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

Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 1 SC458115 Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority-run children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for children and young people who may have an autism spectrum disorder and/or complex learning difficulty. Accommodation is split between two areas, one offering long-term care, the other operating as a short-break provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 30 January 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2019 Full Good 10/10/2017 Full Outstanding 21/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose; ensure that staff— help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult; provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably; ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(a)(b)(vi)(vii)(c)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children and young people receive pathway and transition planning in a timely manner to make certain that they are provided with the right support that fully meets their needs in preparation for leaving the home. Ensure that all parts of the home are decorated and equipped to a good standard throughout. This includes shower sealant and grouting being free from discolouration, and additional storage being available on each unit. The storage should include units with doors for children and young people to use when they are unable to keep items in their bedrooms. 22/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 4 The standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— help each child to achieve the child’s education and training

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Requirement Due date

targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(a)(i)) In particular, ensure that children and young people who are home tutored have lessons planned by teachers in line with the child or young person’s assessed attainment level, and that their progress is measured and monitored. 27/03/2020

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe In particular, the standard paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff— assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, if necessary, making arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(i)) In particular, ensure that the individual risk assessments, which give clear guidance for staff to follow, specify why, when and at what frequency searches are to be undertaken to keep the child and others safe from harm. 06/03/2020

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s home’s regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2) In particular, all staff must receive supervision in line with the home’s policy and procedures, and this should include discussions about the care practice and the children and young people’s progress.  The registered person and the home’s staff should be familiar with the care planning process for looked-after children and must assist children to prepare for meetings in relation to this. (‘Guide to the children’s home’s regulations including the quality standards’ page 23, paragraph 4.14) Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 5

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that all children and young people’s identified care plan goals are reviewed, and their progress documented.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people thrive as a result of the consistent care and new life opportunities they experience. A knowledgeable staff team has a very good understanding of children and young people’s complex needs, behaviours and personalities. The staff have established trusting and strong relationships with the children and young people. This greatly supports the children and young people to make continuous progress over time in a variety of areas. Realistic goals are set for the children and young people. These goals lead to improved social and self-care skills that have enabled them to build self-esteem and confidence. Many children and young people can now better regulate their emotions, and this helps them to manage social occasions. A parent said: ‘My son’s behaviour has improved greatly since coming to respite. This has made the world of difference to us as a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The daily life experience for those children and young people living at the home full time has deteriorated for a period. This has been addressed as promptly as possible. A new placement had to be sourced for one child. The management team and staff have been determined, committed and resourceful to try to reduce the impact of this for everyone. A very child-centred, caring and supportive environment for all children and young people has been maintained. Recently, the equilibrium has been restored to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people’s health is seen as important, and health check-ups take place as required. For those children and young people who receive a short-break service, staff communicate health matters swiftly to parents and carers. All children and young people benefit greatly from the resources of a children’s mental health team being available on site. This team works closely alongside the staff and directly with some children and young people. The staff are trained in first aid, the care and management of seizures, allergies and administering medication. This ensures that the health needs of the children and young people are very well met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The majority of children and young people have excellent attendance at school and have met their educational goals. Those who struggle with going to school are now regularly attending bespoke education packages. The staff have positive professional relationships with several schools and the children and young people’s families or carers. These relationships support the children and young people’s progress. However, it is not clear that the work given to a child receiving home tuition is always set at the appropriate attainment levels, regularly reviewed or monitored closely to support their educational progression.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people enjoy enormously the wide range of activities. They benefit from making and meeting up with friends and attending social events in the Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 6 home and in the wider community, for example, watching a film at the cinema, going bowling, attending a trampoline park, going on holiday, using the Xbox, playing in the grounds and using the sensory room. This broadens their life experiences and brings social inclusion. A child said: ‘I like to come to [name of the service]. I meet my friends and I like to go out. We are going to Jump (a trampoline park) tonight.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work hard to make sure that plans are made in good time for the young people who will leave when they are 18 years old. However, this is not always successful. The staff do pursue the social workers and personal assistants allocated by the local authority to make timely plans. This is with the aim of making sure that young people who may have complex needs are helped to find the right service and accommodation for them when moving into adult services. The plans for one young person have slipped. There appears to be a lack of action and understanding of the complexities involved in the preparation and adjustments for the young person in this area. This poor planning may have a negative effect on children, young people and young adults if this approach continues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people give their views in several forums. There are daily discussions, conversations, direct work and children and young people’s meetings. These ensure that the voice of the child is gathered. The children and young people’s opinions, views and suggestions about their care, activities, choice of activities and plans for their future are acted on.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff clearly understand the children and young people’s risks and vulnerabilities. In the main, the staff anticipate behaviours and respond in ways that reduce anxieties. In most instances, these are managed well. However, in one risk assessment, the specific detail of when searches will be undertaken is not clearly recorded. This does not give clear information to the staff necessary to manage the identified risk fully.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a focus on promoting the positive behaviour of the children and young people. They receive lots of praise from the staff. There is an emphasis on diverting and diffusing any negative behaviour that the children and young people present. Physical restraint is only used as a last resort and is infrequent. The staffing levels allow for close supervision of the care and activities of the children and young people. This permits the children and young people to safely enjoy and participate in a range of activities and extend their life experiences.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager and staff follow clear procedures that relate to concerns about the safety and well-being of children and young people in their care. They have escalated concerns through appropriate channels to the relevant professionals. Action is taken to safeguard the children and young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home is spacious and well equipped with a range of resources. There is a sensory area and outdoor space. Several areas of the home require re-decoration. These include hallways, lounges, bathrooms and some bedrooms. One shower cubicle has discoloured Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 7 sealant. There is a shortage of storage space. Where children and young people need a low stimulus bedroom environment, their belongings need to be stored more discreetly and suitably.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The children and young people benefit enormously from a management team that leads by example and shows its commitment to the children and young people. This level of commitment disseminates throughout the staff team to maintain high standards of care. The staff strongly express their aim to provide the children and young people with the very best care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of the staff hold a level 3 qualification, and there is a commitment to the continual development of the team. Those not yet qualified are scheduled to undertake the qualification. The manager recognises the importance of training and invests in the staff, providing all mandatory and more specialist training when required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Communication between the staff is good, with detailed daily handovers from one shift to another and regular staff meetings. There are some gaps in the delivery of supervision for particular staff. Although the care of the children and young people is discussed in detail at weekly staff meetings, formal supervision does not include discussion or reflect on their care practice in all instances.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staffing levels in the home are suitably maintained. However, the management team has had ongoing deficits. Temporary arrangements have recently been made to address these shortages.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems exist, which include a six-monthly monitoring report undertaken by the manager. Several staff share the responsibility for aspects of the internal monitoring of the quality of care provided to the children and young people. Any matters raised through the independent person’s monthly monitoring visits are addressed promptly. However, deficits in records have been found during this inspection that indicate that further oversight and scrutiny are required. For example, not all children and young people’s set goals have been reviewed to evidence their ongoing progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Action has been taken to address the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. These actions include:  relevant local authority or police protocols on missing children and young people in the home are being followed  children and young people are made aware of the procedure to be followed in case of a fire  staff have received essential mandatory training  the home’s non-prescribed medication is labelled, stored safely and audited Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 8  the voices of children and young people are detailed in the direct work undertaken with them. This supports the aims of their care plans and risk assessments.

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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

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: SC458115 9

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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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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Inspector

Debbie Foster, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC458115 10 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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