Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report children’s home: SC066651 1 SC066651

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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

The short-breaks service is owned and managed by a local authority and provides care and accommodation for up to six children or young people who may have learning and/or physical disabilities. A variation is in place to allow two children to live there until suitable and permanent accommodation is found. Currently, no children are receiving a short-breaks service.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2019.

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Inspection date: 26 January 2022

Date of last inspection: 26 October 2021

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Inspection date: 26 January 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 26 January 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC066651 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has been diligent about addressing the shortfalls identified during the last inspection. The development plan for the home provides a focus on areas for improvement and is kept under review. There are no confirmed transitional plans for the two children living at the home. The manager has not completed written matching documents to assess the children’s compatibility. This makes it unclear how the manager has changed the environment to mitigate the incompatibility of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made improvements to the recording of medication, staff supervision, reviews of children’s care plans and in making information available for inspection. However, not all the requirements are suitably met, and changes in practice are not integrated fully into the day-to-day running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff sickness levels have decreased, and several staff have returned to work. The staff from the agency have become familiar faces to the children. As a result, the children and most staff are interacting more positively. In addition, the support from the mental health team is helping the agency staff to have a better understanding of the children’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s regular meetings with the agency help to address any issues or concerns about the agency staff’s conduct and practice. However, the manager has not pursued the agency’s explanation for refusing to share the agency staff’s full credentials with them in writing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s behaviour support plans and risk assessments guide staff to manage the children’s behaviours effectively. As a result of incidents, new risks are identified, and staff are reminded to stay vigilant. The physical intervention records include more comments from the child involved. The record of the intervention does not consistently include details of staff debriefs about the use of the measure. Similarly, the manager or person authorised by the manager has not signed the record to validate its accuracy. This does not provide sufficient health and safety assurances.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have made progress since the last inspection. A social worker described one child’s progress as ‘quite big’. The medication reviews for the children and the partnerships with health professionals have been instrumental in helping to improve the children’s quality of life. For example, one child has started to have home tuition, while another child has added their mathematics tuition into their timetable Inspection report children's home: SC066651 3 with English. One child is making eye contact, and they are communicating their wishes. The other child’s level of understanding has enabled them to know and understand the contents of their care plan and express their opinion. This child is having trips on the minibus again, after a serious incident several months ago, which is opening up their world again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have more of a structure to their day and they are engaged in activities that they enjoy. The children have achievable goals, which raises their aspirations, and their achievements are rewarded. The children are helped to do more for themselves, which promotes their independence in line with their abilities. Strong advocates for the children from within the home, as well as external professionals, work in the children’s best interests.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children benefit from daily housekeeping services provided by ancillary staff. The staff’s access to the cleaning supplies ensures that the home is kept clean. Work has been identified for the replacement of a bath panel in one of the children’s bathrooms. Significant stains on the corridor carpet of this child’s living space are unacceptable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One report from the independent person has been sent to Ofsted in a prompt manner. This practice must be sustained to ensure the reports are consistently sent to Ofsted within the required time frame. The review of quality of care report still does not consider the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. Although there is no evidence of risk to the children’s welfare, this could hinder the manager’s ability to build on the strengths of the service and rectify any identified areas for improvement. Inspection report children's home: SC066651 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/03/2019 Full Outstanding 03/10/2017 Full Outstanding 08/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC066651 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, 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to the registered manager ensuring that the significantly stained carpet and bath panel that was discussed at the inspection are repaired or replaced.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31/03/2022

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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— 31/03/2022 Inspection report children's home: SC066651 6 understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use the understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to the registered manager checking the suitability of the agency staff and provide matching documents for the children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)) 31/03/2022

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to— HMCI. Specifically, ensure that the independent visitor reports are sent to Ofsted promptly. (Regulation 44 (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31/03/2022

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (5))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31/03/2022 Inspection report children's home: SC066651 7

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC066651 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

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC066651 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 childrens 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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