Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff maintain their commitment to providing an outstanding level of care for children and young people with highly complex needs. Children and young people enjoy visiting the home and all that it has to offer. They continue to have excellent opportunities to engage in activities that they enjoy. This supports their overall progress, development and social inclusion.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Strong partnership working with parents consistently reinforces their primary responsibility for their children's educational and health needs. At the same time, staff provide parents with very effective and flexible support, particularly during times of crisis.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This excellent communication and liaison extends to professional relationships with health, education and social work agencies. This ensures children and young people receive a seamless service between their family home, the short break service, school and any medical services they may require.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have supported young people to move on to adult services. Where this transition is not being managed efficiently, the manager has escalated his concerns, advocated on behalf of young people and empowered parents to take things forward.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Extremely challenging behaviour is often a feature of the highly complex needs of children and young people. Where this is the case, staff continue to exercise patience and persistence and focus on the nature of the child underneath that behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff are highly attuned to the risks that such challenging behaviour may present to others. In these situations, prompt action is taken to ensure that all children and young people are safeguarded. There are occasions where physical restraint is employed to manage challenging behaviour. However, these are short, proportionate and time limited interventions that come under the scrutiny of both the manager and the independent visitor.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are safe at the home during their short breaks. Where potential child protection risks do emerge, the manager has fulfilled his safeguarding responsibilities by escalating his concerns within the local authority. No child is at risk of child exploitation. Risk assessments are clear and regularly reviewed. Actions to reduce risk are consistently implemented. The nature of children and young people's complex needs requires them to be closely supervised. As a result, they do not have the opportunity to go missing from the home. Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have extended their professional expertise by self-directed learning and external courses. This has included exploring the use of play and undertaking training in alternative feeding methods. These are of direct benefit to children and young people and improves their quality of care. Work is well under way to commissioning training on autism. This

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

recommendation from the last inspection is therefore met. There has also been improvement in capturing children and young people's views and preferences. This was a recommendation from the last inspection that has been met. This good progress exemplifies the manager's very good track record of responding promptly to any issue identified during inspections. Monitoring by the manager also ensures that the home consistently meets the high standards he sets for staff. This results in tangible benefits for children and young people during their short break visits.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority children's home. It is registered to provide short breaks for up to six children with learning disabilities. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This 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 Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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