Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 1 SC036023

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Sheffield City Council

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 who may have learning and/or physical disabilities. However, the short- breaks service is currently on hold and a variation of the conditions allows two children to live here. Two children with complex health needs were admitted to the home in June 2022 in an emergency. One of the children continues to live at the home. One other child attends the home for day care.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2018.

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This monitoring visit

A full inspection was carried out on 4 and 5 October 2022. The findings from this inspection confirmed that leaders and managers had not been effective in managing this home. Serious shortfalls were identified relating to safeguarding practice and management oversight. This led to enforcement action through two compliance notices under section 22 of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to regulations 12 and 13.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to review the provider’s progress against the two compliance notices. During the visit, the inspector found that the manager has improved the incident recording process by streamlining the incident report document. There is now one central record for staff to use to prevent the likelihood of critical information about a child’s welfare being overlooked. Staff have been helped to understand how to complete the incident report more effectively through the direction and guidance of managers. This has improved the quality of staff’s recording and the more comprehensive records are enhancing the manager’s ability to understand the details of incidents. The manager also has a system to monitor Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 2 the quality, detail and timeliness of staff recording. This ensures that records are completed as soon as possible after the incident and within timescales.

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This monitoring visit

The additional monitoring by senior managers and weekly information-sharing with them about incidents, including restraints, give them a better oversight of children’s experiences at the home. This enables senior managers to ask questions about staff practice, the children’s welfare, and explore developing patterns of concern.

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This monitoring visit

The manager’s evaluation of each incident of restraint when staff hold children to keep them safe demonstrates his oversight of staff’s behaviour management practice. This enables him to evaluate if the actions of staff have been necessary, proportionate and in the best interests of the child.

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This monitoring visit

The manager and senior staff members debrief staff involved in restraints to reflect on their practice and learn from the incidents how children should be supported. This delegated role promotes a shared responsibility. However, the manager has not ensured that senior staff have their own debrief when they are involved in a restraint incident. This limits senior staff’s ability to reflect on their practice. Sufficient action has been taken to address the steps in the compliance notice under regulation 13 but a further requirement is raised to ensure that this aspect of practice is addressed.

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This monitoring visit

Discussions between the home’s senior manager and the local authority’s safeguarding manager have addressed ways to strengthen practice to ensure that children are better safeguarded. However, these agreements have not yet been translated into the safeguarding policy and therefore the detail is not widely known by staff and managers at the home.

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This monitoring visit

A visual flow chart displayed in the office supports staff’s understanding of the safeguarding process. However, the manager has not assured himself that staff understand it. Most staff understand the key people involved in safeguarding practice. However, at the time of the inspection, not all staff had clarity about the role of the local authority designated officer, which could lead to further poor practice. Therefore, a requirement to address this swiftly is made.

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This monitoring visit

While action has been taken to address the steps in regulation 12, the additional gaps in ensuring that changes to the safeguarding policy are followed up in writing and that staff’s understanding is robust are linked to a further requirement under regulation 12. The requirements and recommendation carried forward have not been explored during this inspection and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2022 Full Inadequate 28/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/02/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 4

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child has an up-to-date environmental and sensory assessment to ensure that the help and care that are being provided are aligned to the child’s assessed needs. 4 December 2022

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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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff and managers know what action to take when there are concerns for children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff know the role of the local authority designated officer. 29 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 5 After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children admitted to the home take part in a fire evacuation drill. 4 December 2022

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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

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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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)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that there is a system in place to check and verify the experience, training and other relevant checks, such as Disclosure and Barring Service checks and references, of agency staff members. Prior to an agency staff member working, the registered person must ensure that they have verified and assessed that the agency member of staff has the skills and experience needed for the role. 4 December 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 6 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)) 4 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard children accommodated in the children’s home from abuse or neglect; and

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Requirement Due date

sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that sharing a concern and reporting protocol specific to this home is included as part of the reporting concerns procedure for this setting. 29 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 4 December 2022

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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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; 4 December 2022 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 7 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Recommendation

 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. In particular, ensure that monitoring systems include scrutiny and 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

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

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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

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC036023 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 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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