Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report children’s home: SC066747 1 SC066747 Registered provider: Sheffield City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. The home can accommodate up to five children or young people, irrespective of gender, who are between 12 and 18 years of age and who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. There is a new manager who has recently registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are safer and are making better progress than they were at the time of the last inspection. The home is going through significant changes. These changes affect the children and young people. However, they are coping with the new arrangements and becoming familiar with new members of staff.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are missing from home less often than was the case at the time of the last inspection. This has vastly improved their safety. When children and young people are missing, staff follow the correct procedures. Children and young people know that their carers worry about them and will make every effort to find them. This is important for their self-esteem and helps them to make safer decisions for themselves.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of incidents in the home has reduced. Generally, children and young people respond to expectations about their behaviour. The atmosphere in the home is far Inspection report children’s home: SC066747 2 calmer than at the time of the last inspection. Members of staff talk to children and young people about any incidents. Staff help them to focus on what they might do differently in future. The reduction in the number of incidents suggests that this approach is having a positive impact.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children and young people engage in criminal activity. The level of this behaviour has reduced, but it remains a significant issue for some children and young people. Staff talk to the children and young people to ensure that they keep to any restrictions on their activities. Because of the approach of the staff team, children and young people usually comply with expectations. The children and young people recognise that their behaviour influences the outcome of youth justice processes. As a result, they are making better decisions about their own lives.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The physical and emotional health of the children and young people has improved. Staff encourage children and young people to attend health appointments. As a result, children and young people are now being treated for longstanding issues. This improves their overall well-being. This is very important for those young people whose plans include moving to independence.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most children and young people attend school and are making progress. For many children and young people, this is a significant improvement on their experience before they were admitted to the home. Those who are not in education, employment or training are engaged with alternative support. As a result, children and young people are improving their prospects for the future.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know the children and young people very well, including their vulnerabilities. Individual risk assessments are pertinent and regularly updated. Members of staff have frequent one-to-one sessions with children and young people to discuss their progress. Children and young people know that their carers worry about them. They are becoming safer and are learning that their well-being matters to other people.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children and young people continue to misuse substances. Since the last inspection, the level of this behaviour has reduced considerably for some young people. Staff arranged for workers from specialist agencies to talk to the young people most at risk. Although substance misuse continues to be a concern, some progress is being made. Further support has been arranged.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home supports contact between children and young people and members of their family. When contact is not safe, members of staff work with relatives to help them understand risks. Because of this approach, children and young people are becoming safer and family members are learning how to use appropriate boundaries.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has admitted one young person in an emergency. This was against the terms of the statement of purpose. A requirement was made about this issue at the last inspection. Although the conditions of the home are changing, the same requirement is made again. The home must only admit children and young people in line with the conditions set out in the statement of purpose. Inspection report children’s home: SC066747 3 Members of staff contributed to the planning for children and young people who have moved from the home. This resulted in them being more appropriately placed. Those children and young people are now in placements where staff are qualified to meet their complex needs.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Members of staff make considerable efforts to consult with children and young people. Attendance at weekly young people’s meetings is variable. Outside speakers have had some success with children and young people as a group. One-to-one sessions are more effective at eliciting children’s and young people’s views than group meetings. As the home goes through significant changes, staff must engage with children and young people so that the children and young people can share their wishes, feelings and any worries.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has excellent links with a range of other professionals. These links have helped some children and young people to address issues with their health and well- being. Professionals state that members of staff work hard to build relationships with children and young people. Professionals feel that the children and young people are more settled than at the time of the last inspection.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has put in place effective monitoring arrangements. She ensures that staff perform well. She deals with practice issues swiftly. She also oversees planning for children and young people. Staff and professionals speak very positively about the changes that she has made following the last inspection.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been decorated and physical alterations have been completed since the last inspection. The home is welcoming, homely and well maintained. Further changes are planned. Children and young people have made decisions about colour schemes and the purchase of furniture. Children and young people feel invested in the home, as their views are taken into account.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most members of staff have completed the training required to fulfil their roles. This includes training on substance misuse and ligature training, as recommended at the last inspection. All staff have now completed this learning. A recommendation was also made that all staff should be trained in the use of restraint. One member of staff is still to complete this training. A further recommendation is made.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The arrangements for the change to the purpose of the home are well underway. The manager and the staff team are enthusiastic about the changes and the benefits to children and young people. Some of the children and young people are anxious about what the changes will mean. Staff are aware of this. The manager ensures that a familiar member of staff is on duty at all times to help reduce this anxiety. Inspection report children’s home: SC066747 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/11/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 09/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(a)) 31/03/2019

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all of their staff have been adequately trained in the principles of restraint and any restraint techniques appropriate to the needs of the children the home is set up to care for as defined in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.57) Inspection report children’s home: SC066747 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

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’.

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector

Jane Titley: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC066747 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.

p.5

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector

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

p.6

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6