Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC066651 1 SC066651 Registered provider: Sheffield City 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 short-break service is owned and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2019.

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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: SC066651 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/07/2024 Full Good 26/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC066651 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with positive experiences when they stay at the home. They enjoy positive relationships with staff, who understand their individual needs. Children are making progress because staff are committed to providing the children with a high standard of care and support. Staff are aspirational for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children respond to the structure and boundaries in place at this home. For some children, this has led to improved daily routines, and some children’s bedtime routines and sleep patterns have improved. Children make progress with their personal care routines. Staff help children to develop independence and social skills in line with the children’s individual plans. This provides children with invaluable skills as they transition into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Children are encouraged to make choices about their food and they have a varied and healthy diet. Some children who previously had a limited diet are now eating a wider variety of foods.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning when children first start staying at the home is child focused and tailored to each child’s individual needs. This positive approach also means that children get to spend time with their peers who have similar interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s individual communication needs. Records capture children’s wishes and feelings and show that staff consult with children using the child’s preferred communication method. Children are provided with positive praise and their achievements are celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a range of enjoyable activities in line with their individual interests. Children enjoy days out to the seaside, visit a safari park and go to the local Christmas market. Some children enjoy going swimming, bowling and trampolining. Children are also provided with lots of activities at home, such as arts and crafts, a ball pool and interactive play. There is a lovely outdoor space with lots of fun things to do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have built positive relationships with the children’s families. One parent said, ‘Staff are amazing, I know [Name of child] is happy when they go to stay. I know they are safe and well cared for.’ Another parent said, ‘Staff listen to me and that makes me feel valued. [Name of child] has made so much progress since they started visiting the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s memories of their time staying at the home are captured in personalised memory books that they can take with them when they move out. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066651 4

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

Each child has an individual risk assessment that identifies the child’s risks and vulnerabilities. These provide staff with clear guidance on how to mitigate some of those risks, and they are kept under review by the manager.

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

Children benefit from high levels of supervision when they come to stay at the home. Staff understand each child’s needs and ensure that they provide children with the support they need to keep them safe.

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

When children become anxious or upset, staff use their relationships with the children to manage the situation. This helps children to better manage any difficult emotions and feelings that they may be struggling to communicate. This positive approach means that staff rarely need to intervene physically to keep children safe.

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

Children are provided with a safe and secure environment when they stay at the home. Children’s individual vulnerabilities are considered when staff prepare for each child staying at the home. Children’s bedrooms are warm and welcoming. Staff encourage children to bring items with them to ensure that their bedrooms are personalised. This gives children a sense of belonging and helps them to feel settled and comfortable during their stay.

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

There are strong systems in place to ensure that medication is administered to children in a safe way. There has been one incident where a member of staff has not followed those procedures when recording medication coming into the home. A full investigation has taken place, and the manager has followed internal procedures to address the shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager at this home is experienced and suitably qualified. She has a wealth of experience in supporting children with additional learning needs. The manager is committed to staff development. She is a positive role model for staff and provides the team with effective leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are provided consistent and continuous care because there is a stable staff team that is skilled and experienced. Staff said that they like working at the home and they feel supported by the manager. However, some staff have not always received regular supervision in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built strong relationships with other professionals involved in the children’s lives. Professionals hold the manager and staff in high regard; they said that communication is good and that children who stay at the home make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings happen regularly and are well attended. This provides staff with the opportunity to discuss the children and plan for any changes to children’s needs in line with their individual plans ahead of their stay at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066651 5 Staff receive a wide range of core training. The manager ensures that staff are provided with additional training to meet the specific needs of individual children before children stay at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC066651 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development; and

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)) 1 March 2026

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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: SC066651 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Pinstone St, Sheffield S1 2HH

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC066651 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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