Children's Home, Residential special school run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Unique reference number SC458115 Inspection date 05/02/2014 Inspector Debbie Foster Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 05/07/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This home is part of a special school, which provides education and residential care for children with autism and complex learning difficulties. As a maintained school providing over 295 days of residential care per year, the whole school is registered as a children's home.

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Brief description of the service

The school offers residential provision in two areas within the main house. One area provides accommodation for 52 weeks per year, the other offering a short-break service.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Good progress The children’s home has demonstrated continued improvement in quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the large majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Satisfactory progress The children’s home has maintained quality of care and outcomes for children and young people and where appropriate has addressed all requirements and the majority of recommendations that were raised at the previous inspection. Inadequate progress The children’s home has failed to address one or more requirements and/or has not met the majority of recommendations and/or the quality of care and outcomes for children and young people have declined since the last full inspection.

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Progress

Since their previous inspection the service is judged to be making good progress .

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Progress

This interim inspection focused on the progress made by the home since the last full inspection in July 2013, at which the overall judgement was adequate. The home has demonstrated good progress in ensuring continued development, improved care and outcomes for young people.

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Progress

Young people said 'I like visiting; I meet my friends and get to go out on activities,' and 'the best thing about here is the staff.' A carer said 'the staff are wonderful they have made such a difference to my grandson and this has helped my too. He looks forward to visiting.'

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Progress

Young people benefit greatly from living in a home that is maintained to a high standard. It is well decorated, comfortably furnished. The home is kept safe through frequent and thorough health and safety checks and risk assessments. As a result, young people feel safe and secure.

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Progress

The manager has taken positive action to address the three requirements and the five recommendations made at the previous inspection.

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Progress

The Statement of Purpose has been revised to include all the relevant details required and a copy has been submitted to Ofsted. This ensures that parents and professional are provided with accurate information about the care and service to be provided. Changes have been made to ensure that young people can access all areas of their home and the grounds. This provides young people with freedom of movement; enables them to make their own choices and to fully enjoy their home and supporting facilities at all times.

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Progress

The home’s missing from home procedure has been revised to be in line with the local missing from home and care protocols. As a result the staff follow the correct procedure in the event of a young person going missing. All young people over 17 years of age have a pathway plan. This enables the staff to support young people to prepare for adulthood and access other services in line with their care needs and understanding. Each young person’s placement plan is being monitored by a key worker to ensure that the requirements of the plan are being implemented. This includes specific work with young people on care plan goals which include work on their independence, social and educational needs. This enables young people to make progress and have improved outcomes.

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Progress

A good quality learning and development programme has continued to be developed. Staff are undertaking essential mandatory training and more specialists training relating to young people with learning disabilities and autism. Those staff without the level 3 Children and Young Peoples Workforce Diploma are undertaking this training. This is ensuring that the staff team are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the all the children and young people living at the home or accessing the short break service. All staff receiving regular formal supervision. This provides staff with support, advice, guidance and facilitates the monitoring care practices.

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Progress

There is effective leadership and management which underpin improvements being made to the home, and good care being provided to young people. This is facilitated by robust monitoring systems where omissions and deficiencies are identified and promptly rectified to further improve the quality of care.

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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 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the progress made by the provider since the last full inspection, identifies any further strengths, any areas for improvement and makes judgements as outlined in the Inspection of children’s homes – framework for inspection.

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