To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.
Minutes:
Children’s Homes Ofsted Inspection
The Chief Executive was pleased to report that all the Council’s Children’s Homes had achieved a ‘Good’ rating in their most recent full Ofsted inspections.
Spring Lane was a Children’s Home which provided long term, stable care for young people in care. The fact that Ofsted inspected the home in December last year during a particularly challenging time and awarded the home a ‘good’ spoke volumes about the leadership and strength of the highly skilled team that worked at Spring Lane.
Newsome Avenue was a Respite Unit which provided short term care for disabled children, including those with complex needs, and their families who lived in the community. Despite providing the service to many different children throughout the year, Newsome Avenue ensured that every child had a consistently good experience that was tailored to their individual needs. For example, each child would always stay in the same room with their very own belongings and quilt cover so that the facility felt like home from home.
Newsome Avenue had received their full inspection in October 2016 and had been awarded a ‘good’ judgement.
Ms J Jones, Manager at Spring Lane and Ms K Simpson (Senior Residential Support Worker) and Ms V Gibbs (Residential Support Worker) both from Newsome Avenue were in the Council Chamber this morning and congratulations were extended to the staff teams of both homes who provided excellent care to the borough’s children in care and children in need.
Councillor Bruff, Cabinet Spokesperson for People (Safeguarding) echoed the comments of the Chief Executive and she expressed her own thanks and appreciation to the staff at these two homes at this wonderful achievement and for their commitment, care and support for children in care and in need.
The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks to all concerned in the usual manner.