood.

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improvement to be good

Children have fun and their time during their short breaks broadens their access to recreational activities and cultural events. They enjoy Easter egg hunts, and they had a tea party to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Children enjoy day trips to the seaside and spend time using the well-equipped sensory room and garden area. One child who likes to spend time outdoors took part in a local 5k park run event. A parent said that their child looks forward to their stays and when they prepare their overnight bag their child is ‘ecstatic’. Children develop friendships with their peers and form bonds with their carers.

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improvement to be good

Children’s independence improves as they learn self-care skills and how to cook and complete household tasks. Well-planned moves from the service ensure that children are introduced to their new carers, and staff arrange parties to celebrate each child’s move. Journey books demonstrate each child’s progress through pictures and children take positive memories with them when they leave.

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improvement to be good

An assessment of the home’s location and the availability of equipment tailored to meet children’s physical health needs ensures that children have a safe environment to stay in. However, staff are not always vigilant or alert to new risks as health and safety checks are not thorough. Action is not taken to address maintenance issues in the bathroom and one bedroom, which increases the potential of children becoming injured.

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improvement to be good

The quality of children’s plans is inconsistent. There are gaps in records as some plans do not include children’s current targets. One child’s risk assessment does not reflect their developing independence and, at times, key information from supporting health professionals is out of date. This is not helpful in assessing how children progress or in ensuring that staff have the most recent advice to follow in order to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 4 Staff take part in case discussions and talk about how they manage the risks for children. As a result, staff’s understanding of how to support children is developing. Staff now have a better understanding of the barriers children with complex health needs face. The quality of staff’s assessments of children’s needs has improved. This means children are better supported to develop independence.

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improvement to be good

A bespoke therapeutic intervention training package has strengthened staff’s knowledge and confidence in how they look after children. Staff know when children are in pain or are uncomfortable; they follow the agreed protocols and seek medical advice. Children have fewer incidents and learn how to self-regulate because staff use the strategies in children’s behaviour support plans effectively.

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improvement to be good

There are no concerns about restrictive practice or allegations made against staff working in the home. The manager and staff understand their responsibility to share information and follow procedures to keep children safe.

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good

There are fewer core staff members working at the home as some have now retired. The staff and the manager ensure that children have consistent care as they pick up extra shifts. Agency staff are rarely used. Incomplete recruitment checks for one worker do not demonstrate a thorough assessment process. This leaves children vulnerable to potential harm.

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good

Senior managers are responsive to staff’s uncertainty around changes in the team and the wider service development. Staff value the support they receive from their colleagues and said ‘morale is improving’.

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good

Staff identify when there are errors in administering children’s medication and act quickly to review children’s physical health. Staff promptly inform supporting professionals of errors, and professionals provide staff and families with any additional advice required. However, staff continue to administer medication while waiting for additional training, which means that errors may reoccur.

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good

The manager is promoting a culture of reflective practice. Thorough incident debriefs mean both staff and children have an opportunity to learn from incidents and share their views. The manager evaluates each month on emerging trends and sets actions to enhance the support for children and staff.

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good

Staff develop in their role as they have personal targets and benefit from regular supervision. Records of supervision vary in quality as some senior staff are not trained in delivering supervision.

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good

The manager is responsive to the external scrutiny the independent person’s monthly report provides and is implementing their own assurance systems. The quality-of-care review reflects the manager’s passionate and focused approach to Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 5 service improvement. However, this review does not consider the opinions of children’s families, which are significant to this service.

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good

The manager is knowledgeable and has a supportive senior management team. Together, they understand the ethos and parameters of the short-breaks service. Parents value their children’s stays and professionals have good things to say about the care children receive and their working relationships with the staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 6

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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

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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a system is in place to identify environmental hazards and make timely repairs. 15 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s care plans and risk assessments are up to date. 15 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. (Regulation 32 (1))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that, prior to working with children, the references of staff employed to work in the home are verified. 15 July 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff who hold responsibility for administering medication are trained and assessed as competent. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 35) Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 7  The registered person should ensure that they consider the opinions of children’s families when completing the quality of care review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that all staff responsible for supervising others are trained to do so. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: SC032167 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Doncaster Children’s Services Trust Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Colonnades House, Duke Street, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 1ER

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Catherine Richardson

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Inspector

Alexandra Howitt, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC032167 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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