Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 1 SC039414 Registered provider: Sheffield City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since February 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 2

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judgement

24/04/2024 Full Good 19/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/12/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 3

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outstanding

Relationships are at the heart of the home. One child has now lived in the home for over four years, and another has lived here for over two years. Children only move on from the home when it is the right time for their next steps. This helps children to develop a sense of permanence and belonging. This is the foundation for children to make exceptional progress at a child-focused pace.

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outstanding

Children said that they are happy living in the home. Positive relationships between children and staff were observed throughout the inspection. Laughter could be heard as staff and children played games in the living room. Children’s families and those who work with children feel that staff go ‘above and beyond’ to keep children safe.

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in. Staff worked alongside the child, his family and people who cared for him for an extensive time. This meant good relationships between staff, the child and the child’s family had already been built before the child moved in. Leaders completed a thorough assessment of the child’s needs. They carefully considered whether staff were able to safely care for the child, alongside considering the needs of the other children already living at the home. Clear strategies were identified to address vulnerabilities. Since living at the home, the child appears to have settled well.

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outstanding

Children have individual and bespoke education plans. Children’s specific needs are considered, and staff work extensively alongside education partners to support children to make academic progress. For one child, this means that they have been able to move to a school better equipped to meet their academic needs to support their progress. Staff tenaciously encourage routines that promote attendance at school, which continues to improve.

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outstanding

Staff maintain clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. This includes cleaning and hygiene routines, which are important for children. This has continued momentum and means that children are learning how to remain healthy, in line with their age and needs. This is preparing children to be as independent as they can.

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outstanding

Staff develop and sustain strong, collaborative relationships with children’s families. Staff understand and highly value the importance of these relationships. They advocate for children to have safe and positive interactions with people who are important to them. This has supported one child to be able to safely return to their family. The child’s parent said that support from leaders was ‘like co-parenting, backing each other up and sticking together’ to ensure the best outcome for their child. The parent continues to see staff as part of their extended support network. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 4 Children have amazing experiences in and out of the home. They regularly enjoy holidays at the seaside or in the countryside. Children have days out at theme parks, go shopping and enjoy various activities, which children ask to do. People who are important to the children are also included.

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outstanding

One child has attended a prom. This included staff arranging a limousine, everyone getting dressed up and inviting the child’s family to the home. The child’s outfit and photos of the night have been carefully preserved as precious memories. Another child was able to see their favourite band in concert, as part of an incentive.

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outstanding

Relationship-based therapeutic practice is fully embedded in the love and care provided to the children. Staff have developed strong and trusting relationships with children. This has contributed to a reduction in incidents over the inspection period.

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outstanding

Staff have an exceptionally good understanding of children’s needs, and they interpret children’s behaviour as communication. This means staff remain child- focused, even after serious incidents where staff have been the target of children’s frustrations. Physical intervention is rarely used. When children are held, leaders’ oversight results in continuous learning and development of staff practice. Staff’s understanding of children’s experiences and behaviour is represented well in children’s documents, which are well written.

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outstanding

Staff proactively respond to emerging vulnerabilities and incidents. They complete extensive work with children to address concerns and increase safety. When relevant, staff seek support from external professionals, such as the fire brigade, for example when vulnerabilities around fires are a concern. The work with external professionals is used to support and strengthen the work staff complete alongside children. This ensures that children receive information and education in various ways.

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outstanding

Staff also use support from the in-house clinical team well. This has been particularly valuable to support staff to deliver education and tools for specific needs, such as independent travel training for a child.

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outstanding

When children complain, their voices are heard and taken seriously. Leaders formally respond to children and thorough investigations take place when needed. Leaders learn from children when they share what they are concerned about. This is fed back to children, who then know that their views inform and influence their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are inspirational and confident, and they strive for children to achieve their full potential. The manager tenaciously ensures that children receive the right support and care from professionals. She leads by example and inspires a positive Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 5 culture of high aspiration, love and care. The manager has extremely high expectations of staff to ensure that children are able to thrive while living here, as well as when they leave the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One child’s social worker said staff were like a ‘professional family’ and was happy that the child had several positive and strong attachments with staff. Staff said that they love working at the home and feel proud of what they have supported children and families to achieve. They are motivated to support children to be the best version of themselves. Staff are committed to children and supporting lifelong links. Leaders empower staff to be creative with the work to support children, allowing staff to develop their skills and confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders support staff with regular, reflective spaces in team meetings, supervision and training. This includes supporting staff to achieve the required residential qualification. Staff development is actively encouraged, and individuals are empowered by becoming ‘champions’ of various topics. Staff put time and effort into developing these champion roles, which also includes staff being supported to become trainers in particular topics. The embedding of reflective supervision is being further supported by the in-house clinical team. This enables the team to offer consistently good-quality care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are highly effective systems of monitoring in place that enable the manager to have a thorough understanding of what is happening in all aspects of the home. This oversight ensures that leaders proactively and swiftly address any issues that may happen. This means best practice is always promoted. When practice falls below the expected standard, the whole team views this as a learning opportunity. This means mistakes are not repeated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 6

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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: SC039414 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 St, Sheffield S1 2HH

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Inspector

Joanna Beal, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC039414 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 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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Inspector

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