Children's Home run by Second Avenue Care Limited in Sheffield

Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 1 Registered provider: Second Avenue Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties. One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in February 2024.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a new home, and the child has been living here for just over two months. In this time, the child has made progress because of the care they receive. After a period out of education, the child now attends education on a limited timetable. Staff at the home ensure that the child’s health needs are met. The child has recently started to take some of their prescribed medication, which they have been reluctant to take in the past. There has been progress in the child’s self-care since living at the home. The child has also started to form trusting relationships with staff, and they will now eat meals with staff at the table.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had a positive transition to the home. They met with the manager before they moved in and were shown the children’s guide and a video of the home. The child knows how to raise complaints.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff at the home have positive working relationships with the child’s parent and the professionals working with the child. Staff ask for advice and act on this when required. One professional described the staff caring for the child as ‘committed’ and ‘enthusiastic’. Another said that the child’s day-to-day experiences have much improved since living at the home. These positive working relationships ensure that there is a coordinated approach to meeting the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Weekly meetings take place with the child. During these meetings, the child can share their views and contribute to decisions such as around menu planning and activities. This makes the child feel valued and listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is generally well maintained. The child’s bedroom is clean and appropriately furnished, and there are personal items, including family photos, on the wall. The carpet on the stairs and landing is worn in some places.

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

The child feels safe at the home. Staff spoken to know the child well and understand the potential risks to the child. Staff are working with the child to increase their understanding of the things that worry professionals. Risk assessments are in place which provide staff with guidance around actions to be taken. This helps to ensure that the child is safeguarded effectively.

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

Going missing from home is a concern for the child living at the home. Staff follow statutory guidance, liaise with the police and family members and search for the child in places they are known to visit. Return home interviews are carried out. This coordinated response, and the staff’s proactive approach, has resulted in staff locating the child on several occasions. This reinforces to the child that staff care about them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 3 Staff understand the child’s needs well. They work with the child around the areas of risk and are encouraging them to make more positive choices.

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

There have been no incidents of physical intervention. Staff talk to the child and use distraction to prevent an escalation of unwanted behaviour in the home. Consequences are used; however, these are proportionate and time limited.

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

There are appropriate measures in place to support the child when they are using the internet. Staff are working with the child around their use of social media. This reduces the risks in this area.

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

On one occasion, the manager failed to notify Ofsted when a child protection enquiry had been initiated. This was in relation to the child being missing from the home.

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

Safe recruitment practices are in place for the staff who are working directly with the child in the home. However, senior leaders have not assured themselves that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the new responsible individual. The police check pre-dates their employment and there is no record of an updated check being carried out, and reference checks are incomplete.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked hard to build relationships between the team of staff. This supports them to model positive relationships for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has oversight of the day-to-day running of the home and signs off incidents. The manager has a plan to develop the home and the staff team. The manager has started to carry out monthly audits around key areas and is setting actions following these. This is a work in progress as the home has only been open for a short period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child participates in decisions around the development of the home, for example through weekly meetings. The manager has also supported the child to have input into the home’s development plan. The manager has advocated for the child and shared their views around key decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are being supported by the manager to develop their understanding of the child’s needs. Staff receive regular supervision and have undertaken mandatory and other training opportunities linked to the child’s needs. Regular staff meetings take place. Staff have shared positive feedback about the support they receive from the manager. They feel listened to and supported to develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a locality risk assessment which considers the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises. This has not been updated to reflect recent changes to the area local to the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 4 There has been an occasion where the manager has agreed, following discussion with the child’s parent and social worker, to support the child’s parent in using a tracking device. While it is clear this was around safeguarding, the child was not informed of this in advance, considering their age and understanding. Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24 (1)(c)) 16 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 16 August 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated. (Regulation 40 (4)(d)(i)) 16 August 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the review of premises includes the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. The registered person should refer to the non-statutory advice about the location assessment process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64 paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that home meets children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. The interior of the home should be well maintained. This specifically relates to ensuring that the carpet on the stairs and landing is in good condition. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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 for children’s home: 2774729 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Second Avenue Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 298 Bawtry Road, Wickersley, Rotherham S66 1JJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Liam Fitzpatrick

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Inspectors

Johanna Wilson, Social Care Inspector Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2774729 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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