Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Unique reference number SC356868 Inspector Pauline Yates Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Sheffield City Council Registered person address Sheffield City Council, Town Hall Pinstone Street SHEFFIELD S1 2HH Responsible individual Jayne Louise Ludlam Registered manager Mackenzie Emmanuel Blake Date of last inspection 19/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 13/01/2015

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides a pleasant and homely environment in which young people say they are settled and enjoy good relationships with staff. Young people enjoy living in this home and make good progress over time. They lead healthy lives and are encouraged to participate in a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities. One young person commented, ‘it’s a really nice place to live, its normal like living with parents, staff are really nice.’ These views were echoed by all young people spoken to.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive help and support which is tailored to their needs and there is a strong sense that they belong and are accepted. This security supports the young people’s confidence in working towards their ambitions and positively managing the relationships which are important to them.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people play an active part in the running of the home and the staff actively listen to their wishes and feelings. All young people attend education and there is active liaison between the staff and partner agencies. This compliments and promotes the on-going progress the young people make.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff are good at keeping young people safe. They are cared for safely and staff have a good understanding of vulnerabilities and safeguarding issues. Staff are 3 of 10 trained and have good skills to look after the young people effectively and make a difference to their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Managers monitor the young people’s progress and are active in adjusting the care provided. Young people benefit from assessment and review arrangements, making the care they receive personalised and responsive to changing needs. They also benefit from the ambitions the staff and managers communicate to them, supporting their sense of achievement and progress. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home, run by a local authority, provides up to 5 long-term placements for young people, aged from 12 up to 17 years of age on admission.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2014 Interim good progress 18/12/2013 Full good 07/03/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 06/12/2012 Full good

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home, a written record is made in a volume kept, with particular reference to the record clearly determining the date of measure and the date of recording and, the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure.(Regulation 17B (3)) 31/03/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take 5 of 10 account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated, with particular reference to repair of the back garden fence, painting of the newly fitted front doors, interior painting of walls, repair of wardrobes and flooring in bathroom. (NMS 10.3)  Children receive care which helps them to prepare for and supports them into adulthood, so that they can reach their potential and achieve economic wellbeing. (NMS 12.1) 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have secure and warm relationships with staff, enabling them to make good progress in their emotional resilience. They thrive in a caring environment. As a result, young people make progress across a spectrum of measures including education, managing relationships and practical skills. One independent reviewing officer wrote that they were, ‘really pleased with the care X has received from staff … and this high level of commitment has, in my view, been a key factor in X’s progress.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

All young people attend education. Although consistency of attendance can vary for some young people, this mirrors their fluctuating emotional experiences and relationship set-backs. Young people benefit educationally from their starting points prior to living at the home, and this is recognised by educational and social care staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s emotional health and well-being is a particular strength of this home. Young people grow in self-awareness which equips them in making positive choices and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This emotional growth permeates all aspects of the young people’s lives and increases their abilities to make successful and appropriate choices. One young person commented on the difference the home had made to their life in saying, ‘I can be a teenager now without having to be the adult all the time.’ A social worker commented on one young person as ‘really, really thriving since being at the home.’ Young people consider that they are listened to and that they are consulted about their care. They take an interest in their care plans, with some young people actively contributing in their own hand to the daily logs which are kept.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have on-going access to therapeutic services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Young people benefit from the individual therapeutic support offered, and also that provided by the service on a regular basis via staff consultation. This helps individual young people to better manage their previous life experiences and informs the care offered by staff. As a result, young people establish healthy attachments and positive means of communicating with significant people in their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people show a marked reduction in missing from home episodes and an increase in their willingness to share information with staff. One young person commented, ‘I trust them and this is my home now.’ Professionals spoken to confirmed this view.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop their life skills which will benefit their transition into adulthood. Some young people proudly spoke about the meals they could cook and skills in encouraging and supporting independent travel was confirmed by other professionals. Shortfalls in assessment and the lack of clearly documented progress of young 7 of 10 people’s independence skills limits insight into their needs and optimum transition into adulthood.

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Quality of care good

Staff show good insight into the barriers and challenges that young people face due to their life experiences. This insight enables staff to shape and encourage young people to better manage their behaviour helping them to make a successful emotional transition into young adulthood.

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Quality of care good

Young people have an active input into issues which affect them within the home. There are frequent keyworker sessions, young people’s meetings, and daily communication with staff. Each of these promotes the young person’s confidence in influencing and negotiating. Young people are given opportunities to make decisions about menus, activities and décor of their rooms. The young people’s activities, celebrations and holidays are displayed around the home which encourages their sense of ownership and sense of belonging.

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy appropriate, carefully assessed and supported contact with their families. These relationships are nurtured and supported by the staff. This commitment and continuing attention to supporting the young people and family members ensures safe and enjoyable contact. As a result, contact for some young people has been re-established and is being sensitively supported. Appropriate contact with the home is encouraged, resulting in family members visiting and completing leisure activities with the young people, such as baking and watching DVD’s. This support was recognised by one social worker commenting, ‘this is a big thing for me because not many parents visit the homes their children are in.’

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Quality of care good

Staff ensure that there are good arrangements in place for young people to access therapeutic support. They are not only supported to attend appointments but staff also ensure consistency by accompanying the young people. This was regarded by the psychologist as good practice and the staff recognise the importance of attachment figures in the process of therapeutic intervention.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from coordinated and reviewed care plans which are regularly considered in light of progress made and emerging needs. This ensures that the care offered is responsive and individualised. Professionals involved with the young people consider that communication from the home is timely and child-focused and good liaison reflects the genuine concern of the staff. Positive behaviour is consistently promoted and incentives are set in order to promote positive behaviour and routines which enhance life skills. For example, young people can earn weekly extra pocket money by keeping their personal space tidy and attendance at education. Diversity and equality is actively promoted and young people’s religious and cultural 8 of 10 backgrounds are fully respected. Attendance at places of worship, dietary needs and religious calendar events are appropriately supported.

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Quality of care good

The home has a welcoming feel and is appropriately located and has newly acquired fixtures and fittings. As a result of this inspection, a recommendation is made that the home addresses issues of timely maintenance with particular attention to areas of scuffed paintwork, repair of fencing and wardrobes and consideration given to replacement of flooring in the bathroom

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they like living in the home and enjoy the company of staff and their peers. They are encouraged to behave appropriately in their social interactions. Young people say that they are safe and feel safe at the home, and professionals agree. Young people say they have good relationships with staff and that they know how to make a complaint should they need to. Comprehensive recruitment procedures are followed which ensures that young people are protected from being cared for by people who may pose a risk to them.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Missing from home incidents are infrequent and, where this does happen, staff take appropriate measures to locate the young people. Staff give the safety of young people a high priority and risk assessments are updated and understood by staff. Young people keep in touch with staff whilst out and, when contact is not maintained, staff are clear about procedures and responses required. Staff understand the risks and vulnerabilities that each young person faces and work actively to ensure their safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has a positive approach to the management of challenging behaviour and de-escalation techniques are employed. This ensures that physical intervention is rarely required. Individualised behaviour management plans ensure that staff respond to negative behaviour in a consistent and agreed way. This is further underpinned by the quality of relationships which the staff establish, and maintain, with the young people. Each young person has their own easily accessible book in which positives are recorded. Vulnerabilities, such as potential to self-harm, are well understood by staff. Professionals providing a therapeutic input consider that these risks are well managed and sensitively responded to.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post for 4 years and leads an experienced and committed staff team. The previous inspection found the home to be making good progress and since this time the recommendation made at the inspection has been met. The manager provides effective monitoring and ensures that notifications are 9 of 10 made in a timely and appropriate manner. The manager demonstrates a good understanding of young people’s histories and current needs; this understanding influences the care that is delivered by the staff. Positive care is promoted through regular supervision, suitable training and a team approach. Staff report good levels of professional support from their managers which underpins the direct work with the young people. The emotional impact of working with challenging behaviour is recognised by managers and staff feel supported to carry out their role. The managers communicate aspirations and child-focussed quality of care to the staff

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Leadership and management good

through team meetings, supervision and daily leadership.

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Leadership and management good

The young people live in a stable and safe home where they feel their welfare is promoted. This view is shared by other professionals involved with the home. Young people consider this to be their home and are able and have the confidence to influence how their needs are met.

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Leadership and management good

Care plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the changing and fluctuating needs of the young people. Managers can demonstrate the positive difference the home makes to the young people’s development and their move towards young adulthood. Staff regularly attend meetings and liaise with key professionals to ensure that appropriate services are secured. Care plans are reflected upon in order to successfully achieve positive outcomes for young people. A psychologist from the Child and Mental Health Service commented that, ‘there is a real sense of them wanting to work with us, you don’t always get that.’

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Leadership and management good

There is an achievable and updated development plan in place and this plan is also informed by the inspection process. Any identified weaknesses within the home are addressed by the manager in a timely manner. The home has appropriate staffing levels to meet the needs of the young people and there is an active focus by the managers on developing the skills and professional aspirations of the staff. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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