Children's home run by Sheffield City Council in Sheffield

Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 1 SC036026

p.1

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to 4 children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The registered manager has been in post since May 2023.

p.1

Information about this children's home

There were 3 children living at the home at the time of this inspection, who were all seen and spoken to.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/06/2024 Full Good 30/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress. One child has been well supported with their mental health by the staff and management team. One professional said that they have made great progress and that the staff are good advocates for the child. Staff celebrate progress and positive achievements for children. Staff attend events that are important to the children. These special moments and achievements are captured in memory books, which the children can take with them when they leave the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a new child is due to move into the home, consideration is given to the impact of the move on the new child and the children already living in the home. A variety of professionals' views are sought, and the move is carefully considered to ensure that staff can meet the new child's needs and keep them safe. Furthermore, when a child leaves the home, they are well supported by staff to ensure that this is a positive experience for the child. This includes staff supporting children in their new home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate for children to ensure that they attend the correct educational provision. Two children are not in full-time education, but this is challenged by the staff team. Children are offered educational and independence tasks by staff while they are waiting to go to school or college. During this time, staff attempt to provide structure for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop good networks with organisations such as local youth drug services, police and the virtual school professionals. Children benefit from this multi-agency working. Staff are good advocates for children, and, when needed, staff make referrals and signpost children for support from external agencies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families and friends. Staff facilitate the time children have with their family and friends in the community. This helps children to maintain links with people who are important to them.

p.3

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

Children are listened to and are well supported when they make a complaint or raise allegations about staff. The management team follows procedures, reporting any concerns to the relevant safeguarding professionals. Managers investigate the complaints and allegations thoroughly, making sure that the children are listened to and that their views are properly considered. Outcomes from the investigations are shared with the children to ensure that they know what action has been taken. This includes children receiving a written response to their complaint.

p.3

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

Staff use restorative consequences in line with the children's behaviour management plans. For example, children are encouraged to engage in practical tasks. This helps Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 4 children to learn the impact of their actions on others. The manager has oversight of the consequences to ensure that they are consistently applied and are effective.

p.3

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

Staff understand what action to take when children go missing from home. There are individual protocols to ensure that children are found and returned home in a timely way. Staff know how to welcome children back. However, staff's recordings do not always capture this. Children are consistently offered the chance to speak to someone independent when they return home. Children engage well with these discussions so that they can express why they went missing.

p.4

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

Sometimes children struggle to manage their emotions and behaviour. Staff use de- escalation techniques effectively to support children so that they are only physically held as a last resort. Children are offered the opportunity to speak about what has happened so that their views can be shared to help avoid a similar incident from happening again. However, managers have not always given staff the opportunity to reflect on their actions, for example to look at whether they should have sought medical attention for children. Staff have also not always communicated well with each other during incidents, which has not helped to calm the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is reflective and listens to advice and feedback from external professionals. The manager spends time in the home, and staff said that they receive good support from her. Staff also feel well supported by the management team and have access to a psychologist who provides opportunities for reflective group discussions and additional training. The manager is also keen to develop their own learning and knowledge.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has implemented effective monitoring systems to review actions to improve outcomes for children. These systems are evaluated monthly to ensure a good level of management oversight so that the manager is aware of the shortfalls to take timely action.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular supervision sessions. Managers check on the wellbeing of staff and encourage reflective discussions. However, the records do not always demonstrate the conversations that take place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team uses safe recruitment practices, and staff have the appropriate training and qualifications to fulfil their job role. However, the temporary staff members are not held to the same account and do not have the necessary residential qualification. Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 5

p.4

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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

p.5

Requirement Due date

how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline, or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.5

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.5

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (1)(a)(b) (3)(a)(viii)(b)(i)) 15 April 2026

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the time period if the member of staff hasn't worked in the role for a prolonged period, such as when on sick leave or maternity leave, or if it is not reasonable to expect the member of staff to complete the qualification in this timescale due to the nature of the hours they work. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 53, paragraph 10.12) Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 6

p.5

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: SC036026 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Sheffield City Council

p.7

Children's home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Mel Turner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC036026 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8