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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 1 SC355839 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 operated by a private company. The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children. There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been the registered manager of the home since August 2019. She has completed her level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 December 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2021 Full Good 03/09/2019 Full Good 29/05/2018 Full Good 01/08/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made considerable progress since living at this home. A key factor in this progress is the relationships that staff have built with the child. This provides the child with stability and a sense of belonging. The inspectors observed that the child was happy, settled and enjoyed spending time with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child experiences a good standard of individualised care that is supportive and nurturing. This is because the manager and staff know the child well and they understand the child’s needs. Staff are committed to wanting the best for the child and this has led to improved outcomes in many areas of the child’s life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys good health because of the support that they receive from staff. Staff have helped the child to overcome their anxieties about attending health appointments, which has led to them accessing local health services. This has meant that the child is receiving the right support and their health needs are being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made progress in their education from their starting point. This is because staff and education professionals understand the child’s needs and the barriers to their education. This collaborative approach has helped to reduce the likelihood of the child becoming excluded from education. This positive approach has helped the child to set goals for their future education and/or potential career choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to see the people who are important to them. Staff build positive relationships with the child’s family and friends which makes the child feel cared about and valued. The child likes to spend time with their friends and enjoys sleeping over. This provides the child with the same experiences as their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to develop the skills needed to live independently in the future. The approach that staff have taken is in line with the child’s plan and is led by the child. This has meant that the child has made progress because the approach taken by staff has increased the likelihood of the child participating in the plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a great importance given to consulting with the child. Managers and staff place the child’s views, wishes and feelings at the centre of decision-making. The child is involved in their plans. As a result, child feels listened to and this helps them to feel in control of what happens in their lives.

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

The child is settled, and they feel safe and secure. They respond to the trusting relationships they have developed with staff. Serious incidents are rare, but when they do happen staff are proactive in putting measures in place to ensure the child is better protected. Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 4 The risks to the child have reduced. Staff help the child to understand risks and to be solution focused. Staff regularly revisit the work they do with the child to reduce the likelihood of risks increasing. This means the child is equipped to make the right choices, which means they are better protected.

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

Staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities for the child. Risk assessments provide clear guidance to staff, are up to date, and reviewed regularly. Risks are well understood by staff and they are clear on the steps to follow to ensure the child is increasingly safe.

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

The child responds to the consistent boundaries and structure at the home. They are invested in their home and in the local area. One professional said, ‘Staff have put in a lot of hard work, the risks are reduced, and [child’s name] is making progress. Staff have helped them to achieve this.’

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

The child does not go missing from home. Staff understand the risks to this child if they did go missing. There are clear and easily understood steps to follow in the child’s plan. Staff understand their responsibilities when a child goes missing.

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

Staff talk to the child about risks and their vulnerabilities. They have supported the child to understand risks, which has equipped the child to make better choices. Where safety online has been a significant risk to the child, they have made significant progress which has led to them using devices and accessing social media with increased safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management at this home is effective. The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She places great importance on being a role model for staff, to provide them with the skills and knowledge required to give a high standard of care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager sets clear expectations for staff about how they will provide individualised and consistent care for the child. Staff understand their responsibilities, and they follow the agreed approach with guidance from the manager. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager. This supportive environment for staff means that they are motivated and committed to the child in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring and auditing tools in place to track the progress of the child. Records show that the manager evaluates the risks to the child and the progress they are making. This ensures that the child’s needs are regularly reviewed and their plan is up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a multi-agency approach to the risk management and care planning for the child. Professionals said that information-sharing and communication are strengths Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 5 of this home. Strong partnership working means that the child is receiving the right support and care that is consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that provides them with the opportunity to discuss the child’s needs. Records show that staff are being supported by the manager and that their training and development needs are reviewed. Staff said that the manager is approachable and that they feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a good working relationship in the management team at this home. The team has a clear vision for the development of the home, which includes improving the systems for staff development and the monitoring of this process. Steps have been taken to begin to implement these positive changes to enhance the existing systems in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff have received the training needed to equip them to meet the needs of the child currently living at the home. However, there are gaps in training for some newly appointed staff, including the safeguarding and protection of children. Staff have not been provided with guidance around the expectations for training, which has meant that training is not always completed in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff. The registered person should ensure that newly appointed staff complete the training they need to meet the needs of the children living at the home. They should ensure that this happens in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC355839 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

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 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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