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

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority runs this home. It is registered to provide care for children with sensory needs and physical or learning disabilities. The service offers short breaks for up to four children per night. This includes a combination of overnight care, tea visits and daycare during school holidays.

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Information about this children’s home

The service registered with Ofsted on 1 September 2022. The recently appointed manager led the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There are 20 children currently accessing this home for care and support.

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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: 10 February 2025

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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: 2701417 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/02/2025 Full Good 21/10/2024 Full Inadequate 08/08/2023 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children who stay at the home overnight were seen and spoken with during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The garden area has been improved since the last full inspection, providing a well- equipped space for children to play outside. The manager is working with a charity to purchase more outdoor play equipment, and the staff and children have been fundraising for the charity too. Children play in the garden and have fun. The home has recently been decorated and is child-friendly, with improved storage areas.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff who care for the children are nurturing in their approach. The home has a lively and enjoyable atmosphere, where children have the chance to explore new activities and engage in fun experiences both in the home and in the local community. They take pleasure in playing, learning and spending time there. Children’s progress is recognised and documented in their case records.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have supported children through change and transitions. One child was thoughtfully supported to move on to a new home. The manager invited the new staff into the current home to shadow the staff to help them better understand the child’s needs. This helped the new staff to learn important routines for the child before the move. A new process is in place for children coming into the home, which involves effective multi-agency working around each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager respects the rights of each child to consent. For one child, the manager made sure that assessments took place to clarify the child’s understanding of consent. The manager recognises the importance of involving the child in decision-making. Professionals and families are also encouraged and able to express their views with regards the care for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly seek out children’s views and celebrate their achievements. There is clear progress in staff skills around communication, but not all children’s views are captured, and this is a work in progress. Generic communication symbols and tools are accessible around the home to support children to share their views, and these are used by some children. Not all children’s plans reflect the most effective way to support their individual communication needs.

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

Staff have reviewed the risk assessments for children who stay in the home with families and other professionals involved in their lives. Before each visit, staff contact families and check for any updates and changes that may affect the children’s stay. Managers also meet regularly with other professionals to ensure joined-up approaches. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 4 Staff have increased their knowledge and skills around safeguarding. This has developed through training courses and discussion with managers in supervision and team meetings. Staff feel confident to raise concerns and understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

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

Children do not go missing from this home and the manager ensures that good planning takes place, particularly when children are at times of elevated risk, such as out in the community. Safe staffing levels are recorded in plans and give clear directions to staff about specific times when children require additional support. Each child has an emergency protocol in place in case they ever become separated from staff when outside the home.

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

Staff support children in managing their emotions without the use of physical intervention. Staff document incidents thoroughly, allowing managers to review records with staff and engage in reflective discussions with the child. Through this process, new contributing factors are identified and included in care plans to prevent future incidents. This information enables staff to provide better support and minimise the chance of further incidents.

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

The manager uses safer recruitment processes for permanent staff in the home and explores past employment as part of their decision-making process. There has been a notable reduction in the use of external agency staff. Managers have not assured themselves that all required checks have been completed for each staff member from an external agency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has made significant changes in the home in a short period of time. Families, professionals and staff working in the home recognise the improvements made, particularly around communication. Team morale has improved, and staff feel listened to by their manager. The manager values and respects staff and engages them in the improvement journey.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager is child-focused and brings knowledge and skills to the team from previous roles. She has a focus on independence and participation, alongside supporting children to have fun. The manager understands the progress the children make in the home and encourages staff to capture and celebrate this. The manager is supporting the team to listen to and capture children’s views, and promotes the use of advocacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear understanding of the team’s strengths and areas for development, both within the team and the home. She actively responds to feedback from external sources as well as her staff. Team members are taking on new responsibilities, and the manager is supporting them in building their skills and confidence. Staff feel well supported in their roles. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 5 There is a comprehensive plan covering staff induction and ongoing training. Staff complete relevant training during their induction period and feel equipped to support the children in their care. Where additional needs for children are identified, the manager sources additional staff training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built strong working relationships with professionals and there is improved communication across all areas. The manager makes informed decisions and challenges others if necessary. The manager has used the new admission process developed to identify if she can meet the needs of children referred to the home. This joined-up approach to working has helped all professionals to better understand the changing needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has implemented significant improvements in the home, though some auditing systems have yet to undergo a review of their effectiveness. Children’s health files contain clear information regarding medication and health needs. A discrepancy noted in one record highlighted concerns about the frequency of auditing children’s and staff records. While this has not negatively impacted children, the manager was receptive to feedback and promptly addressed the issue. However, not all audit systems have been effective in identifying inaccuracies . Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 6

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3)

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should assure themselves that schedule 2 checks are completed for all external agency staff before they work in the home. 8 July 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should work in partnership with relevant people to ensure that each child is provided with appropriate support to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all their care planning and daily care. This includes knowledge of each child’s individualised communication aids, equipment and/or any necessary language support required to help them to understand and express themselves. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6’)  The registered person should make best use of information from their oversight and internal monitoring to continuously improve children’s records. This includes ensuring that children’s records are up to date, accurate and important information is easily accessible regarding children’s medication, communication needs and care. Where Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 7

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Recommendations

information is repeated in different records, changes should be updated in all documents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24’)

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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: Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster DN1 3BU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Catherine Richardson

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Inspector

Carol Jagger, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 9 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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