Aldine House Secure Centre

Inspection report children’s home: SC046524 1 SC046524 Registered provider: Sheffield City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This secure children’s home is operated by a local authority and is approved by the Secretary of State to restrict young people’s liberty. The children’s home can accommodate up to eight young people who are aged between 10 and 17 years. It provides for up to four young people placed by the Youth Custody Service and for four young people accommodated under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are placed by local authorities. Admission of any young person under section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who is under 13 years of age requires the approval of the Secretary of State. Education is provided on site in dedicated facilities.

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Judgement at last inspection: outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has yet to fully comply with the requirement raised at the last inspection that he attain his level 5 qualification. Although the manager has now submitted a number of modules, he has not completed the course. This requirement is therefore repeated. There were no other breaches of regulation identified.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation made has been addressed. Improvement to the home continues, Inspection report children’s home: SC046524 2 including the decoration of the dining room and addition of soft furnishings in the lounge. This provides the young people with a well-furnished and comfortable, homely environment where they feel they belong. A young person said, ‘I am much happier here than I thought I would be and that’s because I feel really safe.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people continue to make outstanding progress as a result of the consistent and nurturing care they receive. They reported that they are happy in the home and explained how the exceptionally trusting relationships they have with staff members help them to engage with care. One young person asked an inspector if she could ‘make it that I have my order extended’, as he does not want to leave.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people benefit greatly from the thorough planning that takes place prior to their admission. Sensitive and specific care is taken to help the young people to settle into the unfamiliar surroundings of their new home. The young people receive detailed information about the home, its rules and their rights. As a result, they settle quickly, enabling them to start to form meaningful attachments that enable them to thrive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The planning for the discharge of a young person is given high importance. After consultation with the young person and others, a very detailed transition and mobility plan is developed and meticulously implemented. The staff team ensures that sufficient time is allocated for all transitions. This is to allow the young person to adjust and take part in regular discussions about the transition, while undertaking sufficient visits and activities. When an additional need is identified, a supporting strategy is devised to help the young people further manage this change. This assists each young person to settle well into a new placement, or back with their family in the community.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has negotiated a new health contract with a private provider. This proactive practice means that the young people now have the services of either a general practitioner or a nurse on five days of the week. This service, together with the young people’s opportunities to participate in regular physical activity and eat healthier foods, contributes towards their health and well-being. As a result, there is significant improvement in the young people’s physical health, leading to a boost in their mental health. For example, one young person is extremely proud of having lost over five stone in weight.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Robust safeguarding procedures are effectively applied. Excellent collaborative working with partner agencies ensures that any disclosures made by the young people, including about past experiences, are appropriately shared and investigated. All significant incidents are notified to Ofsted, enabling the regulator to maintain an overview. Consequently, the young people are better protected.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The dedicated manager and staff team consistently use restorative conversations in their interactions with the young people. As a result, the young people develop an understanding of which behaviours and language are unacceptable, empowering them to learn new, positive ways of communication. The home’s points and graduate system encourage the young people to want to behave in a positive manner. The lessons the young people learn in this way not only enhance their experiences within the home but Inspection report children’s home: SC046524 3 provide them with valuable social skills to take on to their future adult lives. These significantly enhance their future life and employment opportunities. A young person wrote in response to a restorative conversation, ‘Thanks, it was a really good chat, I understand.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

It is evident that the use of restorative practice is a way of life within the home and that the young people learn from this on a daily basis. The sense of security and belonging that this engenders encourages the young people to engage, reducing the need for physical intervention. There has been a marked reduction in the number of restraints since the last inspection. This is partly due to the departure of two young people but demonstrates how settled this resident group is. Excellent auditing procedures, internal and external, ensure that any physical interventions that do take place were appropriate, comprehensively recorded and that all concerned have the opportunity to learn from the experience.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people’s wishes and feelings are captured in a number of ways. Regular key- work sessions are used effectively to explore individual issues and reasons why the young people have been accommodated. This assists with the development of the coping mechanisms they need in order to make sense of past life experiences and prevent the need for them to be secured again in the future. The young people’s participation in their regular house and council meetings, and as part of the interview and recruitment process for new staff, helps to empower them to develop negotiation skills and actively contribute to improving care and practice within the home. The young people grow in self-esteem and belief in themselves as a result of this inclusion.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people’s confident use of the complaints system allows them to express any dissatisfaction. All complaints are thoroughly investigated by the management team and the young people informed in writing of the outcome. All matters raised since the last inspection were resolved to the young people’s satisfaction. This improves their care experiences as they feel respected and heard. A young person wrote, ‘I’m happy how staff dealt with this and feel this was resolved well.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team’s excellent monitoring processes ensure that the staff team’s practice is of a high calibre. Consequently, the young people receive outstanding, nurturing care, allowing them to make the best possible progress in line with their abilities. The manager and staff team know each young person extremely well. This knowledge ensures that all progress, no matter how small, is identified and celebrated. The young people feel valued and cared about. This empowers the young people to learn to like themselves and start making sense of the events that have led them to being cared for within a secure establishment.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC046524 4 13/09/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that by the relevant date, the registered manager has attained the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare (England); or a qualification which the registered provider considers to be equivalent to the Level 5 Diploma. (Regulation 28 (2)(c)) 01/06/2018

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC046524 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sheffield City Council, Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield S1 2HH

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Inspectors

Ann-Marie Born, social care inspector Debbie Foster, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC046524 6 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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