Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 1 SC039414

p.1

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The current manager has been at the home since August 2022 and recently registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 7 December 2022

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have 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: SC039414 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

Staff have a better understanding of the children and are more attuned to their needs. However, work continues with repairing the impact that changes in the staff team have had on forming trusting relationships with the children. For some children, this has affected their sense of safety.

p.2

The care of children

The complex nature of relationships in the home means that progress is not easily visible. However, children are more accepting of the care that staff offer and do have enjoyable experiences inside and outside of the home. Staff and children eat together more regularly and savour activities together, including having short breaks away at holiday retreats.

p.2

The care of children

One child is making progress with their education and is working towards returning to their mainstream school after a sustained period of absence. Other children are experiencing stagnation with their education as staff struggle to help them engage with their learning programme. The staff communicate with education and other relevant professionals to evaluate the suitability of the children’s education plan so alternatives can be considered.

p.2

The care of children

Staff encourage children to have a fulfilling day through routines. The children’s individual planners help them to know when they have appointments, planned activities, family time and their education programme. However, weekday routines are ineffective because staff struggle to help those children without formal education to engage in structured activities. This does not help children to build confidence or develop a strong routine that will serve them when they return to an education provision.

p.2

The care of children

The lounge door is locked during the day to prevent children from accessing this room in school time, with a view to encouraging education. This is reflective of institutional practice. This shows that the team does not yet fully recognise such practices and the negative impact they have on the children’s experience.

p.2

The care of children

The staff actively promote the children’s individualism and create an environment that fosters self-expression, contributing to the growth of the children’s identities. Children have embraced this, which is demonstrated through their unique style. However, consultation with organisations that offer help and support around aspects of identity is lacking. This limits the quality of information available to children as they develop their sense of self.

p.2

The care of children

A coordinated response was offered to a child from all parties involved after the child expressed their discontent with the level of care and support they received. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 3 The manager and the child’s social worker fully considered the child’s complaint before providing a response. The involvement of the child’s advocate ensured that the child’s voice was heard, and their needs were addressed.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager adjusted the routines of the home and the availability of items that have the potential to be harmful in response to increased concerns about self- injurious behaviour. The daily safety checks staff complete with one child reduce the likelihood of the child being unsafe. This shows that the manager can identify and manage risks effectively.

p.3

The safety of children

When concerns were found in relation to sharing inappropriate images on social media, staff implemented control measures alongside educational work with children. This helps to promote the children’s self-protection knowledge and reduce the risks associated with them using social media.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff adhere to missing-from-home protocols and escalate their concerns when they are worried for the children’s safety. For example, formal safeguarding procedures were started after a spike in missing-from-home incidents for one child brought into question their safety. However, the manager does not have an effective recording system for evaluating concerning patterns. This limits the quality of information shared with safeguarding agencies when evaluating a child’s level of risk.

p.3

The safety of children

Restraint is not a common practice. When it does occur, the reasons for holds are necessary and proportionate. Following incidents of restraint, children and staff receive a debrief from a manager. These debriefs are helping staff to develop better strategies to keep children safe.

p.3

The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments contain out-of-date information, making it difficult for staff to access the current strategies easily. The behaviour management aspects of the plans still lack guidance aligned to the children’s needs. This will limit the effectiveness of staff to help children develop their own coping strategies.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The newly registered manager continues to have a positive influence in the home. Her strong oversight of the day-to-day care children experience is improving standards. Staff are more consistent in their approach, helping to reduce the level of frustration children experience.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive practice-related supervision to help them fulfil the responsibilities of their roles. The manager is highly regarded by staff who value her influence in developing the team’s culture and practice.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Concerns regarding the level of support for a child’s mental health have been escalated through appropriate channels to higher management. This has brought Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 4 the concerns to the attention of senior decision-makers who can influence and act accordingly in response to the escalating concerns.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Training records are better organised to help the manager monitor the training needs of the team. Monthly consultations with the multi-agency psychological support team provide staff with critical learning opportunities about the emotional health needs of children and the impact of trauma.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager ensures that there are enough adequately experienced staff to meet the children’s needs by using regular agency workers, alongside permanent staff. The manager uses competency-based interviews to evaluate the suitability of agency workers from the provider’s other homes. This helps the manager to know that workers who come to this home have the necessary knowledge and skills to care for the children’s individual needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The requirements issued at the last inspection relating to a child’s environmental and sensory assessment and the review of some staff member’s probation have not been met. The requirement in relation to the quality of care review has not been looked at during the inspection as the manager has yet to submit their report to the regulator. The good practice recommendation in relation to reviewing the children’s behaviour plans has also still not been met. Therefore, these have been repeated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 5

p.4

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/11/2021 Full Inadequate 15/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child has in place an up-to-date environmental and sensory assessment completed, to ensure that the help and care that is being provided is aligned to the child’s assessed needs. 21 May 2023

p.6

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—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 21 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must review all staff members who have passed their probation in 2022 to ensure that their knowledge and skills are compatible to the standards described in their job roles. In addition, the registered person must follow the system in place to review staff’s performance throughout their probation period and evaluate that they have the required knowledge and skills for their job role.

p.7

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

p.7

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (c)(iii)(iv))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the locking of internal doors is not part of staff’s day-to-day practice, and children have the autonomy to access areas of their home. Locks should not be on communal areas and any that remain need to be clearly risk assessed and rationalised. 21 May 2023

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.7

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children.

p.7

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 (1) (2)(a) (5)) 21 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 8

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should seek out specialist consultation, help and support on behalf of the children from organisations relevant to the children’s needs. For example, organisations from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should have a recording system that strengthens their ability to identify and share with other professionals patterns of problematic or concerning behaviour when there are frequent missing-from-home incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should include in the children’s behaviour plans direction that is individually aligned to the children’s needs for staff to follow when helping children cope with difficult emotions. In addition, they should ensure that the

p.8

Recommendations

children’s risk assessments have current and up-to-date information to support staff to keep children safe. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield S1 2HH

p.9

Inspector

Aaron Mcloughlin, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 10 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10