Children's home run by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2701187 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 children’s home. It is registered to provide care and support for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. Three children currently live in the home. Inspectors spoke with two children during the visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 18 August 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2701187 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Outstanding 12/12/2023 Full Outstanding 01/02/2023 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2701187 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff provide nurturing care and support that is responsive to each child’s unique needs and circumstances. Staff support is adapted to reflect current events in the child’s life and the impact that each child has in the home. Staff consistently work in a restorative way with children to recognise the difficult feelings that they experience. This supports children in showing empathy towards one another.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children feel valued, listened to and cared for by managers and staff. Children described being with staff as one of the places they feel safest. They have built strong and trusting attachments to managers and staff. Children know how to complain and know that staff will take their concerns seriously and make changes. Children have shared with trusted staff extremely sensitive information and the deputy manager in particular has offered sensitive and compassionate support to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff are effective advocates for the children. They champion the children’s right to education and to fulfil their potential. Managers and staff insist that health services provide timely interventions to children. Managers advocate for the best plans for children. The multi-agency plans are individualised and thoughtfully consider the children’s views and plans for success. Children have learned to advocate for themselves as they have seen and heard staff advocate for them. This prepares them well for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One child has displayed challenging behaviours which have had a negative impact on their peers. Staff have kept all of the children safe and tried to understand the reasons for these and reduce the impact. Staff support all of the children around their feelings and take positive steps to reduce risk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home feels warm and welcoming. If damage occurs in the home, managers arrange swift repairs, and broken items are replaced. Managers and staff think carefully about how to personalise and decorate the home so that all enjoy it and are celebrated. Photos of the children and memories that are important to them are placed thoughtfully around the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of maintaining relationships with children’s families. Children are supported to see their families where this is possible, and alternative ways of staying in touch are used to support positive experiences. Staff tailor this support to each child’s needs.

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

Managers and staff support children in the home to take age-appropriate risks in the community and to become increasingly independent. Staff seek out opportunities for children to take planned and positive risks. This helps children to build strong friendships Inspection report for children’s home: 2701187 4 locally. The supportive team of staff help children to negotiate and learn from any difficulties.

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

Children are not usually missing from the home. One child had a brief period where they were reported as missing and the deputy manager acted swiftly in response to this. Staff and an independent person spoke with the child to offer a return home interview and to understand their reasons for leaving the home. The deputy manager gave immediate and clear direction to help keep the child safer. Discussions with the child were open and solution focused. Managers ensured additional emotional support was in place so the child could talk about their feelings.

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

Staff are skilled in putting clear and consistent boundaries in place for children in the home. They do this with the children and explain the reasons for doing so. This helps children to feel secure. Children feel safe in the home and when with staff.

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

Managers help staff and children to reflect after incidents. This has led to a reduction in staff using physical interventions with children to keep them safe. Children who have become upset are supported to recognise and talk about their feelings. This helps children recover more quickly. Managers meet with their lead trainer and the child’s social care professionals after incidents to share learning and seek further feedback.

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

Managers and staff work transparently with other safeguarding partners. Managers and staff take appropriate steps when children raise any concerns. Any concerns are thoroughly investigated. Information is shared in a timely manner, and managers understand and fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is tenacious in her pursuit of the best outcomes for children in all areas of their lives. Managers know and understand the children extremely well. Managers and staff offer sensitive and caring support to the children, particularly at challenging times for children. This helps children to feel safe and cared for, and they respect and trust the managers and staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

For one child a bespoke package to support their well-being involves support from different agencies. The manager upheld the child’s right to support and the urgency of the need at this time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers demonstrate transparency and always involve appropriate professionals in decision-making around the children’s care. Decisions reflect the children’s views, wishes and feelings. Managers consistently challenge others if they feel that the children’s needs are not being met and uphold the children’s rights. Professionals respect the managers and appreciate their challenge and excellent communication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers use research to improve the lives of children. Staff support children to understand each other and live harmoniously together. The manager has arranged training around restorative practice for the team to enhance this. Managers are taking Inspection report for children’s home: 2701187 5 part in a new local project around crime to help children understand risks and safety. Staff and children have been involved in this from the start of the process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers provide supervision and feedback to staff regularly. Discussions are reflective and help staff to develop in their role. Senior staff have been given increased responsibilities to attend children’s meetings. Staff feel extremely well supported by managers and describe loving the work they do in the home. All staff focus on the marked progress and development of the children they support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers maintain strong oversight of systems and monitor all aspects of the home. A training provider recently changed, but the manager has ensured that staff remain on track to complete their qualifications. Staff are also up to date with other training, which helps them to understand the children’s needs and safely meet them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Some examples of excellent and sensitive reflective discussion were noted in children’s records. However, there was some inconsistency in the records around language used, which could stigmatise a child and would not be helpful if they choose to read them in the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701187 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising way which will be helpful to the child if they wish to view their records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2701187 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council

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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: 2701187 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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