Children's home run by City of York

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 1 Registered provider: City of York Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns and manages this home. The home offers short breaks for up to eight children who have physical or learning disabilities and are aged five to 17 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were three children using the short-breaks service. The inspector spoke with two children.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 11 November 2024

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff make sure that the children’s views, wishes and feelings are heard and acted on. They actively seek children’s views on all aspects of their care, using their preferred communication methods. Staff encourage children to express their identities.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff make sure that they provide children with opportunities that expand their life experiences. Staff support children to experience a wide range of stimulating and appropriate activities to meet their sensory needs and their hobbies and interests, for example local walks, sensory play and visiting points of interest. This gives children access to new experiences and allows them to benefit from spending time at the service.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the children in their care well. Each child’s individual risks are detailed in their risk management plans. The quality of those documents has improved since the last inspection. These documents are now frequently reviewed and updated, and they give staff clear information, guidance and strategies to ensure that there are consistent responses to children’s behaviours. Staff understand these documents and use them to guide their practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual health needs are met. There are detailed plans in place for children’s complex health needs, such as epilepsy support plans, to ensure that staff have access to all necessary information. Staff are all trained in the safe administration of emergency medication. When needed, external support is sought to provide staff with training specific to children’s individual health needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff ensure that the home environment is safe and secure for children and protects them from harm or the risk of harm. The home is warm and welcoming. Sensory equipment is available in communal areas of the service, and this helps to meet children’s sensory needs and provides them with a safe place to relax and unwind. On arrival at the home, children are provided with staff profiles in their preferred communication methods to help them get to know the staff who are caring for them during their stay.

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Findings from the inspection

There are restrictions in place in the service to safeguard the children. The manager has introduced a new process to track and review the restrictions of liberty for each child. The manager has worked closely with the social work team to ensure that the measures in place to safeguard the children are the least restrictive.

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Findings from the inspection

The internal monitoring process has improved. The manager has implemented a process to monitor and address medication errors. There are clear policies and Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 3 procedures in place to ensure supervision and staff development following a medication error.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff say they have already seen improvements since the last inspection, especially in staff morale. Staff say they feel supported by the manager. There is a real sense of teamwork and strong working relationships between staff, who acknowledge difficulties and support each other.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical intervention has been used as a last resort. When it has been necessary, the method used has been the least restrictive possible and used for the minimum amount of time needed. Staff have received a debrief and the child is supported throughout. The manager has oversight of these reports and uses them to identify any changes needed to children’s plans. However, on one occasion, a member of staff who does not have up-to-date physical intervention training was involved in a physical intervention. Therefore, parts of the requirement previously issued under regulation 13 are restated.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has progressed with an action plan to address the requirements from the last inspection. Two requirements have been met in full. The recommendation from the last inspection was not reviewed in this inspection. For this reason, it has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/11/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/03/2024 Full Good 21/06/2022 Full Good 02/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 5

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Statutory requirements

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

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 8 May 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a process in place to enable the quality of care review to take place and a report to be generated at least once every six months. The quality of care report should be sent to Ofsted within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Offices, Station Rise, York YO1 6GA

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Inspector

Cherie Chen, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2608630 7 and inspects 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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