Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 1 SC390293

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties. A private provider runs the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since 30 June 2023. An interim manager is managing the home and is in the process of applying for registration.

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This monitoring visit

Following the full inspection on 17 and 18 May 2023, the service was judged as inadequate. The inspection found significant breaches in regulations relating to the safety and protection of children and the management oversight of the service.

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This monitoring visit

Ofsted issued two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and actions taken to meet the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

The risks to children’s safety are reduced, and children are now better protected by staff. Since the last inspection, the interim manager has rewritten all the children’s risk assessments and is regularly reviewing and updating them. The risk assessments contain more detailed information and strategies for staff to follow to reduce the risks to children’s safety. Staff talk about the risks to children’s safety at each team meeting and during supervision. Although there is no impact on children’s care, there are gaps in how staff follow the provider's policy, as they are not signing children's risk assessments to show they have read and understood the plans.

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This monitoring visit

Children now receive support to meet their physical and mental health needs. Staff make sure that they make referrals to specialist services where appropriate to meet Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 2 children’s needs, such as child and adolescent mental health services. This is helping children to access the assessments they require so that people caring for them understand their needs.

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This monitoring visit

Staff better understand their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. The staff that spoke to the inspector feel confident in raising concerns, know who they should report concerns to and understand the whistle-blowing policy. There have been no safeguarding concerns since the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have increased their oversight of incidents. This includes a prompt review from managers and a staff debrief. Managers are more responsive to changes to children’s care and take appropriate action. Children’s plans have been developed to include recent incidents or changes so that these can be transferred into children’s risk assessments. This process is newly implemented and is not yet embedded into staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have regular discussions with children to help them learn about things that may affect their safety. This includes helping children to express and manage their feelings and emotions more positively and using the internet safely. Parental controls for online access prevent children from accessing inappropriate information.

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This monitoring visit

Managers deliver clear messages in team meetings and provide training and support to staff to make the standards expected when caring for children clear. The statement of purpose has been refined, and the new manager has a vision for the future running of the home. Staff are helped to understand the home’s therapeutic approach better, and further training is available through a new training system.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have increased their presence in the home, and the oversight systems and processes have been reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/05/2023 Full Inadequate 03/01/2023 Full Good 01/09/2021 Full Outstanding 03/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make sure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 41, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should make sure that everyone working in the home understands their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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: SC390293 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 St. Wilfrids Road, Bessacarr, Doncaster DN4 6AA

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Inspector

Honor Hamshaw, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC390293 6 regulates and inspects 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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