Children's home run by City of York Council

Inspection report children’s home: 1263625 1 Registered provider: City of York Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates and runs the home. It provides care and accommodation for one child or young person who has learning disabilities and requires a medium- to long- term placement. The home is currently being managed by an acting manager.

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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.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the previous registered manager has left the home. An acting manager is presently responsible for the day-to-day running of the home. This manager is still to be registered with the regulator. There was a smooth transfer from one manager to another, and the new manager continues to improve the service. This includes meeting the requirement raised at the last inspection, with clear photographic evidence of the progress the young person is making against their targets.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The same young person remains living at the home and continues to make exceptional progress in many areas of their development. This is as a result of the high-quality, individualised care provided by the experienced staff team. The young person benefits from the continuity of care the staff provide, as they have a good understanding of the Inspection report children’s home: 1263625 2 young person’s needs. Consequently, the young person is relaxed and settled.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The good relationships developed between the home’s and school’s staff support excellent information sharing. Each setting is aware of what is happening in the young person’s life, so they can offer extra support if needed. This joined-up working has resulted in the young person continuing to make progress at the school they attend.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff make considerable efforts to ensure that the young person is responsible for making choices in the running of their home. Family photographs in the lounge and a well-furnished and comfortable home environment contribute towards making the young person feel at home. This includes a colourful garden with a wildlife area for the young person to follow their interests in gardening. The purchase of a hammock and development of an activity room have helped the young person to enjoy time alone to relax. The young person is learning to regulate their emotions, which has helped reduce the number of times staff have needed to intervene to keep the young person safe. When the young person needs to be held, this is done sensitively, with the young person’s safety being prioritised. However, staff are not capturing the young person’s views about their intervention. This information could assist in managing any future

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The communication aids designed by staff help the young person to manage any change in routines. An example is the colourful tree wall painting with photographs. This is an innovative way to show the change of seasons. Staff also help the young person by developing social stories for forthcoming events or new developments. This preparation reduces the young person’s levels of anxiety.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has developed good relationships with staff and enjoys evenings of fun and activities with them. This includes practising yoga or Zumba dancing. A significant improvement has been in respect of the increased number of places the young person now visits. This includes enjoying a week’s holiday with staff. These opportunities help the young person to develop their social skills and have resulted in improved tolerance of others, such as during their 18th birthday party celebrations.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has developed skills such as helping to plan the weekly meals, preparation of food and cooking, and keeping the home tidy. Now they are 18 years old, plans are in place for the young person to transfer to an adult care provider. The manager and staff have tried to ensure that there is as little disruption to the young person as possible. Staff are committed to continue to provide ongoing care and support. This will provide the young person with the same high standard and continuity of care to assist with the transition and beyond.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1263625 3

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Recommendations

 Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint (regulation 35(3)(c)). Children should be encouraged to add their views and comments to the record of restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60)

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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 address: City of York Council, West Offices, Station Rise, York YO1 6GA Inspection report children’s home: 1263625 4 Responsible individual: Sophie Wales

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Inspector

Tina Ruffles, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1263625 5 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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Inspector

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