Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

SC066747 Unique reference number 10 February 2010 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Random Type of Inspection

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19 November 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 6 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 an unannounced interim inspection to check on key standards and related regulations under the Every Child Matters outcome group of staying safe. This is a good service. Young people's privacy is well respected in all aspects. Good safeguarding policies and practice promote and protect young people's welfare. This is a notable area of strength. Behaviour management is good. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of the risks to the young people during their known and likely activities. Written risk assessments provide clear detail of the action required to minimise the identified risks and comprehensively promote young people’s safety. Good policies and procedures help to protect young people's physical safety in the event of a fire at the home. Staff recruitment checks are satisfactory. All staff are trained in appropriate safety subjects including fire, complaints, child protection and physical restraint. However, complaints

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Summary

records are unsatisfactory. They do not contain the required details because the action taken and the outcome are not clearly recorded in all instances. 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

No actions or recommendations were raised at the last inspection.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The provision is good. 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. Staff demonstrate a very good understanding of facilitating privacy for the young people. This is done very sensitively and safely. Young people confirm this.

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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 if they are worried or unhappy; young people confirm this. Staff explain the procedure to young people 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. However, the complaints records do not contain the required details because the action taken and the outcome are not clearly recorded in all instances. Therefore, complaints are not handled satisfactorily. 4 of 6 Inspection Report: SC066747 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

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

protection training. Staff demonstrate very good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures and this promotes and protects 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

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 of restraint.

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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 carried out 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 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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Organisation

The organisation is not judged. 5 of 6 Inspection Report: SC066747

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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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Due date Action Standard

1 March 2010 ensure that a written record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of the investigation. (Regulation 24)

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Recommendations

There are no recommendations. 6 of 6 Inspection Report: SC066747

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