Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 1 SC036009

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Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority short-break service. It can accommodate up to six children and young people who have physical and/or learning difficulties .

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Information about this children’s home

Children and young people enjoy overnight stays at the home and this provides support to their parents.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager and a stable staff team have a wealth of experience in caring for the children and young people in their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 5 December 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2018 Full Good 31/07/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 3

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outstanding

The children and young people look forward with pleasure to their short-break stay, knowing that they will have fun, enjoy the activities and make new friends. The children and young people have immense confidence in the care provided by an experienced, stable and attentive staff team. The staff know all the children and young people exceptionally well. This generates such self-confidence in the children and young people that they settle quickly and are very happy to visit. In turn, their parents are reassured that their children are well cared for in a safe environment.

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outstanding

At the point of referral, the staff take great care in making sure that they have all the relevant information on the children and young people. They give meaningful consideration in planning the introductions to the home, making this process as smooth as possible for the child or young person and their family. The staff visit the children at home and visit school before the child or young person starts introductory visits to the home. This helps significantly in getting to know the child or young person and their family. It starts the very important relationships between the child and staff and parents. During the inspection, it was very evident that the children and young people have strong and trusting relationships with the staff.

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outstanding

A parent said, ‘I can only say that this is [name of child] second home. He likes to visit, and he has good relationships with the staff.’

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outstanding

The health needs of the children and young people are given the utmost importance. Staff continually forward plan to meet the specific health needs of the children and young people. There is excellent organisation and dedication to ensure that the children and young people’s health needs are consistently delivered to the highest standard.

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outstanding

The children and young people’s care plans identify specific individual goals for them to work towards and are kept up to date, with the aim of bringing more independence to their daily lives. The staff patiently support the children and young people with care, to achieve these goals.

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outstanding

All children and young people attend school. There are established and long- standing links with the schools that the children attend. Schools report that daily diaries, phone contact and emails are routinely used to ensure that essential information is passed on. This makes certain that the school can support the child well.

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outstanding

A school professional said, ‘The staff come and do a school visit for each of the children attending their service. They always attend meetings, are very knowledgeable about the children, and they do advocate on their behalf.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 4 Parents speak extremely positively about the care that their children receive. A parent said, ‘We are over the moon. [name of child] has settled so well. The staff are so in tune with [name of child]. They explain things to her and she knows what’s happening. It’s immense, she likes to visit and asks when she is going again. She is now making friends. We are planning to go away for a weekend when she stays. It’s the first time we have felt confident enough to do this.’

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outstanding

The children and young people are regularly consulted about the activities they would like to do and what outings they would like. Children and young people have access to an advocate who visits regularly. Children and young people’s choices and decisions are displayed in the home with picture exchange communication system (PECS) and supporting text and photographs. This clearly demonstrates that the voice of the child is built into the ethos of the home.

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outstanding

In recent weeks, a designated room has been created for all medication to be stored. Medication systems and protocols are followed in line with the direction of doctors. Medication is safely stored, administered and accurate records kept. Robust auditing takes place, which makes sure that any shortfalls are quickly detected and addressed if they occur.

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outstanding

The home has a wealth of activities that the children and young people can enjoy. This includes access to a sensory room, computers, sensory toys, games, baking, arts and crafts, as well as the garden and outside play equipment. The children and young people regularly go on trips out in the local community, for example a visit to a museum, coffee shops, the coast, parks and restaurants. This broadens their life experiences and builds confidence.

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outstanding

The environment is maintained to a high standard throughout, with an emphasis on being child-friendly. There are cosy living spaces and a lounge has been recently decorated and refurbished. The children and young people’s bedrooms are decorated with different themes. There is lifting equipment and specialist bathing equipment to meet all the needs of the children and young people.

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

The staff are vigilant in their supervision and observation of children and young people, which significantly reduces known risks and potential hazards. Regular evaluation of risk also ensures that staff are aware of any changes to agreed risk management strategies. These measures further promote children and young people’s welfare and well-being.

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

The staff clearly understand the vulnerabilities and risks that impact on the children and young people that they care for. Staff work very effectively as a team, and this means that children and young people are supported in a consistent way. Child protection concerns are addressed swiftly and robustly. Staff have a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and understand what action to take in the event of allegations, suspicion of abuse or unsafe practice. Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 5 Regular health and safety and fire safety checks protect children and young people, staff and visitors to the home. All visitors to the home are required to produce identification, and they sign the visitors’ book so that the registered manager can check who comes into the home and the purpose of their visit. These measures ensure that the children and young people are protected from unsuitable adults.

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

The staff receive training in areas that assist in keeping the children and young people safe. This includes safeguarding, moving and handling, first aid, medication, health and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an enthusiastic, committed and passionate leader who places the welfare and safety of young people at the heart of her practice. Excellent leadership and management arrangements ensure that staff are well trained and motivated to drive the service forward and achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits immensely from having a stable and experienced staff team, whose members are devoted and child-centred. The staff are extremely well organised, fastidious and demonstrate excellent teamwork.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a clear focus on professional development which ensures that staff are fully equipped to care effectively for this diverse group of young people. The manager maintains good oversight of training and makes sure that all staff are up to date with mandatory courses, such as safeguarding. In addition, the staff have undertaken more specialist training. This includes gastrostomy tube feeding, epilepsy and signs of safety training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are provided with good-quality supervision that includes the use of reflective practice, as well as daily handovers and staff meetings. This allows the staff to learn from experience and equips them to meet, exceptionally well, the needs of children and young people. These excellent support and communication systems ensure that the quality of care continues to improve for the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is first-rate collaborative working with professionals and parents. This ensures that the children and young people receive the specific care and assistance to meet their individual needs immediately on accessing the short-stay service. One professional said, ‘The staff communicate significant matters to me. They are proactive and request information and meetings. They work positively with relatives and have built a good rapport with those who access the service.’ This hands-on and partnership working makes certain that the children and young people receive exceptional care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Positive action has been taken to address the one requirement and one recommendation made at the last inspection. All children and young people in placement match the profile of the home’s residents as given in its statement of Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 6 purpose. Advice has been obtained from a dietician in order to support a young person’s health condition.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Wide-ranging internal auditing and monitoring processes are undertaken by designated staff and the manager. This is further complemented by the external monthly regulation 44 visits. This provides the manager with essential information and action is swiftly taken to remedy any deficits. In turn, the manager is fully aware of the strengths of the home and areas that require further development. This makes sure that the service continues to improve and maintain high standards of care for the children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 7

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC036009 8

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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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Inspector

Debbie Foster; social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC036009 9 to 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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