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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2662265 1 Registered provider: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated and managed by a local authority. It can provide care for up to two children who may have social and emotional difficulties, and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home last had a registered manager on 15 December 2024. A new manager has been appointed, but they have not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this 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 good

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good

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

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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: 2662265 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/07/2024 Full Good 03/05/2023 Full Good 25/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2662265 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points due to the care that they receive from staff. Staff spend time getting to know the children through shared activities, mealtimes and day-to-day conversations. This, in conjunction with the children’s individualised plans, enables staff to provide children with care that is tailored to their specific needs. When brothers and sisters live together, the staff are adept at understanding the children’s individual needs and also their needs as a sibling group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children were observed during the inspection. Staff provide a loving and nurturing home for children. The staff are child focused and ensure that children have positive experiences through careful menu planning, holidays and arranging activities that the children enjoy or show an interest in. Staff record these experiences in photos that are displayed in the home. This enthusiasm and commitment support children to develop a sense of belonging, permanence and feeling valued and loved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children find it hard to live together, staff find creative but measurable ways to help children develop positive relationships with each other. Where necessary, specialist support will be sought. This approach helps to enhance children’s day-to-day experiences of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between professionals, carers, children and families are a strength of this home. This has helped one child to rebuild their relationship with their parents and has supported two siblings to have the opportunity to live together. Feedback from a professional and one family member was positive in terms of the quality of care provided by staff, good levels of communication and partnership working.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress with their learning and education, and children are supported by staff to be in good physical health. If children need specialist help, this is identified in a timely way through close partnership working. However, feedback from one professional was that more could be done by staff to encourage the child’s attendance at school or college and to ensure that the child attends it on time.

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

Children’s safety and well-being are promoted by staff, who have a good understanding of each child’s vulnerabilities. Where there are challenges and difficulties, staff and managers work closely together with other professionals to identify solutions. This approach helps children to become increasingly safer.

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

Children’s risk management plans are bespoke and detail the child’s known and emerging risks and vulnerabilities. The plans are easy to understand and are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they are updated. The plans help staff to know how to manage risks more effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2662265 4 Children rarely go missing from this home. On the one occasion a child went missing, staff responded quickly to secure the safe return of the child home. Staff were tenacious in their efforts to search for and find the child. When the child returned home, staff welcomed the child back and chose the right time to speak with the child to understand the reasons for them going missing from home.

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

Staff are suitably trained in behaviour management techniques to manage the home environment to prevent a child from going into crisis. When a child does struggle, the staff work hard to de-escalate the situation to prevent a child from being physically held. When staff need to hold a child, this is done in the least restrictive manner and as a last resort to safeguard the child and others. Following a child being held, the child and the staff involved are provided with a chance to talk and reflect. This discussion helps to repair relationships and promote well-being and learning. As a result of the learning from staff discussions, the approach to positive behaviour management in the home is currently being refreshed.

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

Where there are concerns about staff conduct or when an allegation is made about staff, these are dealt with promptly, and appropriate procedures are followed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been without a permanent manager for several months. Interim management arrangements have promoted positive changes in the home and provided stability for the children and staff. A suitably qualified and experienced manager has now been recruited. The manager has a clear vision for the home and is making a positive impact.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are focused on achieving positive outcomes for children and have high expectations of themselves and their staff. They have a good understanding of what is working well in the home and have clear plans to remedy shortfalls that they have identified. Leaders and managers value external scrutiny and use any learning from feedback to make improvements to the quality of care that children living in the home receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the experiences that lead to the progress a child makes and take effective action where necessary. They work closely with children, their families and external professionals to make decisions that are in the best interests of children. For example, decisions about welcoming children into the home are not made by leaders and managers in isolation. This approach helps children to receive the care they need from the point of them moving into the home. Equally, when a child moves on from the home, this is carefully planned and in line with the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff acknowledge that the past year has been a difficult one due to changes in the management of the home. Despite this, staff morale is overall good, and most staff expressed that they appreciate the support that they have received from leaders and managers. Staff have also expressed confidence in the new manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2662265 5 Leaders and managers provide a safe home environment for children to live in and support children to personalise the home according to their tastes and preferences. However, the home needs some improvement, as it does not look and feel like a family home for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Case records are overall helpful for children, but some records are incomplete. This shortfall does not help children to understand how they have been helped and by whom. Inspection report for children’s home: 2662265 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the home environment for children looks and feels like a family home, that staff promote children’s attendance at an educational setting and that all records relating to a child are complete and help the child to understand how they have been supported. 1 July 2025

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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: 2662265 7

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: 2662265 8 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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