Children's Home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356868 1 SC356868 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 home is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are four children currently living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an acting manager in day-to-day charge of the home.

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This monitoring visit

Due to serious and widespread concerns identified at the assurance inspection on 8 March 2023, a case review was held. Ofsted issued a restriction notice and two compliance notices under section 22 of the Care Standards Act 2000. These were in relation to regulation 12, the protection of children standard, and regulation 13, the leadership and management standard.

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This monitoring visit

A monitoring visit was undertaken on 5 May 2023. The findings from this visit confirmed that leaders and managers had not been effective in making sufficient progress to meet all of the actions set out in the compliance notices. As a result, Ofsted reissued the two compliance notices under section 22 of the Care Standards Act 2000 and the restriction of accommodation remained in place.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to assess the progress made to meet the compliance notices.

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This monitoring visit

There has been a reduction in incidents of children smoking in their bedrooms, but some children continue to smoke in the home. However, the provider has not taken timely action to ensure that all risk assessments relating to fire safety are reviewed, leaving it unclear if adequate fire safety measures are in place. Children do not participate in fire evacuation drills and there is no action plan in case children refuse Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356868 2 to leave during a fire. On two separate occasions since the last monitoring visit, the weekly fire safety checks have been overlooked by staff. This does not keep children or staff safe.

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This monitoring visit

Incidents of threatening and risky behaviour have made it difficult for staff to ensure that children experience a safe and harmonious home environment. Some children feel unsafe. This has led to one child being temporarily cared for elsewhere while care planning is considered for all children.

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This monitoring visit

Following a serious incident of aggression against a child by their peers, where threats of violence were made as well as damage to the home, staff did not respond promptly to remove a dangerous item from a child. The dangerous item could have been used to cause injury and serious harm.

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This monitoring visit

A child’s missing-from-home protocol did not include up-to-date information about known associates. The child was reported as having unauthorised absence while staying at a friend’s house, even though the friend’s details were not included in the protocol. On a separate occasion, the same child stayed at another friend’s house. However, the necessary arrangements have not been made to visit the friend’s home, to help to evaluate the suitability and safety of the child.

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This monitoring visit

There is a programme of daily repair in the home in response to behavioural incidents and the damage that has been caused. Despite these efforts, there continues to be damage throughout the home. The quality of children’s bedrooms has improved, and staff are maintaining a clean environment.

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This monitoring visit

Staff know the protocol about how to report a concern should they observe any conduct or practice concerns. The staff’s knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures has been strengthened through managers revisiting the reporting procedure during team meetings.

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This monitoring visit

The introduction of a daily activity planner has provided some children with a positive distraction to help them to have enjoyable experiences. There has been a reduction in missing-from-home incidents, and one child who was staying away from the home has now returned.

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This monitoring visit

The children’s plans are well written and kept under review by managers. Ongoing dialogue between managers and staff promotes the team’s understanding of the actions that they should take to support the children’s daily care needs.

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This monitoring visit

While there has been some progress, there have been further concerns and shortfalls that have led to a compliance notice being reissued. The restriction of accommodation notice remains in place. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356868 3

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 23/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356868 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 with 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.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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.

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the guidance and support needed to intervene and manage children’s behaviour in a way that protects them from one another.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff take effective action when there are serious concerns for the children’s safety. 17/07/2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356868 5 The registered person must ensure that all risk assessments relating to fire safety are reviewed, and that action is taken to address children smoking in their bedrooms and fire safety in the premises.

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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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: SC356868 6

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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: SC356868 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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