Children's Home run by In Safe Hands Care Ltd in Doncaster

Inspection report children's home: 1232171 1 Registered provider: In Safe Hands Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A sole provider owns and manages the home. It provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There are two children living at the home currently.

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Information about this children’s home

The experienced manager registered with Ofsted in 2016.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 1232171 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2021 Full Good 16/07/2019 Full Good 01/03/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 25/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 1232171 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and homely environment. The premises are well decorated and furnished throughout. Children’s bedrooms are decorated to reflect their individual interests. This gives children a secure base and a sense of stability and belonging. Children are making good progress in all areas of their development and are supported by nurturing and caring staff. One child has lived at the home for 10 years and is reluctant to move on. Another moved in more recently but is already very settled and has developed very positive relationships with staff and their peer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work very closely with education providers and there has been a consistent approach to support the children’s learning. Children are more focused and settled in their education provisions. This has helped children learn the importance of education and how this can support their aims and aspirations for future opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are supporting one child to move towards semi-independence. Skill sessions in budgeting, travel and shopping prepare the child to manage these when they move out. The child’s wishes are recorded and records reflect the progress they are making. Records also capture that the child is at the focal point of decision-making about their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend their routine health appointments as required. Any health concerns relating to the children are acted on quickly by the staff and are recorded in the children’s plans and records. One child is awaiting specialist support, but this has not had an impact on their well-being or the level of care that has been provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a wide range of activities. They have gym memberships, go to theme parks, are part of a cricket club and have friends that come over and visit. Children asked for garden toys and outdoor play equipment. The outdoor area has now been transformed and has multiple play opportunities, including a trampoline.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships with families are encouraged. Staff understand that there are complexities with children seeing their families. A considered and careful approach is taken when children see their families so that it is a positive experience.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say that they feel safe living at the home. One child said, ‘I feel like I finally belong.’ Children have developed trust in the staff, which has given them a secure base and stability.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff know the children well and know when changes in behaviour can have an impact on their mood. Staff adapt their approaches to children and offer distractions and changes in routine to keep children safe. Inspection report children's home: 1232171 4 Risk assessments and behaviour support plans show individualised strategies for staff. While there are no current risks to the children, the system for managing the safe storage of sharp knives in the kitchen is not managed effectively, and there is no record of when these are used and then put away.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are trained in managing children’s behaviours and how to apply therapeutic support techniques. While physical interventions do not take place, as staff are competent at de-escalation, the support plans do not highlight what action staff would take as a last resort to keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children have incentive charts which encourage them to improve and learn from their behaviours. These have proved effective, and a reduction in behaviours of concern has been seen. However, there is no monitoring system to review and evaluate the consistency and appropriateness of these incentives.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Not all staff have a strong understanding of safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures. The manager discusses scenarios in supervisions and models good practice. There are no incidents of children going missing from home or risks relating to exploitation. Social workers and professionals are highly complimentary about the care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced and qualified manager. Leaders and managers are passionate about the children and want them to do well in life. When children move into the home, a considered approach towards the children living at the home is taken before any child moves in. Managers ensure that the matching of children does not have an impact on children already living here.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has taken a lead in supporting one child to have the best move to semi-independent living. The manager has advocated for this child to remain in the community, to provide them with a consistency to access education and see their friends. This promotes a smooth transition to adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruited to the home are subject to safer recruitment checks and are on induction plans. This ensures staff have the skills needed to look after the children. Staff are supervised regularly and attend training that is specific to the needs of the children. Team meetings and consultations take place, which are reflective. These also offer an opportunity for staff to review their own practice and knowledge. Staff say that they feel supported by the managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has implemented auditing tools to review and improve the service since the last inspection. However, there are shortfalls in this process. Staff do not recognise that when they have implemented a consequence it is recognised as a sanction. Therefore, the manager has not been able to evaluate the effectiveness of this. Inspection report children's home: 1232171 5 The manager has not submitted an updated statement of purpose to Ofsted following the changes in staff. This does not allow the regulator to be kept informed of any changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children’s guide does not contain information about how to contact the children’s commissioner. Inspection report children's home: 1232171 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

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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(i)(v)) 30 September 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is kept under review and matches the current purpose of the home. The statement of purpose should be child-focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to meet the quality standards for the children in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is updated to help children understand how they can contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  The registered manager should ensure that any behaviour management and support techniques are recorded and that a system is in place to evaluate the appropriateness of these. Records should reflect any method that is used that will

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Recommendations

improve the quality of care that is provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Inspection report children's home: 1232171 7

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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 children's home: 1232171 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: In Safe Hands Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peter Wray Accountancy Services, 48 50, Wakefield Road, Pontefract WF7 7AB

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Inspector

Aasia Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 1232171 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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