Children's Home run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council in Rotherham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2597567 1 Registered provider: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough 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 operated and managed by a local authority. It was registered in July 2020 and provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with two children during the inspection.

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Inspection date: 28 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 November 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: 2597567 2

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted 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

Staff support children to build secure and trusted relationships with them. They spend time with the children, get to know their likes and dislikes and support them to take part in activities in the home and community. Staff encourage children to take part in the day-to-day decisions about their lives. This includes making choices about what food they like to eat, activities they like to do and any wishes and feelings arising out of the children’s cultural and religious needs. As a result of the good relationships between staff and children, all of the children are making progress and are supported to enjoy their time living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are welcomed into the home in a planned and sensitive manner. They meet the staff and the existing children before they move in. New children are provided with essential information about the home and how they can make a complaint if they are unsatisfied about any aspect of the care they receive. In addition, the staff are provided with key information about the child’s needs and vulnerabilities. This helps children to quickly settle into their new home and receive care that is tailored to their individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is warm and welcoming. It is clean and decorated to a good standard. Staff involve the children in decisions about the decor of the home. The children can personalise their bedrooms according to their own personal tastes and preferences. This supports the children to feel important and valued and helps them to invest in their home.

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Findings from the inspection

The trusting relationships that children have with the staff help them to feel safe. One child said that the staff provide ‘a secure environment’ and that staff ‘keep the children out of harm’s way’.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the children’s individual vulnerabilities and respond to concerns about their safety. Children’s behavioural assessments and risk management plans support staff to understand what action they should take to manage and reduce any risks. They are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are accurate.

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Findings from the inspection

Furthermore, staff have discussions with children about potential risks to their safety. These conversations help the children to understand risks and encourage them to make safer choices. This helps to promote the children’s safety in the home, online and in the community.

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Findings from the inspection

The response to children who go missing from the home is robust. When a child goes missing, staff closely follow their missing-from-care plan. When children frequently go missing from the home, the staff work closely with external professionals to share information about the missing-from-home episodes. The Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2597567 3 manager reviews the child’s plans to help to reduce the frequency of incidents and likely harm to the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. She knows the children in the home well and can recognise the progress that they make. Staff enjoy working in the home and receive appropriate support and training to meet the needs of the children living there. Staff understand what children need to feel safe and secure and know how to keep the home environment safe for children. Staff have confidence in the registered manager.

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Findings from the inspection

The registered manager has made improvements since the last inspection. She understands the strengths of the service and has also identified areas for further development. The registered manager notifies the regulator of any significant events in the home. However, this is not always done without delay. Although this shortfall has not had any impact on the safety of the children living in the home, it prevents the regulator from being assured of the children’s safety and welfare. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2597567 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/05/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Good 25/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2597567 5

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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, The 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

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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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(d)(f)) 1 January 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2597567 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Shirin Khan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2597567 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 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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