Children's Home run by City of Doncaster Council in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 1 Registered provider: City of Doncaster 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

This home is operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for children with sensory needs and physical or learning disabilities. It offers short breaks for up to 4 children per night.

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Information about this children’s home

There are 21 children currently accessing this home for care and support. Two children were staying at the home and they were seen and spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

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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

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

20/05/2025 Full Good 10/02/2025 Full Good 21/10/2024 Full Inadequate 08/08/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 3

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Summary of findings

Children benefit from a nurturing and supportive environment where staff know them well and demonstrate a clear understanding of their individual needs. Children are encouraged to access and enjoy a range of areas in the home including a spacious outdoor garden, living rooms and a sensory room which promote relaxation, play and engagement.

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Summary of findings

A variety of activities, such as games, books and crafts are readily available and support children to make choices about how they spend their time. Staff use a range of communication methods tailored to each child, and communication aids are visible throughout the home helping to promote inclusion and participation.

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Summary of findings

While children’s plans are generally clear they are not always promptly updated following incidents or significant events. Systems are not sufficiently robust to ensure that all staff have read and understood the updated information.

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Summary of findings

Not all staff have completed mandatory training within the timescales which may impact the consistency of care. The manager has carried out a quality-of-care review, which does not fully reflect current practice or developments and progress within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from warm nurturing relationships with staff who are attentive, kind and responsive to their individual needs. Staff use a range of tailored communication methods to ensure that children can express their wishes and feelings. As a result, children are encouraged to make choices and feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time at the home and are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities that promote new experiences and the development of skills. Staff support children to build their independence and confidence, empowering them to make choices and take appropriate risks in a safe and supportive environment. This contributes positively to children’s overall progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The ethos of the home is one of respect, dignity and inclusion. Staff create a calm and welcoming environment where children feel safe and relaxed. Bedrooms are personalised helping children to develop a sense of belonging and security. Staff encourage children to bring personal items from their home, further supporting their emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Careful consideration is given to children who stay in the home. The manager works effectively with families and professionals to gather detailed information about each child’s needs, preferences and experiences. This ensures that staff are well prepared and able to provide consistent, individualised care from the outset, helping children to settle. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 4 Children benefit from access to a wide range of specialist support. Staff work collaboratively with external professionals to meet children’s health, behavioural and educational needs. This multi-agency approach strengthens the quality of care provided and supports children to make progress.

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

Children receive care from staff who know them well and have a clear understanding of their individual behaviours, triggers and needs. This enables staff to respond consistently and sensitively to situations, helping children to manage their behaviour safely while maintaining appropriate and effective boundaries. When incidents occur, staff share information promptly with families and relevant professionals ensuring effective partnership working and promoting children’s safety.

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

A positive and nurturing environment is evident throughout the home. Staff routinely recognise and celebrate children’s achievements and use well-established strategies to help them feel calm, relaxed and emotionally secure. This approach reduces anxiety and enables children to feel safe and happy in their surroundings. The physical environment is safe and adapted thoughtfully to meet the needs of the children who stay at the home.

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

Children are protected by carefully considered staffing arrangements. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed to ensure that staffing levels remain appropriate and responsive to children’s needs. At times this includes reducing occupancy levels to minimise risks. The manager gives careful consideration when planning children’s breaks, reducing the likelihood of conflict and promoting positive peer relationships.

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

The use of restraint or restrictive practice is rare. When such measures are necessary there is clear management oversight and practice is reviewed to ensure that it is proportionate and appropriate. Children are encouraged to share how they are feeling following incidents. Records are detailed and capture the context, actions taken and any lessons learned to improve future practice.

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

Staff support children to engage in a wide range of activities promoting their confidence and independence. Risks are assessed appropriately enabling children to take part in new experiences safely. This supports children to develop skills, build resilience and safely explore opportunities that enhance their overall wellbeing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates effective leadership and management of the home creating a positive culture that benefits children and their families. Strong working relationships with families, professionals and partner agencies ensures that information is shared effectively and used to inform care planning. Parents said that the manager and staff make a meaningful difference to their children’s lives and provide valuable support to the wider family network. Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 5 Professionals consistently report clear, timely and effective communication from the staff. This enables key information to be shared promptly and ensures that children receive coordinated and responsive care that meets their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is appropriately staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the children who access the home. Staff receive regular reflective supervision sessions that supports them to review their practice and adapt care plans in line with children’s changing needs. When children struggle to settle or their behaviours change, the manager takes a proactive approach, working collaboratively with families and other professionals to identify solutions. This ensures that children continue to access the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager places a strong emphasis on staff development. Training is prioritised and tailored to meet the specific needs of the children. Additional learning opportunities are provided to equip staff with the skills required to deliver specialist care. While all staff are registered for their relevant residential childcare qualifications not all have achieved these in the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are systems in place to review the quality of care provided; however, these are not consistently formalised in written reports for external scrutiny. In addition, oversight arrangements do not ensure that all staff have read and understood risk assessments and support plans. These shortfalls limit the manager’s ability to demonstrate robust oversight and monitoring of practice. 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h)) 28 August 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 30 October 2026 Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 7

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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: City of Doncaster 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

Lisa Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2701417 9 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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