Children's home run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 1 Registered provider: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in March 2021 and is owned by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children with social and/or emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023. She is experienced and suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2023 Full Good 20/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s day-to-day experiences are positive. Staff know the importance of building secure and trusting relationships with children to provide them with a sense of stability and belonging. Children respond positively to the consistent and nurturing care provided to them, which has led to them being happy and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education from their starting points. Staff understand the barriers to children’s education. Staff advocate for children to ensure that the right support is in place, which has led to improved attendance for one child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are reported to be in good physical health. They are provided with nutritious meals and take part in physical activities. Children who have an identified need for therapy are accessing the right support.. Mental health professionals help the staff to better understand children’s emotional and mental health needs. This enables them to provide children with the right support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted regularly about their home and the care they receive. Staff talk to children about a range of topics that are specific to children’s individual needs. Records show that children’s wishes and feelings are listened to, and action is taken.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide the children with a range of activities that reflect their individual hobbies and interests. One child likes to spend time outdoors and enjoys bike rides, while another child enjoys clothes shopping and spa nights. Children enjoy a balance of taking part in individual and group activities. This enables children to enjoy activities that reflect their own hobbies and interests. This has helped children to build positive relationships with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family time is promoted in line with the children’s plans. Staff build positive relationships with the people who are important in the children’s lives. One parent said, ‘I have been to the home for tea. Staff are lovely and made me feel welcome.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The risks to children have reduced since they moved in to the home. Serious incidents are rare because children are happy and settled. When incidents do happen, staff use their positive relationships with children to manage them effectively. They talk to children about the difficult emotions that they are feeling, which helps children to develop better coping strategies for the future.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children’s risk assessments identify all known risks to children, and they provide clear guidance for staff. Staff understand children’s individual vulnerabilities and risks and they know the steps to follow to reduce some of those risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 4 Children rarely go missing from home. When one child was missing, staff responded proactively in line with the child’s plan. This included searching for the child and reporting them as missing to the police. Staff ensure that children are provided with the opportunity to talk to an independent person when they return home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There is a positive restorative approach to children when they show unwanted behaviour. Consequences to behaviour are not used at this home and there have not been any incidents where children have been held.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations are taken seriously and are shared with safeguarding professionals. However, there have been three allegations made by a child that have not been shared with Ofsted. This prevents the regulator from having oversight of what is happening at the home.

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good

The manager has faced some challenges during this inspection period as a result of staff changes. She has also been operating without a deputy manager.

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good

The manager has not used the monitoring systems effectively to support her to maintain good oversight of home, in order to review the quality of care provided to children and staff development. File audits of children’s and staff records have not taken place in the last five months. This prevents the manager from having full oversight of the home.

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good

Not all staff have completed training in relation to the home’s model of care as identified in the home’s workforce development plan. This does not provide assurances that staff are working consistently with the ethos of the home as identified in the home’s statement of purpose.

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good

Performance discussions take place with staff in relation to their conduct and adherence to professional boundaries. However, some of the conversations have not been recorded. Safeguarding procedures are followed, but records do not show what steps were taken to investigate concerns that were raised by a child.

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good

There have been multiple errors detected in the recording of the administration of medication to children. The shortfalls have been addressed by the manager, and staff have been provided with additional training. However, it was difficult to track the shortfalls because information about the errors is not recorded on the audit tool used.

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good

Staff receive regular supervision that is supportive and reflective. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager. Team meetings take place regularly. They are focused on discussing the children’s plans and staff development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 5 The manager has built positive relationships with other professionals involved in the children’s care. There is evidence that the manager and staff work collaboratively with other agencies to ensure that children receive the right support. The manager advocates for children to ensure that their needs are met in line with their individual plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 6

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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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 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)(a)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff are provided with the training outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. This training must enable staff to work in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos described in the statement of purpose. 8 January 2024

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 8 January 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 7

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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: 2629335 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Riverside House, Main Street, Rotherham S60 1AE

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2629335 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 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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