Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential

Location Assessment 2015

Church Road, , .

1 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential

Contents Page

Introduction – legislative background 2

Role of the Provider 3

Accessibility of local services 5

Collection of publicly available local data 7

Consultation with appropriate local services 8

Safeguarding 11

Risk assessment & Risk management strategies 12

2 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential

Introduction – legislative background

All children, whether they are looked after by the state or their parents, need to feel safe in the area surrounding their home.

Just as any parent would want their child to live in a safe area so too will a corporate parent who places children in a children’s home.

Recent public and media attention has focused on the physical environments of children’s homes. However, it is not always straightforward to define a ‘safe’ area.

Whether a location is safe can change rapidly, and may depend on the vulnerabilities of particular children. Indeed some individual children may themselves heighten risks in an area if they have particularly risky behaviours.

A home may be located in an area with some local risks, and still be ‘safe’, if these are managed well, arrangements are made to keep children safe, and placement decisions take account of these risks.

Consideration of risks in a local area, and what steps should be taken to mitigate these, should be part of the care planning and placement decision process.

Placing social workers should be responsible for assessing local risks and making judgments about safe locations before placing the child.

The availability of support and services in the local area (e.g. education, health, CAMHS), as well as risk factors, should be considered before the placement is made.

There has been in the past a lack of clarity about who must take responsibility for ensuring children’s homes are located safely – including the roles of placing LAs, host LAs, LSCBs and providers themselves.

3 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential

Role of the provider

Better equipping children’s home staff to make judgments about local risks, manage challenging behaviour, and keep children safe is an important element.

Workforce training, support and knowledge is therefore critical to the success. It is acknowledged that there are limitations of mapping in capturing a ‘dynamic picture’ but considers that such mapping could play a useful part in the wider assessments of risk.

The home’s location assessment should be kept under review and amended to take into account any new risks as these are identified. The annual update will need to be proportionate and will not usually need to be carried out at the level of the initial assessment.

Ofsted inspectors may take into account the quality of an existing home’s manager’s location assessment when evaluating the effectiveness of the home’s approach to safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.

It will be essential to talk with children in the home’s care about the quality of life in the area to establish whether they feel safe and how to manage any risks they identify.

Children will also be able to offer homes’ managers valuable insights about the quality of local services.

The Children’s Homes and Looked after Children (Miscellaneous Amendments) () Regulations 2013 introduced the following changes to the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 and the Registration Regulations:

Regulation 31(1A) and (1B) of the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 as amended introduced a requirement in January 2014 for providers or managers to:

 ensure that premises used for the purposes of a children’s home are appropriately and suitably located so that children cared for by the home are: (a) effectively safeguarded, and (b) able to access services to meet the needs identified in their care or placement plans;  review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises at least once in every calendar year.

Location assessments will need to address two issues: 4 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential 1. Safeguarding concerns 2. Accessibility of local services

It is important for the manager or a potential new provider to have a broad understanding of the characteristics of the area where a home is or may be located.

Looked-after children placed in deprived areas, perhaps far away from the authority responsible for their care, may face disadvantage and lack opportunities to enjoy and achieve in these communities.

The considerations a home manager will need to take into account, as they carry out a location assessment, may include:

• whether the location of the home influences the potential for an already vulnerable child to be a victim of crime, such as being targeted for sexual exploitation; • whether there is a likelihood of children placed in the home becoming drawn into gang crime or anti-social behaviour in the local area; • the suitability of the local neighbourhood as a location to care for children who may have already been victims of abuse and neglect; and • whether there are environmental factors that would represent a hazard to children, such as locations near level crossings or busy roads.

Location assessments should also take into account any positive features in a local community that would offer benefits to children living in a children’s home. For example, assessments could include evidence about opportunities for children to participate in leisure, sporting or cultural activities, or links with services that could support the child’s ethnic or religious identity.

Accessibility of local services

Church Road is located in Denaby Main in the west of Doncaster. Doncaster is a large and historic, busy market town in the county of South ; it is 20 miles from Sheffield; 27 miles from Leeds; 45 miles from Manchester; with a population of approx. 77,000 in the town and 303,000 in the Borough of Doncaster.

Doncaster is the second largest economy in the Sheffield City Region; it has the newest international airport; is at the heart of the UK’s motorway network and the East Coast Mainline runs through the town’s high quality urban centre. There is a Local Railway Station just 25 minutes’ walk from Church Road and is situated on the Sheffield to Hull Northern Rail Line stopping at Doncaster and Sheffield, giving fast and easy routes to local towns and major cities such as London and Glasgow.

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Over the next 5 years Doncaster is predicted to have one of the highest growth rates in the Sheffield City Region, driven by a number of key development projects including a major project to integrate road, rail, water and air to provide a major UK multi-modal logistics known as the ‘Port of Doncaster’; and act as a catalyst for business development, inward investment and job creation particularly in the logistics, rail, engineering and aviation sectors.

Popular leisure, learning and play attractions in and around the town include;  Dearne Valley Leisure Centre which offers swimming, sports, health and fitness facilities.  Yorkshire Wildlife Park, a Dynamic Centre for Conservation and Welfare, the park has over 300 animals and over 60 different species. It offers a dynamic and interactive leisure and education experience, with education sessions from early years and foundation stage up to 16+ further education, it a Regional Centre for Excellence of biodiversity globally and locally.  The Dome Cultural, Leisure, Entertainment and Fitness Centre with Swimming, Ice Skating, Sports, Health and Fitness, Concerts and Events, Food and Drink.  A multitude of Nature Reserves, Country Parks, Walking and Cycling Trials and Visitor Centre’s, including the locally situated Nature Reserve and Sprotborough Flash Nature Reserve, Potteric Carr, the Trans Pennine Trail, Hatfield Water Park, Melton Wood Country Park, Brodsworth Hall and Gardens, Cusworth Hall, Country Park and Cycle Trail.  The multi-million pound Keepmoat Sports Stadium, home of Doncaster Rovers and Doncaster Belles Football Teams, Doncaster Dragons Rugby League Team and Doncaster Mustangs American Football Team.  Doncaster Museum and Art gallery running Key Stage 1 -3 sessions, interactive and hands on workshops lasting between 1.5hrs to 2hrs, where children can dress up and learn about life in Roman Doncaster, History, Archaeology, Alchemy, Citizenship, Dinosaurs and Fossils, and they can also “get messy” learning Art, Science, Investigation and History by building their own Messy Monster Models.  Leisure, Recreation and Retail Parks and Shopping Centre’s: Doncaster Indoor and Outdoor International Fresh Food, Fish, Meat, Fruit and Veg, Clothing and Wool Markets, The Lakeside Shopping, Leisure and Food Village; Frenchgate Shopping Centre with over 120 stores and food outlets.  Children’s Play and Activities: Astrabound is Doncasters largest indoor play and party venue “packed to the rafters” with fun and adventure activities for children up to the age of 12 years, Play Zone at The Dome offering Soft Play, Interactive Games, Slides and Ball Pools and Party Rooms. Church Road is located just off the main Doncaster Road in Denaby Main. It is a terraced home in a row of 2 houses.

6 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential On the road is a popular small local outdoor market that is open Wednesdays and Sundays each week. Across the road are residential houses for retired people. It has a small shopping parade at the bottom of the road, and an English take-away, Post Office, Small Convenience Stores, Bargain Supermarket and Petrol Station / Convenience Store and other local shops all within walking distance. There is a bus stop across the road on one side and 20 yards up the road on the other, the center of and are approx. 15-20 minutes on the bus. The home has 2 places of worship in close proximity to it;

All Saints Parish Church (Church of England) is approx. 3 minutes’ walk away, St Albans Roman Catholic Church is just 8 minutes’ walk away. Other local services; The Tom Hill Youth Club which is approx. 5 minutes’ walk away. Health Services located near Church Road include; The Denaby Springwell Medical Centre which is just 70 yards away on the same road, Denaby Dental Practice just 460 yards, Murgatroyd Opticians 0.9 miles and the NHS Montague Hospital is 1.8 miles away. 2 CAMHS services are available within 7 miles of the home.

Education services nearby include Primary Schools, High Schools and Further Education Colleges.

Denaby Main Primary School is adjudged as REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT. St. Albans Catholic Primary School is adjudged as a GOOD school. Conisbrough Balby Street Primary School is adjudged as REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT. De Warenne Academy is adjudged as REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT. Rowena Academy is adjudged as and OUTSTANDING school.

Across Doncaster there are a number of high schools which have a school sixth form and a further education college.

There are also a variety of training providers that provide opportunities to gain qualifications, the local careers service provide support in accessing education and/or training including local apprenticeships.

Collection of publicly available local data

Denaby Main is in the Ward of Conisbrough, which is in the Borough of Doncaster, which is in the County of .

Conisbrough Ward has a population of over 16,500, Doncaster has a population of over 302,000.

25% of the population of Doncaster are aged between 0–18 years.

Social care activity in Doncaster 2013-14 continues to be higher than comparable local authorities and nationally. Referral rates into children’s social care continued to 7 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential increase from 889 per 10,000 in 2012-13 to 1042 in 2013-14. Repeat referrals increased from 23% to 40% for the same period.

Children subject to a care plan per 10,000 population aged U18 in Doncaster 2013/4 is 50.90 compared to statistical neighbour average of 47.50 and a national average of 37.50.

The number of children becoming the subject of a plan for a second or subsequent time remains high compared with statistical neighbours, % of Children subject to a

CP plan for a second or subsequent time in Doncaster 2013/14 is 17.58 compared to statistical neighbour average of 14.30 and a national average of 14.90.

Local information on Doncaster Safeguarding can be accessed here; http://www.doncastersafeguardingchildren.co.uk/Images/DSCB%20Annual%20Report %202014%20FINAL_tcm36-109519.pdf

Consultation with appropriate local services

The area of Denaby Main’s Stronger Communities Officer for Adults, Health and Wellbeing reported that the local police and stronger community’s team have no specific concerns around the proposed locality of the children’s home.

His report dated 22nd December 2015 was:

A greater understanding of the area in question.

Church Road links Doncaster Road to Wadworth Street. Doncaster Road is the main Road in Denaby and links the Dearne to Doncaster. Church Road is on the bus route between Doncaster and Barnsley.

At the bottom of Church Road are a few shops and the site of the twice weekly Market.

The road has a link footway which is the main pedestrian access to the main Denaby shops from the housing conurbations.

The Medical Centre is approximately fifty metres from 49 and has an onsite Chemist. Tom Hill Youth Centre is situated around the corner on Wadworth Street and is well used by youths of all ages in the area.

The Centre also has a MUGA, again well used during the summer. Spiritually, the Roman Catholic Church and primary school are adjacent to the Youth Centre. 8 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential

An adjacent property was recently fire damaged which resulted in the death of the tenant. The tenant was a known drug addict/alcoholic and this may have caused his death. Four years ago a youth died of a drug overdose at the junction of Wadworth Street and Church Street.

This caused a huge public outcry to the drug situation in the area and in particular the family who lived at that property.

Although the area has improved the local opinion of that family and its alleged drug use has not.

We have investigated the LAGAN’s and previous CRM’s and found no evidence of associated problems in the area over the last four years.

The NRT team has had ASB reports in the Wadworth Rd area associated with local youths but this has not been a problem in the last six months.

The Police continually monitor the area particularly the youth club as this area is prone to congregating youths but again this has gone quiet recently.

The Police did not have any further information with regards to concerns/problems on Church Street.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of the area in question.

The Public Protection Unit at South Yorkshire Police in Sheffield, confirmed that they do not have any specific concerns around a new Residential Children’s Home being located at Church Road.

Their report dated 24th December 2015 was:

Dear Mr Worthington.

Concerning your recent correspondence relating to the Church Road area, Denaby Main, and your responsibilities in relation to Regulation 31 of the Children's Home Regulations 2001, please find below South Yorkshire Police response to your enquiry.

CRIME AND ASB IN THE AREAS AROUND CHURCH ROAD, DENABY MAIN 1st DECEMBER 2014 TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2015 Denaby Main/Conisborough The Doncaster West Local Policing Unit covers the Denaby Main/Conisborough area

The area averaged 3.02 crimes per day during the period 1/12/2014 to 30/11/2015. The three main crime groups based on volume were criminal damage (typically 9 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential against dwellings and vehicles), violence against the person (typically assaults occasioning actual bodily harm) and thefts.

The majority of the violence against the person offences were not domestic related. (36 from 187). None of these crimes occurred on Church Road, Denaby Main.

Outside of the three main crime groups, there were a series of sexual assaults and exposure offences against victims in the Denaby/Conisbrough area. None of these offences are in the immediate area of the proposed children’s home and none give rise to any concerns re this location.

In addition to these crimes, the area also averaged 3.6 anti-social behaviour incidents per day during the period stated. There were no incidents of ASB recorded for Church Road, Denaby Main.

In addition, South Yorkshire Police presently effectively manage, with partners, under MAPPA processes and ViSOR, convicted sex offenders in the area. However, the numbers are low and none of these individuals lives particularly close to the proposed area of the children’s home. There are no specific concerns around the proposed locality of the children’s home from our perspective.

You appreciate that I am not at liberty to provide further information in relation to these individuals; however, I can assure you that should information/intelligence come to light, which would suggest that any young person in your care was at risk, the information would be shared with you.

Detailed local information on Denaby Main Crime Data can be accessed here; http://www.ukcrimestats.com/Postcode/DN124AB

Education, Employment and Health:

In 2015, 39.4% of pupils living in Conisbrough Ward achieved at least 5 GCSE passes at grades A*-C. This compares with a Doncaster average of 52.9.8%.

68.50% of Doncaster residents aged 16+ were employed full-time at the time of the 2011 Census, compared with 71.7% for Yorkshire and Humber and 73.3% for England.

A total of 8.4% were unemployed in Doncaster, compared with 7.4% for South Yorkshire and 5.5% for England.

9.9% of reception year children measured in Doncaster between 2013/14 were obese, compared with 9.5% across England.

10 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential Amongst year 6 children measured, 17.2% were classed as obese in Doncaster compared with 19.1% for England. (http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/national-child-measurement-programme/data)

Information from the Dept. of Local Government and communities (http://opendatacommunities.org/showcase/deprivation) give a ranking order from 1-10 (a lower rank meaning that an area is most deprived) of deprivation in a postal area based on different data available.

Church Road falls in Doncaster 032B LSOA (i.e. neighbourhood), which is ranked 7,205 out of 32,844 LSOAs in England; this is amongst the 30% most deprived neighbourhoods in the country on the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI).

This gives Church Road a ranking of 3 on the IDACI Scale.

Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index 3

Living Environment Domain 6

Barriers to housing and services Domain 9

Employment Domain 1

Health and Disability Domain 1

Education, Skills and Training Domain 1

Crime Domain 1

SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding concerns

There were no specific safeguarding concerns raised about the locality in which the home is to be based, by any of the agencies consulted with as part of this Location assessment.

The area is not highlighted as an area on concern by the local Stronger Neighbourhood Team, the Doncaster Safeguarding Children’s Team, The Doncaster Children’s Services Placements Manager or the Public Protection Unit.

Each agency has stated that they have no concerns of young people being drawn into 11 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential gang crime or anti-social behaviour.

The have also confirmed that home’s location does not increase the potential for children to be targeted for sexual exploitation.

Current areas of identified risk are concerns as to some environmental factors of the home. The first risk area is the home has a busy road in front of it and within a short walking distance is a main Doncaster Road between Conisbrough and Mexborough that is very busy.

The road does not pose a high risk as the young people will be of an age where they can cross the road safely or they will be escorted across by care staff to access local services etc.

Although there are waterways and a train station nearby these are not within the proximity of the home where they would pose a risk to the young people going about their day to day activities.

Another risk area is the close proximity of the local youth club, although there has been no specific concerns over this raised by the multi-agency enquiries, however it is an area of potential risk given current research.

The overall risk of the location of the home is assessed as being low risk.

Risk Assessment and Risk Management Strategies

Risk Risk management Probability Extent Overall strategies of harm of risk rating Risk factors Protective factors occurring current (1-9) Risk heightening factors (1-3) harm / 1-3 low hazard 3-6medium (1-3) 6-9 High Busy Roads Young people are competent 1 1 2 Crossing the road may be a to cross the road and are able risk to young people if they do to go out independently and not cross safely. the road does not pose any The road in front of the home additional risk to their day to can be busier at different day activities. times of the day. The main Conisbrough/Mexborough Young people who are Road would not usually be assessed unable to cross the crossed by the young people road independently will be to access their daily activities. escorted at all times.

12 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington Enabling Children and Young People with Complex Needs Achieve their Full Potential Local Youth Club Young people will have an understanding and awareness 1 1 3 Crime, Bullying and Anti-social of Crime, Bullying and Anti- behaviour. social behaviour risks. The local Youth Club has However, they are identified been identified as venues as vulnerable to these risks. where Crime, Bullying and Anti- Whilst maintaining a balance social behaviour can occur. of encouraging Independence There have been no specific and managing risk, young concerns raised from the people will be given staff PPU, Police and Stronger company if they are to access Communities Teams. these facilities. Staff will record any concerns on the observation logs and this will be monitored and any patterns or concerns raised will result in additional actions including baring the use of the facility.

Document review due date: 30th November 2016 Responsible Person(s): Lynn Johnson - Registered Manager

13 Owner: Mike Worthington Version: 1.0 Author: Diane Worthington