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Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 1 SC454484 Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It provides care for up to three children who may experience emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in December 2023. The service manager is in day-to-day charge of the home, while recruitment in ongoing.

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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: inadequate

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

This home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 12 July 2022. During this inspection, the inspectors found significant breaches in regulations. These related to the safety and protection of children, the leadership and management arrangements and the admission of children moving into the home. As a result, three compliance notices were issued under Regulation 12, 13 and 14. Furthermore, a restriction of accommodation notice was issued on 18 July 2022 until 10 October 2022 inclusively. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 2 During a monitoring visit on 1 September 2022, the provider demonstrated that they had met the compliance notices.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

As the provider made the decision to close the home in October 2022, Ofsted imposed a three-month condition. This required the local authority to notify Ofsted three months before they intended to move any children into the home.

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

The provider notified Ofsted of their intention to operate, and requested to reduce the number of children they care for from five to three. As such, a monitoring visit was carried out on 19 September 2023. Following this visit, Ofsted lifted the three- month condition. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/07/2022 Full Inadequate 02/11/2021 Full Good 21/07/2021 Full Inadequate 02/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 4

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improvement to be good

Some staff are new to this home, so the effectiveness of their practice in improving outcomes for children, has yet to be tested.

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improvement to be good

Staff build positive relationships with the children quickly. Together, they spend quality time doing activities that children enjoy, such as going on bike rides and wildlife walks. This helps children to form trusting relationships with the staff.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views are considered, and when appropriate, their requests are actioned. In one instance, this has resulted in one child turning one room into a 'snug room’. To further support children to share their views, wishes and feelings, they have access to an advocacy service. This has helped one child to feel valued and listened to.

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improvement to be good

There are plans for the children to attend school. However, as yet, one child does not, and the other child’s attendance is sporadic. Leaders and managers are working with education and social care staff to make sure that the children’s plans are progressed. While the children are not in school, the staff are promoting the children’s learning outside the of home, such as trips to museums, farms and nature reserves. This helps with children’s routine and structure during the day.

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improvement to be good

Children’s moves, both in and out of the home, are planned well. This gives the children a chance to see where they are moving on to, and gives them the opportunity to meet the people who will be caring for them. Effective planning for children, helps to reduce their anxieties, which helps them to cope better with their onward journey.

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improvement to be good

With the support from staff, the children spend quality time with their families. Staff know how important this time is and they welcome the children’s families into the home. One parent said, ‘I always feel welcome there, I spent Christmas at the home with the staff and [child’s name].’

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improvement to be good

The children who live in the home have not been reported missing. Staff know the missing-from-home protocols for one child. However, their responses for the other child were mixed. This child’s plan does not include essential information, such as when the staff should report the child as missing from the home. This oversight prevents the staff from providing a consistent approach should this situation occur.

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improvement to be good

Some of the children’s risk assessments provide staff with clear actions to follow to reduce the risk of harm to the children. These documents, which leaders and Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 5 managers maintain oversight of, are updated as and when new risks occur. This ensures that children’s presenting needs are known and understood.

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improvement to be good

Staff know the children well. They know when the children’s behaviour changes, and they intervene quickly using verbal redirection. This practice reduces the risk of incidents escalating. The service manager has identified gaps in the records of previous physical interventions, and she has developed a new document. The effectiveness of this has yet to be tested as there have been no physical interventions recorded since May 2019.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers take safe the recruitment of new staff seriously. A new document now prompts the managers to verify the staff’s references, and check any gaps in the staff’s employment.

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good

The registered manager left the organisation in December 2023. While a new manager was appointed, she has very recently informed the local authority that she will not be taking up the post.

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good

As an interim measure, the service manager is currently in day-to-day charge of the home while a new manager is recruited. While there has been uncertainty for the staff due to changes in management team, the staff said that the atmosphere is now ‘brilliant’, and that the service manager is very knowledgeable, and people- centered.

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good

Leadership in this home is beginning to take shape. Staff are now developing in their roles through the commitment from leaders. The service manager carries out regular spot checks of staff’s paperwork. This helps to identify where improvements in practice are needed, and where staff are progressing. This is helping to drive up improvements in the home.

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good

Leaders and managers take appropriate action when the staff’s practice is not in the best interest of the children. This in turn, is beginning to embed a more nurturing culture in the home.

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good

Staff receive training and development opportunities so they can care for children. Leaders and managers encourage staff to do their own specialised learning. This is then disseminated through the team. This extends the wider staff team’s knowledge and helps them feel valued. The staff's knowledge about the issues children may face around their gender and identity is limited as the provider does not offer any specialist training in these areas.

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good

Staff receive support and encouragement from leaders and managers. Regular supervision sessions, and team meetings enable the staff to learn and reflect on their practice. Leaders and managers lead by example. They promote a culture of high nurture and care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 6 Leaders and managers have effective working relationships with other professionals in health, education and social care. Leaders and managers professionally challenge others to get what the children deserve. The staff team now also work with this ethic. This promotes support for the children.

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good

Leaders and managers are aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. A new monitoring system is in place, and this highlight any shortfalls. This enables leaders and managers to act on these without delay. The home’s development plan is helping the leaders with their improvement journey. Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 7

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person must take to meet The Care Standards Act 2000, The 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 provider must appoint a person to manage the children's home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27(1)(a)) 31 May 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child goes missing from the home that the protocol in place includes a strategy to minimise this risk and includes a timeframe for when the child should be reported missing to the police. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.24)  The registered person should ensure that the staff have the relevant training to support the children’s specific needs and to further the staff’s knowledge and awareness. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC454484 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Westgate Plaza, Westgate, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2RD

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC454484 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 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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