Children's Home run by City of Doncaster Council in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 1 Registered provider: Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to eight children with sensory needs, physical and/or learning disabilities. 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 home previously registered with Doncaster Trust. On 1 September 2022, the home re-registered due to a transfer in legal identity. The home is now run by Doncaster Council.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and excited to have their short-break stays. Staff welcome children enthusiastically as they arrive and ensure that they are comfortable. The calm and nurturing atmosphere is relaxing and reassuring for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Trained staff fully support children’s complex healthcare needs. The environment is spacious and well designed. The specialist equipment helps children who have physical and sensory requirements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff. Staff know what children like to do and fully embrace children’s identity and individuality. Trusting relationships are built between children and staff, which families hold in high regard. One parent said, ‘Staff are absolutely amazing. When I drop [name of child] off, you can see how much [name of child] likes them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have great fun on their short-break stays. They have lots of opportunities and new experiences. Children socialise with each other, go on day trips, and spend time playing in the sensory room.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Thorough care planning and good support from staff help children to progress and achieve their targets. Children make choices and become more independent. Some children learn to prepare meals and make good use of the accessible kitchen facilities. Careful planning for one child’s recent move has helped them to successfully transition on to adult services. Journey books are full of photos showing celebrations of every success. Children keep these books as a reminder of the enjoyable times they have had.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff talk with children and use pictures and social stories in line with their specific communication needs. Time spent together helps children to learn how to express their feelings, and, importantly prepares children for changes in their care arrangements. Staff hear and respond to children’s views and choices as they communicate with children well. Children regularly meet with the advocate as the manager values the independent perspective the children’s advocate provides.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Tea visits and individualised booklets help to prepare children for their short-break stays. Children look forward to their first overnight stay. The manager has the correct information on how to care for the child as they meet with parents and professionals. The manager assesses this information and looks at how best to match the children to enable them to make good friendships. However, the records do not always provide a clear and consistent account of the decisions that are made for children. Children have positive placements and are quick to settle into their new routines. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 4

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improvement to be good

Ineffective communication and shift planning have led to errors in administering children’s medication. Staff do not consistently ensure that children receive prescribed medication in a timely way. This has the potential to compromise vulnerable children’s health.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding procedures are initiated when there are concerns raised that a child may have been injured. The manager informs the local authority designated officer and matters are quickly resolved with the correct professional advice. The manager works in collaboration with partner agencies when there are welfare concerns within the family home. The manager has not informed the regulator when child protection enquiries have taken place. This does not support the regulator to assess the action taken to keep children safe.

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improvement to be good

Staff are therapeutic in their support to children who become unsettled. They reassure children who become anxious or upset. The manager has identified the reasons for changes in one child’s presentation and implements new plans that help. The frequency of incidents reduces.

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improvement to be good

The manager actively promotes a ‘least restrictive’ approach to help children, which the staff team fully embraces. There is no use of restrictive physical intervention. The manager creatively uses individualised plans and risk assessments to continually review the level of support children need to stay safe. Staff understand and implement children’s individual support strategies as they have clear guidance.

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improvement to be good

Thorough recruitment checks ensure that staff are skilled and suitable to work with children. Staff closely supervise children and ensure that the home is free from potential hazards. Children do not go missing and there are no known risks of exploitation. The manager’s assessment of the local area ensures that children can safely spend time in the community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed to the service and has high expectations for the delivery of care children receive. Her influential leadership motivates staff, who are ambitious and proud of the progress children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual is often in the home and has a good working dynamic with the manager. Management for the home now extends to a new deputy manager. Staff feel well supported by these senior leaders. Staff morale is high, and they enjoy working together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager promotes a culture of learning and development. Reflective supervision and individual targets assist staff to develop. Group discussions and specific development sessions give staff focus and direction on how to fulfil their Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 5 role. Staff understand the complex needs children have as they receive specialist training. Staff are confident in the care they provide to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring systems provide the manager with good service oversight. The manager swiftly actions recommendations from quality assurance visits and the independent person’s monthly review. Regular audits help the manager to identify areas for development. The quality of care review provides a full service analysis that includes the opinions of families and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and families have positive views about working alongside the home. The manager contributes effectively to partnership working through regular attendance at children’s meetings. She keeps professionals informed and quickly forges trusting relationships with children’s families. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 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 registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that medication is administered as advised by medical professionals. 27 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 27 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they review the holistic impact risk assessment to account for an individual record for each child when commencing short-break stays. They should fully develop the matching matrix to demonstrate consistently how compatible children are to visit together. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: 2701417 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Doncaster Council, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU

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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: 2701417 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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