Aldine House Secure Centre

Interim 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 10 children and young people who are aged between 10 and 17 years old.

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Information about this children’s home

It provides accommodation for up to four children or young people placed by the Youth Custody Service and for six children or young people accommodated under Section 25 of the Children Act 1989 who are placed by local authorities. Admission of any child or 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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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, new and additional facilities have been registered. This has increased the number of children and young people who can be accommodated from eight to 10. The new facilities include living space, offices, meeting areas and a music suite.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC046524 2 This inspection has evaluated the children’s and young people’s progress and the preparation made for those leaving the home. Inspectors also assessed the action taken to meet the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection in July 2018; latterly, how the manager is working to improve and develop the service further.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people benefit immensely from the care of a committed, child- centred and nurturing staff team. High importance is given to quickly building strong, meaningful and positive relationships. This enables the children and young people to swiftly establish trust and work constructively with the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals say that the nurturing care provided to the children and young people has resulted in them making great progress to achieve the aims identified within their individual plans. For example, children and young people now recognise high-risk behaviour and the changes that need to be made so that their behaviour improves and they benefit from increased emotional resilience and self-regulation. Their development of social and self-care skills and self-confidence improves as does their attendance and achievements in education. The physical, emotional and mental health of children and young people are also improving.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspectors were able to sense that the atmosphere in the home is calm. The children and young people were observed enjoying the company of the staff, chatting over lunch. A young person said: ‘When I first came to the home, the staff made me welcome, explained the rules. It’s an okay place.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A professional said ‘[name of child] told me he feels safe and the staff care about him. This was great to hear.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff start immediately, when each child or young person is admitted, to plan for their discharge. The staff work with all the professionals, including social workers and youth offending officers. The individual transition and mobility plans are devised for each child or young person. The staff work tirelessly to make sure that each child or young person has a positive and well thought-out transition to their next home. The children and young people have several outings into the community, visits to their next placements and college or work placements are arranged. The staff have also sensitively supported children and young people to move into Tier 4 health provisions. This ensures that their discharge from the home is positive and they are well equipped and prepared for the next phase in their life.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has exceptional working relationships with all professionals and agencies who work with the young people. A professional said: ‘The staff communication is excellent. They keep us up to date by phone, email, reports and attend all meetings. They want the best for the child. [name of child] has made great progress.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Those children and young people who are in crisis and have experienced past trauma are well supported by staff, including health professionals. The children’s and young people’s care is regularly reviewed. Clear strategies and guidance to support these individual children and young people and the presenting behaviour, including self-harm, Interim inspection report children’s home: SC046524 3 are in place. These children and young people receive continuous close supervision. Staffing levels are increased to ensure that the needs of all the children and young people can be met at these times. In addition, when children and young people need time away from the group, these instances are closely monitored and recorded. The children and young people return to the group at the earliest opportunity. This ensures that the children and young people receive the care and support they require and are kept safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the manager has taken appropriate action to address the five requirements made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s and young people’s risk assessments now contain sufficient detail to guide staff on all the actions that need to be taken to help keep them safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint and sanction records report on the effectiveness and consequences of the measures used. This ensures that the measures used are appropriate to keep the children and young people safe from harm, support the promotion of positive behaviour and provide clear monitoring and oversight.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted has received notifications promptly in line with regulation 40, which requires serious incidents to be reported. The notifications have demonstrated that suitable action has been taken to protect and safeguard the children and young people concerned.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring report on the quality of care has been submitted to Ofsted. The report includes details of the systems and practices in place that monitor children and young people when they spend time alone. There is now a clear system to check and monitor cutting equipment for removing ligatures, ensuring that it remains fit for purpose.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff routinely receive regular practice-related supervision to ensure that good support is provided, where their well-being and practice is evaluated, and development and training needs are identified.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four recommendations were made at the last inspection. Three relate to education and health matters and these will be checked at the next full inspection. In relation to the fourth recommendation, the children and young people are routinely reading the restraint record and giving their views on this experience. This shows that their opinions are considered and form part of the monitoring process by the manager to ensure that safe and appropriate practice is occurring.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the service has worked on developing the Secure Stairs programme. There has been an increase in the forensic child and adolescent mental health team, including more allocated working time on site. This has enabled the further progression of pathways to support the children, young people and staff, the main area being the implementation in cognitive analysis therapy (CAT) that has an attachment and trauma base. The children and young people are actively involved in this process, engaging positively with the child and adolescent mental health team. In Interim inspection report children’s home: SC046524 4 addition, staff receive more training, guidance and support to care for and meet the emotional and mental health needs of the children and young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Quality assurance systems have been improved. This includes daily analysis and evaluation during the morning management meeting of all incidents that have occurred. The evaluation and follow-up action are noted and implemented. This ensures that there is constant oversight to maintain and improve the quality of care of the young people.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/10/2017 Full Outstanding 13/09/2016 Full Good

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Recommendations

 The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care through observation and engagement with; each child; the home’s staff; each child’s family/carers where appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) In particular, ensure that the observations of teaching and learning, both in-house and by external partners, resume as soon as possible so that staff receive regular and constructive feedback to improve and enhance their practice.  Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19) In particular, ensure that

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Recommendations

children’s and young people’s access to information technology is increased and enhanced. Improve access to safe internet provision so that they can further develop their computer skills and independent learning and research skills.  Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being. (‘Guide to the children’s Interim inspection report children’s home: SC046524 5 homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) In particular, the care staff and health providers should review the children’s and young people’s paper health records to ensure that all current and relevant health information is immediately available.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Debbie Foster: social care inspector Cathey Moriarty: social care inspector Interim 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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