Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Unique reference number SC356868 Inspection date 20/12/2010 Inspector Russell Shackford Type of inspection Random

p.1

Date of last inspection 23/09/2010 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

p.1

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.

p.2

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

p.2

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.

p.3

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.

p.3

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

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

Summary

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

p.4

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 respected and complaints are well handled. Good policies and practice promote and protect young people's welfare. Behaviour management is good. Staff demonstrate a good awareness of the risks to the young people during their known and likely activities. 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 complaints, child protection, fire safety and behaviour management.

p.4

Improvements since the last inspection

The registered person was asked to consider recommendations made to improve fire safety, behaviour management and quality assurance monitoring records. A robust response to these has resulted in the records being improved to a good standard.

p.4

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's privacy is well respected. 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.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Complaints are handled in a timely fashion and young people confirm that they are kept informed during the investigation process. 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. All staff have received training on complaints to ensure that they know what to do if a person complains about the service. The complaint records contain the required details.

p.5

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. 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. 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

p.5

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. The records have been improved to a good standard. 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 have been improved to a good standard.

p.5

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

Young people's physical safety from fire in the home is well 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 and to a good standard. 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.

p.5