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 owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2019.

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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 outstanding

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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 for children’s home: SC355839 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good 14/12/2021 Full Good 03/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built close, trusted relationships with staff. There is a curiosity among staff to learn and understand the functions of children’s behaviour, what this means for children and what staff can do to support this. Children are developing skills and making progress with their ability to talk about their needs and emotions. Consistent staff support has enabled them to do this. During the inspection, the inspector spoke with one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress with their education. When children struggle with education, staff liaise effectively with education providers and professionals from the virtual school. Staff are ambitious for children to reach their potential. Regular communication and meetings with education colleagues support children to achieve. Children are developing a firm foundation on which they can build their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views and wishes of children are captured by the staff. These are reviewed at staff meetings, with relevant professionals if necessary, and responded to. Staff advocate for children and are invested in promoting their welfare and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to spend time with their friends and are offered a wide range of activities, such as trips to theme parks and visits to museums. One child said they like caravan holidays with staff and went to ‘nice places.’ Staff encourage the children to attend birthday parties, meet up with friends and join local clubs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their family. Staff have listened to what children want. They have promoted changes to arrangements that mean children are able to see their family more often and build increasingly positive relationships with them. Photos of days out are shared with the child’s family and are pasted into colourful journey books. These books reflect the positive times that children spend with their family and staff. One parent commented on how much they appreciated this. The books are helping children to build a positive life story that enhances their self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and welcoming home that is well maintained. Children are encouraged to personalise their own bedrooms and choose paint colours and furnishings. One child chose to spend time in the summer helping staff to remodel the garden. This is now a lovely area for children to play and relax.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are understood. For children who have complex health needs, the manager works with external professionals to ensure that staff are well-trained and can competently support the children’s needs. Children can earn rewards for making progress in looking after their own physical health and mental well-being. This includes learning skills like brushing their teeth daily and exercising. However, on one occasion when a child declined to attend a health appointment, this was not revisited by the staff, and no further appointment was made. Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 4

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

The safety and well-being of children are promoted by staff. Risks to children, including exploitation or issues with drugs, are known, and understood. Comprehensive plans and risk assessments are in place and reviewed regularly. These reflect the known individual risks to children and include research and links to best practice. This enhances the understanding and knowledge of staff. Child-centred care plans are supported by regular therapeutic input and a well understood model of care. This enables staff to provide the right care for children and implement plans that support children to stay safe.

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

The number of times children go missing from the home has reduced. The home coordinates a proactive multi-agency response to reduce risks to children. When children do go missing from home, the staff respond quickly and effectively and in line with the children’s plans. Staff actively search for children, and when they are found, they are welcomed into a positive and homely environment. Staff talk to the children about the risk of being missing from home to help them understand how to keep themselves safe. The risk of harm to children is reduced because of the actions taken by staff.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Staff use effective de-escalation techniques, and physical intervention is rarely used in the home. If this does happen, children have the opportunity to discuss the intervention, and conversations are supportive and kind. Staff know the children well and have the training and skills to respond to the changes in children’s mood and behaviour. Staff work closely with a psychotherapist and numerous external professionals to provide the right support for children. Clear boundaries and expectations are in place, which children understand and respond to.

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

Children are protected by staff who know how to respond to concerns about their safety. Action is taken in response to allegations or the suspicion of harm, and any issues are investigated. There is good communication about safeguarding issues and close links with local authorities and designated officers. Children are supported and protected. When necessary, managers offer support to the person the allegation relates to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has excellent oversight of the home and has the best interests of the children and staff at the forefront of her decisions. The manager leads staff who prioritise kind, nurturing care and are well informed. She is highly ambitious for the children in her care. She works collaboratively with senior managers and consistently and repeatedly challenges those who do not meet her high standards and expectations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an effective and inspirational role model who is truly supportive of her staff. Staff speak positively about her; she is described as patient, open, honest, and encouraging. Staff also speak positively about each other and said they all work well together to build a calm and caring family home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 5 The quality of professional relationships is outstanding. Feedback from professionals was overwhelmingly positive, describing excellent feedback, communication, and an in-depth knowledge of the children. There is regular contact with an increasingly wide range of external professionals and outside agencies. This secures the best possible care and experiences for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Child-focused team meetings are held regularly. External professional agencies attend and give presentations that improve the staff knowledge and understanding of their role and practice. These include topics such as sexual health and health needs of children. There are numerous additional resources available to support staff. This enhances the care offered to children by well-trained staff. Training is a strength of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager creates a supportive environment for staff and encourages their development. Staff receive supportive supervision sessions regularly, and this nurturing and supportive ethos is embedded into the home. The staff also support each other to succeed. Day-to-day support and guidance are given by staff who promote a kind and consistent approach to care. The induction process is overseen by the manager and is comprehensive. This ensures that new staff feel well prepared for the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has oversight of the home and completes regular audits to ensure quality is maintained. The risk assessments in place show a clear understanding and swift management of risks in the home. There is consultation with the relevant people and a good understanding of the local area. Additionally, there is a review of other areas where children might visit, for example where family members live. The manager knows the issues that may cause risks to children and what actions are required to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that each child’s day-to-day health and well- being needs are met. They should ensure that staff consistently promote and revisit with children the benefits of them attending health reviews. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 33, paragraph 7.3)

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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, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Inspector

Jo Cansfield, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC355839 8 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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