Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 1 SC036023

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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 children’s home is run by a local authority. It is registered with Ofsted to provide short breaks for up to eight children with learning and/or physical disabilities. However, there is a variation of the registration to allow two children to live at the home until suitable placements are found. This means that, currently, short breaks are not operating.

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Information about this children’s home

One child lives at the home, and another child stays at the home for several nights per week on a shared-care basis.

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Information about this children’s home

A manager is in position and has applied to become the registered manager.

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Inspection date: 31 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 31 January 2024

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. The inspector has 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: SC036023 2

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are receiving child-centred care. Staff understand children and their individual needs well. They understand how to care for them socially and emotionally. Children are enjoying good physical health, and there is support for children from mental health professionals. One of the children is not receiving any education following their tutor unexpectedly leaving. However, the staff are working with professionals to find suitable education for this child and a school placement for the other child. The home has been redecorated and decluttered, and it now feels warmer and more homely.

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Findings from the inspection

Children trust the staff, and staff understand children’s communication needs and preferences. As a result, children’s views and feelings are understood and used in planning their care. Children engage in activities they enjoy at the home and in the community. Children also maintain relationships with those most important to them. One of the children is being supported to form a new friendship.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children with managing their feelings and emotions. When children are upset, staff try to help them and defuse incidents through using distraction and humour appropriately. As a last resort, the staff hold children for the shortest time possible and proportionately. However, no one talks to children about how they feel and their views following a hold.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s records contain detailed risk assessments and strategies to reduce the risks to children. One child’s records make reference to restrictions in the home environment. However, there is no specific recording of these or regular review to make sure these adjustments are still necessary. Children’s records do not contain information on how staff are helping children to keep safe when using the internet.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers understand and carry out their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. Additional safeguarding training has been provided to staff. When concerns are identified, they are reported appropriately and investigated. Managers identify improvements and change practice to try to reduce the likelihood of repeated concerns. There has been a significant improvement in the oversight and scrutiny of checks completed on staff who work in the home from agencies. This helps to reduce the risks to children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is led by a new management team that has a clear direction, vision and high aspirations for the children’s care. The staff, including agency staff, feel well supported and valued. They receive regular and effective supervision and training.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have implemented new oversight systems and processes that provide them with clear oversight of the running of the home. This helps managers Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 3 to identify issues and take prompt action to make improvements. Managers now review and evaluate incidents promptly and identify lessons learned to improve children’s care. The children’s guide is now child-friendly and accessible for the children that live at the home, and appropriate authorisation is now in place for the monitoring needed for one of the children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/10/2022 Full Inadequate 28/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should make sure that when children are not in education, staff work closely with relevant professionals to enable the child to resume full- time education as soon as possible. If no education is identified, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child’s needs under Regulation 5. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should make sure that when children are restrained, they have the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 50, paragraph 9.60)  The registered person should make sure that decisions made to limit a child’s access to any area of the home and any modifications to the environment are

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Recommendations

informed by a rigorous assessment of the individual’s needs, are properly recorded and are kept under regular review. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and put in place arrangements to protect them. In particular, this should include the risks to the child when using the internet and how staff should support the child to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42 paragraph 9.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 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

Honor Hamshaw, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC036023 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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