Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

SC066747 Unique reference number 19 November 2009 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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17 February 2009 Date of last inspection .

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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You can obtain copies of The Children Act 2004, Every Child Matters and The National Minimum Standards for Children's Services from: The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Cripins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. This report details the main strengths and any areas for improvement identified during the inspection. The judgements included in the report are made in relation to the outcome for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and relevant National Minimum Standards for the establishment.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is strong Good: this aspect of the provision is sound Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is not good enough Inadequate: 3 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747

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Brief description of the service

This service is a children's home. It provides up to five long-term placements for children aged between 12 and 18 years.

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Brief description of the service

The accommodation consists of five single bedrooms and spacious communal areas for eating, studying and relaxing. The home is in a residential area; approximately four miles from the town centre and is close to public transport and schools.

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Summary

This was a key inspection to check on all key standards and related regulations under the Every Child Matters outcome groups for young people. This is a good service with some outstanding features.

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Summary

Young people eat healthily and their good health is well promoted. Privacy is well facilitated in all aspects. Complaints are handled well. There are very good child protection policies, training and robust practices that help to safeguard the welfare of the young people. This is a notable area of outstanding strength.

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Summary

Staff are particularly good at making sure that young people are looked after in a way that is particular to how they are and want to be. Education and leisure needs are very well met, and the home works closely with other services to meet the range of young people's needs. This is a notable area of outstanding strength.

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Summary

Placement planning is good and it is well recorded and reviewed. The facilitating of contact is good. Good support is in place now to help young people learn skills that they will need for later in life. Good risk assessing and fire safety practices help to keep young people safe.

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Summary

Staff are experienced, well trained and competent. Young people clearly benefit from the good leadership provided by the manager to a cohesive and adaptable team. There is very good monitoring to maintain and improve the quality of care in the home. The promotion of equality and diversity is good. The overall quality rating is good. This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

There were no actions raised at the last inspection.

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Improvements since the last inspection

The registered person was asked to ensure that a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in caring for children and young people. Although there is good evidence that all staff are receiving support to complete the qualification, the target remains unmet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are involved in planning meals and shopping and have access to a well equipped kitchen where they often take part in preparing meals. The staff are aware of individual young 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747 people's likes and dislikes to ensure that they enjoy the food served. Young people are encouraged and supported to make choices about their food. Staff educate and encourage young people to eat healthy foods and snacks. The food served is both healthy and nutritious. The staff have a good understanding of food hygiene. This is supported by all staff holding food hygiene training certificates. Any food matters that arise out of diversity, such as allergies, intolerance or cultural preference are well managed. Themed food evenings are often used to expand the young people's tastes and knowledge of different foods and cultures. Therefore, young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meet their individual dietary needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The young people’s health is closely monitored and record keeping is good. There is detailed written guidance for staff on a wide range of young people’s health and medical matters to make sure that they understand about young people’s health and what their responsibilities are. A themed information board in the home has details of local agencies that young people can access for advice and information. Staff are trained in healthcare subjects.

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Helping children to be healthy

The home has established strong links with a variety of specialist health services, and there is much evidence of these being used to meet individual young people’s needs. The young people feel confident to speak to the staff about general and personal health matters.

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Helping children to be healthy

Staff support and encourage healthy activities. Examples highlighted include gym, football, cycling, swimming and walking. The staff have established good links and relationships with community based activity providers. Therefore, young people's health needs are identified and services provided to meet the young people's needs and good health is promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

Good policies and procedures around medication help to safeguard the welfare of young people. Staff are trained in medication matters to enable them to safely store, administer and record the medication that they are responsible for. Medication is securely stored. All staff have received training to enable them to provide first aid, if necessary. Therefore, young people's health needs are well met, and their welfare is safeguarded by the home’s policies and procedures for administering medicines and providing treatment.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is outstanding. Staff demonstrate a very good understanding of facilitating privacy for the young people. This is done very sensitively and safely. Young people confirm this. Details about young people's care is recorded and stored appropriately to maintain good levels of confidentiality. Young people have access to a private telephone which is free to use for reasonable periods. This ensures that young people’s privacy is respected and the payment method is convenient.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have received training on complaints to ensure that they know what to do if there is a complaint about the service. Young people are supported in complaining they are worried or unhappy. Young people confirm this. Staff have explained the procedure and there is also information in the young people’s guide about how to complain. Details of external agencies and contact numbers are displayed clearly. The young people also have the support of an independent advocate service. The complaints records contain the required details. Therefore, complaints are well handled.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provider has very good safeguarding systems and procedures for staff to follow in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. The manager and staff have received child 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747 protection training. Staff describe young people's safety as 'our biggest priority'. Staff demonstrate very good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the young people’s safety. The manager has established strong links with the Local Safeguarding Children team and other services involved in safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable young people. This is a notable area of strength.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff were observed establishing the whereabouts of a missing young person whom they subsequently returned to the home. This proactive, robust response is a notable area of strength. Therefore, the welfare of young people is well promoted and strong measures help to ensure that as much as possible young people are protected from abuse, bullying and unauthorised absence, and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. This is a notable area of outstanding strength.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All significant events at the home have been notified to the relevant authorities including Ofsted.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Behaviour support plans are used. They contain good, individualised details for staff to follow when managing young people's behaviour. Sanctions are relevant and reflect the age and understanding of the young people. They are reviewed regularly for effectiveness. Physical restraint is rarely used to manage behaviour. Staff are trained in the provider’s policy and authorised techniques.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Reducing unnecessary risks to young people is a high priority at the home. High quality written risk assessments are recorded to enable staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each young person during their known and likely activities. These are reviewed regularly. Staff talk in a determined manner about their commitment to ensuring that the young people's welfare is safeguarded. They use local knowledge and contacts to support their efforts. This is a notable area of outstanding strength.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff working at the home have received up to date fire safety training to enable them to minimise the risks to young people in the event of a fire at the home. All staff and young people have been involved in regular fire safety drills. The fire safety check records are up to date and accurate. Therefore, young people's physical safety from fire in the home is well protected.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff have been appropriately recruited and undergone suitable Criminal Records Bureau checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with young people.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The provision is good. The young people benefit from receiving very good individualised support appropriate to their needs. Young people confirm this. The records contain details of individual support services involved in the health, care, leisure opportunities and education of the young people. The home has very good links with a wide range of helping agencies, and the provider commissions services to fit the young people’s needs. A themed information board in the home has details of local agencies that young people can access for advice and information. The staff appreciate that the individual young people may have needs arising from diversity. Young people learn about difference through meetings, events and activities. A themed games night is used to help the young people think and learn about different issues. Examples highlighted include bullying, 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747 diversity, relationships and other cultures. All staff have received training around equality and

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

diversity. The promotion of equality and diversity at the home is good.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is a very high priority and it is well promoted. Staff make a lot of effort to encourage good attendance and young people are well prepared for the school day. There is space, resources and facilities at the home to enable the completion of home study or homework. A computer is available at the home for the young people to use for educational purposes. Staff and young people celebrate achievements regularly and a recent performing arts award is proudly displayed. Therefore, the education of young people is actively promoted as valuable in itself and as part of their preparation for adulthood.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

The staff encourage and support a range of events that encourage participation, individual interests, and activities. Young people's involvement is supported by staff who explore their individual choices, likes and dislikes. They are imaginative in their approach and they review the success of their efforts. Staffing is adapted to facilitate and support activities. The staff have established good links and relationships with community based activity providers. Examples of activities highlighted include football, cinema, bowling, day trips, DVD nights and youth club. There is also a good range of books, DVDs and electronic games available in the home for learning and entertainment. Therefore, young people are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and are supported and encouraged by staff to engage in leisure activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is good. Young people may visit the home before they move in. They are provided with a welcome pack upon arrival which includes a children's guide to the home and important contact details. Admissions to the home are very well planned. The home's referral system enables the manager to fully assess the needs of the young people concerned, and take into account the likely effects of their admission upon the existing group of residents. Therefore, young people are able to move into the home in a planned and sensitive manner.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The young people's placement plans are satisfactorily written and staff confirm that they know what action is required of them to meet the needs of the young people. The daily records are satisfactorily written and reflect the content of the plan, showing the action taken by the staff to meet the identified needs of the young person. These are supported by one-to-one key worker session notes and daily descriptions that documents young people's activities and achievements in each Every Child Matters outcome areas. Therefore, young people have their needs assessed effectively and the placement plans outline how these needs will be met.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

There is a system for reviewing the placement plans of the young people at the home. This system includes participation in both informal and statutory reviews. Statutory case reviews have taken place within the required timescales. Monthly summaries of the young people's plans are provided to parents and social workers. This ensures that the young people's needs and development are reviewed regularly in the light of their care and progress at the home. The planning, evidencing and reviewing procedures and practices are good.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people’s contact is well promoted and facilitated. Young people confirm that parents and friends are made very welcome at the home. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747 Young people are genuinely encouraged to make choices on a day-to-day basis and during group discussions. Incentives are used to encourage young people to attend and contribute to meetings about the running of the home. Examples of young people's choice being implemented include menus, bedroom décor, posters and bedding. Therefore, young people’s views are sought and acted upon.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The manager makes every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that young people's attachments are not overly disrupted.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. Where appropriate, young people have leaving care pathway plans. The content of these is incorporated into the young persons placement plan. Younger people are taught day-to-day life skills according to their level of maturity and understanding. They learn skills through taking part in the tasks of running the home, such as shopping, cooking, following budgets and doing simple DIY tasks. They are also given help and support with social skills, laundry, clothing care and cleaning. Therefore, young people receive care which helps to fully prepare them for adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

All parts of the home are clean and maintained in a good state of decorative repair. The garden area is safe and well maintained. There is a good system and procedure for the completion of maintenance and repairs. Therefore, young people enjoy homely accommodation, that is decorated and maintained to a good standard.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. Before admission, the staff provide as much information as they can about the home to young people so that they know what to expect if they come to live there. Young people confirm this. A very good statement of purpose is available to inform professionals and members of the public about how care is provided at the home. There is a satisfactory children’s guide to the statement of purpose. The service should consider alternative methods of communicating the children’s guide.

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Organisation

The staff team has a range of skills and experience among its members. Young people clearly benefit from the good leadership provided by the manager to a well established team. Staff are supported by a comprehensive set of good detailed policies and procedures. Staff refer to written guidance frequently during discussion and give examples of how it is implemented in practice. Good systems and procedures ensure staff receive regular appropriate training and supervision, with their performance and personal development being appraised annually. The team present as cohesive, supportive and adaptable.

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Organisation

New members of staff receive very good quality induction training before commencing work with the young people. All staff are trained in a wide variety of safety and childcare subjects. An ongoing programme of regular refresher training is provided in a range of subjects to enhance the staff's competency to meet the needs of the young people. All staff are registered on an appropriate National Vocational Qualification course and they are given good support to complete it. However, the target of 80% of staff having achieved National Vocational Qualification at level 3 in caring for children and young people is not yet met. The young people 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747 are receiving care from competent staff that are experienced and appropriately trained to meet their needs.

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Organisation

The manager has a very effective system to monitor, report and evaluate the administration systems of the home ensuring what staff record they record well. Robust quality assurance processes are regularly carried out by person's independent of the home, and any areas of weakness identified are promptly acted upon. These highly effective evaluations ensure the standards within the home remain high.

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Organisation

Young people's case file records and other written documentation is of a good standard. This facilitates good communication with other professionals as well as ensuring young people have a permanent and secure record of their history. Good cross referencing of all documentation enables the management team and staff to evaluate and monitor young people's progress.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is good. This is achieved through the good contribution the home makes to ensuring young peoples diverse needs are met. The statement of purpose and children's guide makes clear the home's commitment to equality and diversity. Equality and diversity training has been completed by all staff. Young people, parents and placing social workers actively contribute to written plans which set out a good individualised approach to care, health and safety. The staff understand and value people's differences and they encourage young people to do the same.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person meets the Care Standards Act 2000, The Childrens Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider must comply with the given timescales.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the registered person should take account of the following recommendation(s): • consider alternative methods of communicating the children’s guide. (NMS 5) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC066747

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