Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Unique reference number SC356868 Inspection date 23/09/2010 Inspector Russell Shackford Type of inspection Key

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Date of last inspection 07/12/2009 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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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 Crispins, 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.

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About this inspection

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 outcomes for children set out in the Children Act 2004 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for the service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding: this aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality Good: this aspect of the provision is strong Satisfactory: this aspect of the provision is sound Inadequate: this aspect of the provision is not good enough

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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 a town centre and it is close to shops, schools, leisure facilities and public transport routes.

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Summary

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection.

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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 although the records of this need to be improved. Fire safety practice is good although the records of this need to be improved. 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 home. There is a consistent, cohesive and adaptable staff team, with a broad range of skills and experience among its

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Summary

members. Staff are well trained, experienced and competent. There is satisfactory monitoring of the standard of care provided in the home although the records of this need to be improved.

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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

It was recommended that the registered person ensures that a minimum ratio of 80% of all care staff complete a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People. The organisation continues to provide good support and opportunities for staff to complete this course and the target has been met.

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Improvements since the last inspection

A recommendation to improve the quality of fire safety records relating to fire drills has been satisfactorily implemented. A recommendation to improve the quality of records relating to individual children's risk assessments has also been satisfactorily implemented.

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Helping children to be healthy

Young people are involved in planning meals and shopping. They have access to a wel- equipped kitchen, where they can prepare drinks snacks and meals for themselves. Young people confirm that they are given advice about healthy eating options and nutrition. Therefore, young people enjoy healthy, nutritious meals that meets their dietary needs.

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Helping children to be healthy

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

Health promotion is a high priority at the home. Each young person has a health care plan. 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

A more holistic approach to young people's health is being introduced to ensure that their emotional wellbeing is fully addressed. This includes life story work and attachment therapy. Although the model is in its infancy, staff are being trained and supported in their efforts to embed this approach into practice at the home. 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 physical activity days, electronic activity gaming and dance, football 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 for which they are responsible. 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

Young people's privacy is respected in all aspects. They 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. Details about young people's care are recorded and stored appropriately to maintain good levels of confidentiality. All young people have a key for their bedroom to help them feel that they control their private space.

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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 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. The complaint 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 provider has a good safeguarding procedure for staff to follow in the event of any allegation or suspicion of abuse. The manager and staff have received child protection training. This includes e safety and cyber bullying. Staff demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the safeguarding procedures to promote and protect the young people's safety. Therefore, the welfare of young people is promoted, they are protected from abuse and bullying and an appropriate response is made to any allegation or suspicion of abuse. 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 sanctions policy is good, promoting the use of praise, encouragement and de- escalation of behaviours. A restorative approach is used where possible. Therefore, young people are assisted to develop socially acceptable behaviour through encouragement of acceptable behaviour and constructive staff response to inappropriate behaviour. However, the record keeping relating to this is poor because the required information is not always recorded and it is not always recorded in the correct place. Physical restraint is rarely used to manage behaviour where no other alternative exists. All staff of the home are aware of, trained in, and follow in practice the registered person’s policy. Staff demonstrate good knowledge of the subject and the associated law. Physical restraint records are poor because some entries are vague which does not allow for accurate, comprehensive monitoring.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff are knowledgeable about the risks to individual young people and written risk assessments are recorded. Individualised written risk assessments relating to young people being absent without authority have also been completed. They provide clear details of the action required to minimise the identified risks and comprehensively promote young people’s safety. Young people's physical safety from fire in the home is protected. All staff and young people have been involved in a fire drill to ensure that they are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire in the home. All staff working at the home have received up-to-date fire safety training to assist them in minimising the risks to young people in the event of a fire at the home. The fire safety check records are up-to-date, but they are not always entered on the recording instruments provided.

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Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Staff recruitment files contain the required information. All of the required checks are satisfactorily completed before staff work in the home and there is monitoring of visitors to prevent young people being exposed to potential abusers.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 person's needs in a manner that suits them. This is an area of outstanding 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 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.

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Helping children achieve well and enjoy what they do

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 established very good links and relationships with community-based activity providers. This is an area of outstanding 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 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. Scrapbook-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 an area of outstanding strength.

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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 personalising bedrooms. More broadly, young people are supported to attend the Chilli Pep and ACE, a meeting group for young people to discuss pertinent issues and influence future service delivery plans. 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.

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Achieving economic wellbeing

The young 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 and handling money. They are also given guidance and support with social skills, laundry, clothing care and cleaning. For some young people, a more formal approach to learning life skills is adopted through the use of an incremental independence programme.

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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

A Statement of Purpose is available, to inform professionals and members of the public about how care is provided at the home and there is a comprehensive children’s guide. 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. Manager mentoring and team away days support staff development. Staff refer to written guidance frequently during discussion and they give examples of how it is implemented in practice. Staff supervision and support is described by staff as 'very 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. The target of 80% of staff having achieved the NVQ at level 3 in Caring for Children and Young People has 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. 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. However, the records are not always accurate because the managers comments do not reflect the content of the records checked. This compromises the effectiveness of the monitoring of the welfare of the young people in the home.

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Organisation

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Outstanding approaches to promoting equality and diversity are detailed in several outcome areas. For example, 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.

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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):

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Recommendations

 implement the organisation's fire safety policy fully by using the recording instruments provided (NMS 26)  ensure that all of the required information is in the sanctions book and that it is recorded under the correct heading (NMS 22)  ensure that records relating to the use of physical intervention are written with sufficient detail and clarity to assist the inspection and monitoring of those records (NMS 22)  ensure that the manager's monthly monitoring records are accurate, in particular regarding the use of physical intervention (NMS 33)

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