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

Inspection date 23/03/2016

Previous inspection judgement Outstanding

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the last 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

Young people continue to thrive as result of the strong trusting relationships built with staff, and especially with their allocated key teams. Overtime, they consistently make progress in their identified care plan goals. For example, extending their communication skills, learning to manage social situations, reducing anxiety levels and gaining skills, which support them becoming more independent. In turn, this enables young people to participate in new social, leisure and educational activities to give them a wide variety of new life experiences.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people greatly benefit for the expert health professional input, this includes, clinical psychologist, learning disability nurse, speech and language therapist. These professionals work alongside staff to provide young people with swift and specialist support in communication, behaviour management, emotional and mental health issues. This further supports them in making progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have moved to adult services. Staff have carefully planned for these moves. This has taken into account young people’s needs. Consequently, their anxiety levels have reduced and they have had a positive experience through this period of significant change. Staff demonstrate commitment to make these transitions as constructive and a successful experience. For example, young people have met and started to get to know their new carers before their move. Staff continue to visit and have contact with these particular young people and their families after leaving the service, to maintain links and aid the settling in period.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team have a wealth of experience and receive a very good range of training. First rate communication systems, from daily manager’s meetings, shift handovers, the attendance at staff meetings and manager’s meetings of the health professionals provides a cohesive approach to maintain the first rate care that young people receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have a well furnished and decorated home. There is an array of toys, games, in door and out-door play areas for young people to enjoy. However, one young person’s en-suite bathroom has an unpleasant odour after a leak. The home has taken action to address this but without success.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring systems remain robust. The manager monitors and evaluates patterns and trends including young people’s physical interventions. This assists identifying triggers, and in response change care approaches and routines to reduce these incidents occurs. The advocate actively promotes the views and opinions of young people, the staff team are keen to listen and act on these. This strongly indicates their child-centred approach. When the independent regulation 44 visitor makes recommendations, the manager takes prompt action to address these. This assists the service, make on-going improvements to the quality of care. However, some staff have not received regular formal supervision. Therefore, this does not ensure that they have systematic opportunities to reflect on their practice and areas for development.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  As set out in regulations 31-33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.1) In particular, all staff receive formal supervision in line with the homes policy.  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.8) In particular, that the residue odours from the young person’ bedroom en-suite are eradicated.

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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