Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

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

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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

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted on 3 November 2003. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 8 February 2023.

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Inspection date: 28 November 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 November 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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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

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Outcome 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.

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Findings from the inspection

Children now feel safe living in this home. The restrictions that prevented children from accessing communal areas of the home have been removed. Staff have developed secure and positive relationships with children. Children enjoy spending time with each other and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The clear and consistent boundaries and routines in the home promote a sense of purpose for children. They ensure that children are supported to attend education, see their families and engage in meaningful activities outside of the home. This supports children to make positive progress when they move into the home.

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Findings from the inspection

All children attend some form of education. One child now attends school full time after being out of education for over two years. The child is happy in school and has developed a positive friendship group. Since starting, they have achieved 100% attendance. Another child has been supported to maintain consistency through attendance at a school they were already enrolled in before moving into this home. However, not all children’s educational needs are addressed. One child only attends school for one hour per day. This does not enable the school to evaluate the child’s current attainment, and there is no clear understanding of their cognitive ability. This is having a significant impact on the child’s view of themselves and on their mental health. The manager has appropriately escalated their concerns with the school and the child’s social worker, but their needs remain unmet.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s bedrooms are cleaned regularly, and staff ensure they are well-maintained and safe. One child’s bedroom has recently been redecorated in line with their wishes. This is starting to help the child to tolerate sleeping on a bed with a mattress.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are supported to better understand children’s behaviour. However, not all staff have a strong understanding of how language can be used therapeutically, and this is still not fully embedded across the staff team. The use of physical intervention has decreased, and the police have not been called on to help manage children’s behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and risks. These are reflected in children’s plans, which identify the strategies for staff to use to meet the individual needs and risks of children. They are regularly updated, and the risks for children are decreasing. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 3 Children feel listened to and valued. The manager actively encourages children to share their views.

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Findings from the inspection

Clear and decisive action is taken by the manager to address issues of concern. This ensures that children remain safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have responded effectively to the requirements and recommendations made at the home’s last inspection. All the requirements and recommendations have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/11/2021 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff have the capacity and competence to build constructive, warm relationships with children that actively promote positive behaviour and provide the foundations for managing any negative behaviour. Staff should have the skills to respond to each child’s individual behaviour. Where necessary, they should manage conflict, maintain constructive dialogues and react appropriately if challenged by a child in their care. The records of any incident should reflect this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.14) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 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: Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield S1 2HH

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Inspector

Joanna Beal, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 7 regulates and 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.

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Inspector

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