Children's Home run by In Safe Hands Care Ltd in Doncaster

Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 1 Registered provider: In Safe Hands Care Ltd

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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. The home is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, two children were living in the home. One child was spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2016 and is suitably skilled and qualified.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2024 Full Good 31/05/2023 Full Good 03/08/2022 Full Good 02/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live in the home have developed good relationships with staff. Staff know the children well and invest time with them. The children can access a range of activities and staff encourage them to try new things that help the children develop a sense of achievement and well-being. One child regularly attends gymnastics classes which supports their health and socialisation skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One of the children attends education on a full-time basis and staff have helped to support the transition into a new school. The child is doing well in education and their achievements are celebrated. Staff continue to support another child who has missed a lot of education opportunities. They promote the importance of learning and have offered the child a range of activities to develop life skills as they move towards independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is filled with photographs that make the children feel a sense of belonging and cared for. Moves into the home are well planned and staff encourage children to personalise their bedrooms. Transition planning for those moving on from the home is good. One child who recently moved on from the home still has support and ongoing contact with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Specialist help is available for the children. The registered manager has created good contacts with a range of professionals who can offer help and support. Progress is measured and information is shared with those working with the children and family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is designed to allow the children to spend time together and apart. The children have their own bedroom space which they personalise. However, the condition of the ensuite and the carpet in one of the children’s bedrooms is unhygienic.

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

Children say they feel safe living in the home and their safety is prioritised. When a child goes missing there is a well-coordinated response and staff follow children’s individualised plans and search for them. Staff ensure that relevant partner agencies are notified when a child is missing. Return home interviews are routinely offered to help children to understand and reflect on the reasons and to try and prevent this from happening again.

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

Staff help and encourage the children to talk about any issues they have. This makes children feel that they can share concerns or worries. Staff listen to children and take their concerns seriously. Relationships are strong meaning restrictive practices are not used within the home. Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 4 Positive behaviour is promoted and celebrated within the home. Staff receive training on de-escalation techniques and sanctions are not used with the children. Staff create alternative strategies to deal with difficult behaviour, and this makes children understand expectations and boundaries.

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

Staff identify risks and follow procedures for responding to concerns about the safety of the children. They feel supported by the registered manager and deputy manager who are available to offer 24-hour advice and support and are responsive to requests.

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

Risk assessments are reviewed regularly, and staff have the opportunity to read and respond to any updates. The assessments are clear and detailed telling staff what they should do to reduce the risk of harm to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Training and development opportunities for staff are not consistently monitored and reviewed. Some staff have not completed their level 3 qualification within the expected timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has not produced a workforce development plan. This means that it is difficult to see a training pathway that ensures all staff have focussed training that prepares them to meet the needs of the children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are appointed in line with safer recruitment standards with routine checks taking place. However, it is not always clear how gaps in employment are explored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There have been occasions when the registered manager has not notified the regulator in response to a child protection enquiry or investigation commencing. This has led to a delay in the regulator having oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a strong commitment from the provider to working with partner agencies to enhance the support for children, so they receive the right service at the right time. The registered manager has built strong working relationships both with professionals and family members and shares information appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager knows the children well and monitors their progress. They ensure plans are in line with the local authority care plan for the child. This ensures clarity and shared understanding for everybody who is involved with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff report that managers are highly visible within the home and provide good consistency and support for the children and staff team. Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 5

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 31 October 2025

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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 protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4) (d)(i)(ii)) 26 September 2025

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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

In particular the registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home

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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.

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Requirement Due date

for the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained— 31 October 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 6 the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England)

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d) (4)(a) 5(a))

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of Regulation 16. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 53, paragraph 10.8).

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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: 1232171 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: In Safe Hands Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Peter Wray Accountancy Services, 48 50, Wakefield Road, Pontefract, South Yorkshire WF7 7AB

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Inspector

Lisa Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1232171 8 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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