Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

SC356868 Unique reference number 30 July 2009 Inspection date Russell Shackford Inspector Key Type of Inspection

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10 December 2008 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: SC356868

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Brief description of the service

This children's home provides up to five long term placements for young people, aged from 12 years old up to 17 years old on admission. The accommodation consists of five single bedrooms and spacious communal areas for eating, studying and relaxing.

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Brief description of the service

The home is in a busy residential area, approximately four miles from the town centre and it is close to shops, schools, leisure facilities and public transport routes.

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Summary

This was a full 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. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and their good health is very well promoted. Good child protection procedures and practice safeguards the welfare of the young people. Behaviour management is good. Each young person benefits from a very individualised approach to their care plan. The staff work very well together and with other services to meet each young persons needs in a manner that suits them. Education and leisure needs are very well met and the home works very well with other services, to meet the range of young people's needs. Placement planning is good and placement plans are very well recorded and reviewed. The staff adopt an aspiring approach to the planning and delivery of care at the

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Summary

home. There is a consistent, cohesive and adaptable staff team, with a broad range of skills and experience among its members. Staff are well trained, experienced and competent. There is good monitoring of the standard of care provided in the home. The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. 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. A recommendation was made to ensure a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete a level 3 in National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Caring for Children and Young People. The organisation continues to provide good support and opportunities for staff to complete this course. However, the target of 80% remains unmet.

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Helping children to be healthy

The provision is good. Young people are given choices about their food and the food served is both healthy and nutritious. Staff encourage young people to eat healthy foods and snacks. Bottled water is provided to encourage good hydration practice. The staff have a good understanding of food hygiene and food issues that may arise out of diversity. This is well managed. The staff are aware of individual young people's likes and dislikes to ensure that they enjoy the food served.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are involved in planning meals and shopping. They have access to a well equipped kitchen, where they can prepare drinks and snacks for themselves. Young people confirm that they are given advice about healthy eating options and nutrition. Therefore, young people 4 of 9 Inspection Report: SC356868 enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meets their dietary needs. They also have opportunities to plan, to shop for and to prepare meals.

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Helping children to be healthy

Health promotion is a high priority at the home. The young people’s health is closely monitored and record keeping is good. There is written guidance for staff, on a 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. Healthcare records are up to date and accurate, enabling staff to change their ways of working and to inform health professionals and parents of the children’s health progress.

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Helping children to be healthy

Specialist health workers are involved where appropriate. The home has links with a wide variety of specialist health services and there is evidence of these being used, to meet individual young people's needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

The staff encourage healthy activities. Examples highlighted include trampoline, ice skating, football, cycling, gym and swimming. Young people's involvement is supported by staff, who explore their individual choices, likes and dislikes. The staff have established good links and relationships with community based activity providers. Therefore, young people's health needs are identified and services are provided to meet them and their good health is promoted.

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Helping children to be healthy

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 and records are up to date and accurate.

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Helping children to be healthy

All staff have received training, to enable them to provide first aid if necessary. Therefore, young people's health needs are 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 good. Details about young people's care is recorded and stored appropriately, to maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality. Staff demonstrate good understanding of facilitating privacy for the young people. This is done sensitively and safely. Young people have access to a private telephone. The young people have created what they refer to as a 'chill out room', where they can go to have private time out, away from the other people in the home if they wish.

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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 a person complains about the service. The young people say that they know how to make a complaint, because the staff have explained what to do and there is information in the young people’s guide, about how to complain. There is information around the home, informing young people about how and who they can complain to. Independent visitors are available to advocate for the young people if they wish. The complaints records contain the required details. Therefore, complaints are satisfactorily handled.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

The manager and staff have received child protection training and the provider has a good safeguarding procedure for staff to follow, in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures, to promote and protect the young people's safety. The staff work very hard to ensure that there is no bullying in the home. This is a notable area of strength, which is supported by the use of 5 of 9 Inspection Report: SC356868 anti-bullying education sessions. Therefore, the welfare of young people is promoted, they are protected from abuse, bullying and unauthorised absence and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse.

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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

The behaviour management policy promotes the use of praise, encouragement and de-escalation of behaviours. The policy is constructive and reflects the age, understanding and individual needs of the young people concerned. Physical restraint is occasionally used to manage behaviour, where no other alternative exists. All staff are trained in the provider's policy and authorised techniques. The physical restraint records contain the required details.

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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. Good 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.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

All staff and young people have been involved in regular fire drills. 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. The fire safety check records are up to date and accurate. Therefore, young people's physical safety from fire in the home is 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 outstanding. Each young person benefits from a very individualised approach to their care plan. This is particularly evident in areas of healthcare, behaviour management and education. The staff work very well together and with other services to meet each young persons needs in a manner that suits them. This is a notable area of strength. The young people say that they receive very good personalised support, appropriate to their needs. The records contain details of individual support services involved in the health, care and education of young people. The home has links with a wide range of helping agencies and the provider commissions services to fit the young people’s needs. The staff appreciate that the individual young people have a range of needs arising from diversity. All staff have received training around equality and diversity. Themed event days are used to promote diversity and a celebration display board is regularly

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

used to promote events, celebrations and achievements.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

Education is a very high priority and it is vigorously promoted. The staff adopt an aspiring approach to the planning and delivery of education. Staff make a lot of effort to encourage good attendance. Where full time education is not an option, young people are provided with supporting activities and teaching at the home. Education records detail individual young people's plans and progress is well evidenced. There is space, resources and facilities at the home, to enable the completion of homework, revision or further study. A computer is available for the young people to use for educational purposes. Therefore, the education of young people is actively promoted, as valuable in itself and as part of their preparation for adulthood. 6 of 9 Inspection Report: SC356868 The staff encourage individual interests, play and activities. Young people's involvement is supported by staff, who explore their individual choices, likes and dislikes. The staff have

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

established very good links and relationships with community based activity providers. This is a notable area of strength. Examples highlighted include gym and multi sport passes, trampoline class, swimming lessons, and football training. There is also a good range of books, DVDs and games available for learning and entertainment. Therefore, young people are able to pursue their particular interests, develop confidence in their skills and they are supported and encouraged by staff, to engage in leisure activities.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

The provision is outstanding. The home's referral system, enables the manager to fully assess the needs of the young people concerned and takes into account the likely effects of their admission, upon the existing group of residents. Admissions to the home are usually planned and the child or young person and their family where appropriate, are involved in that planning. Young people may visit the home before they move in. 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

Good quality placement plans have been developed, with guidance about what to record in them included in the format used. The plans are clearly written and staff confirm that they know what action is required of them, to meet the needs of the young people. The staff adopt an aspiring approach to the planning and delivery of care at the home. Young people are aware of the plans and they contribute to them. The daily records reflect the content of the placement plans and show the actions taken by the staff, to meet the identified needs of the young people. Key workers monitor the care plans and produce monthly summaries of progress. Scrap book style records are also produced with the young people to capture their time at the home. Therefore, young people have their needs assessed effectively and comprehensively and written placement plans outline how these needs will be met and they are implemented. This is a notable

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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. Statutory case reviews have taken place within the required timescales. This ensures that the young people's needs and development are reviewed regularly, in the light of their care and progress at the home.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people’s contact is promoted and facilitated. Young people confirm that they can keep in touch with people that are important to them and that they can have family and friends come to visit them.

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Helping children make a positive contribution

Young people describe ways in which they are encouraged to make decisions about their lives and influence the way that the home is run. This includes key worker sessions, daily discussions, visits from young people's advocacy services and young people’s meetings. Examples of young people's choices being acted upon include colour schemes, furniture and a computer suite. More broadly, young people are supported to attend the Chilli Pep, a meeting group for young people to discuss pertinent issues. 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, such that young people's attachments are not overly disrupted. 7 of 9 Inspection Report: SC356868

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The provision is good. The young people are taught day to day life skills, according to their level of maturity and understanding.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

They learn skills through taking part in the tasks of running the home, such as shopping, cooking and handling money. They are also given guidance and support with social skills, laundry, clothing care and cleaning.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

Transition planning is done with help from the leaving care team. Staff describe the process as good. Therefore, young people receive care, which helps to prepare them for adulthood.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The interior and exterior of the home are maintained in a very good state of structural and decorative repair. There is a good maintenance and repair programme for the building, furniture and equipment and any damage is repaired promptly. The garden is well maintained and safe. The home is kept clean and there are homely touches throughout.

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Organisation

The organisation is good. A statement of purpose is available, to inform professionals and members of the public, about how care is provided at the home. There is a good children’s guide to the statement. 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.

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Organisation

There is a consistent, cohesive and adaptable staff team, with a broad range of skills and experience among its members. New members of staff receive good quality induction training before commencing work with the young people. Staff refer to written guidance frequently during discussion and they give examples of how it is implemented in practice. Staff supervision is good.

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Organisation

All staff are trained in a wide variety of safety and childcare subjects. An ongoing programme of refresher training is provided in a range of subjects, to enhance the staff's competency to meet the needs of the young people. However, the target of 80% of staff having achieved the NVQ at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People, has not yet been met. The young people are receiving care from competent staff, that are experienced and qualified to meet their needs.

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Organisation

There are sufficient staff working at the home and the manager has the capacity to occasionally increase the numbers, to meet the individual needs of the young people.

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Organisation

The provider undertakes monthly, unannounced monitoring visits to the home. This is to ensure that the care of children can be adapted, in the light of information about how the home is operating. Action points are identified to be followed up by the manager. The manager has a system established and maintained for improving the quality of care provided in the home. Therefore, there is good and effective monitoring of the welfare of the young people in the home. 8 of 9 Inspection Report: SC356868 The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Outstanding approaches to promoting equality and diversity are detailed in several outcome areas.

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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): • ensure a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete a level 3 NVQ in Caring for Children and Young People (NMS 29) 9 of 9 Inspection Report: SC356868

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