Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 1 SC036023 Registered provider: Sheffield City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority short-breaks service is registered to provide care for up to eight children or young people who may have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2018.

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 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. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is absent from work currently. The suitable interim management arrangements have provided continuity of care for the children and staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s interim development plan captures the last requirements and shows that the service has the capacity to excel. Furthermore, the manager’s efficient and effective work has resulted in them meeting most of the requirements that were made at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has reunited following periods of sickness absence. Effective team- building days have helped to strengthen the team culture and galvanise the relationships within the staff team. The staff have taken the time to reflect and celebrate their hard work and achievements during an extremely challenging time. Leaders have met with the staff team, and they are supportive of the plans for the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person who was living at the home full time for almost one year reached adulthood during their stay. They have since moved to a pleasant new home with the consistent help and support from the managers and staff. The staff arranged an extravagant birthday party for the young adult. This was held in the company of the staff and family members. This was one of many of the unforgettable celebrations that the young adult experienced prior to leaving. The photos document these special events. Despite difficulties in engaging in education, the young adult has a place at college that they plan to attend.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The strong and unwavering support from the managers, staff and professionals has contributed to transforming the young adult’s life. They have made excellent progress from an unsettled, uncertain and risky start to being unrecognisable. It is abundantly clear that the young adult has left a deep impression on the staff team. The young adult said: ‘I wouldn’t be able to do this without [Name of the home] staff’ and ‘I feel like a better person because of all of them’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The short-breaks service has resumed. Carefully planned introductions prepare the children for their stays. Managers have responded swiftly to the concerns about the physical environment. As a result of the team’s persistence and hard work, the environment has improved significantly. It provides a very homely, pleasant and nurturing environment for children. The ongoing work that has been identified provides the potential for further enhancements. The well-maintained grounds provide a variety of sensory resources for children to play. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 3 Children’s personalised short-break care plans identify achievable goals. This enables the children to develop and learn, no matter how small it may be. Managers have worked effectively with the local authority and mental health professionals in relation to a potential deprivation of liberty matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents in the home have dramatically reduced. When a physical intervention has occurred, the views of the child or young person are recorded by a person authorised by the manager. Ofsted has been notified about significant incidents in a timely way. This has enabled the regulator to monitor the home’s safeguarding practices.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff are highly motivated and dedicated to rebuilding the short- breaks service. Staff ideas to enhance the children’s experiences are encouraged by managers and implemented. Staff training enables the staff to boost their skills, such as learning to communicate with children in new and creative ways. Staff find the managers approachable, and they feel supported. Practice-related supervision has improved in frequency. At team meetings, the staff are reminded about the expectations when caring for children. In one instance, a recent medication error was discussed, which promotes transparency.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regardless of the home using significantly fewer agency staff, managers have gathered all relevant information for the agency staff that they use. The managers have determined that the agency staff are suitable to care for the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The monitoring systems provide regular scrutiny. The independent person has resumed face-to-face visits several months ago. This enables the visitor to gain access to all relevant information to inform their opinion about the children’s safety and welfare. The internal management review does not include consultations with children, parents, professionals and the staff to influence service improvements. Although the risk assessments now include management oversight, the documents do not include the effectiveness of the measure. These requirements are repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The good practice recommendation in relation to staff reading and signing the team meeting minutes and other documents is not met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An updated statement of purpose has been completed that includes the use of walkie-talkies. A copy of the document has been sent to Ofsted. The certificate of registration has been received by the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Comments from parents and professionals are very complimentary about the children’s quality of care during their stays. A social worker said: ‘It has been life changing for his mum.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2020 Full Outstanding 06/02/2019 Full Good 30/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This refers specifically to the registered manager ensuring that risk assessments include the effectiveness of the measure.

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This requirement is carried over from the previous

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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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. This includes ensuring that monitoring systems include scrutiny, that staff read and sign staff meeting minutes and other records, as required. This recommendation is carried over from the previous inspection. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 6 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 for children’s home: SC036023 7

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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 for children’s home: SC036023 8 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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