Children's Home, Residential special school run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 1 SC458115

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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 home is operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children who may experience emotional and behavioural difficulties, and who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The main building provides accommodation for up to six children. In addition, there is a separate building close to the home that provides accommodation for one child.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, six children were living at this home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 30 July 2023. There is a manager in post who is still to make an application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 4 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 4 February 2025

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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 2 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: SC458115 3

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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

The provider made a variation to the home’s statement of purpose to provide for one child to live in the lodge, which is a separate building to the main house. There are five children living in the home and one child recently moved into the lodge. This child’s staff team moved with them from their previous home, which has helped the child to settle and means that the child is receiving consistent and continuous care.

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Findings from the inspection

Some of the children attend school, and another child’s education is a combination of home tuition and informal learning. Children are making progress in their education from their individual starting points. Staff understand the children’s additional learning needs and their individual preferred communication methods.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s health needs are being met. For those children with additional health needs, they receive support from external services. Staff respond sensitively to children when they provide them with support with their personal care, and when they talk to children about relationships and sexual health.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s independence is promoted in line with their individual plans. Staff provide support and some children have made progress with personal care routines. Additionally, some children prepare meals of their choice.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are provided with a range of activities in line with their hobbies and interests. These include going ice skating, playing badminton, or engaging with arts and crafts. Children enjoy trips to the park and visiting the seaside. Children’s experiences of living at the home are captured in memory books.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s individual risk assessments are detailed, they provide staff with clear guidance, and they are kept under review by the manager. Staff know the children well, and they understand the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Children benefit from high levels of supervision in line with their individual plans.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents that lead to children being physically held have reduced. Management oversight of incidents where children are held has improved. Children and staff are now being provided with the opportunity to talk about incidents.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have taken steps to improve the systems used to track and monitor children’s progress and staff development. This has led to improved oversight of children’s records and staff’s training needs.

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Findings from the inspection

However, the systems to monitor staff’s supervision is not effective. Staff do not always receive supervision and appraisals in line with the home’s statement of Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 4 purpose. Although staff said that they feel supported, and that leaders and managers are present in the home, and that they are approachable.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have identified concerns about the conduct and practice of some of the staff working in the home. This relates to the restriction of children’s movements inside the home because some staff have locked internal doors. Furthermore, some staff have failed to respond to children in line with their legal order. Leaders and managers responded appropriately to these shortfalls through an internal investigation, with safeguarding professionals involved. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/04/2024 Full Inadequate 21/11/2023 Full Good 22/11/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 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, 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 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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii)(e)) 7 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(c)) 7 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 7

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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

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC458115 8 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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