Children's home run by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2843244 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 owned and operated by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. It provides care for up to 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties, or who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection since the home was registered in July 2025. The manager was also registered in July 2025.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this visit. The inspector spent time interacting with and observing them, both inside and away from the home.

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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 outstanding

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2843244 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager planned for the child moving into the home very well. They sought detailed information from various sources and worked closely with multi-agency partners. Leaders made changes to the home to prepare for the child and to ensure that they could meet their needs. The process of moving into the home was child-led and gradual.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to progress from their starting points in many different areas. The child benefits from increased time with their family. They enjoy a wider range of activities and leisure time, which means that they are not so socially isolated. Staff promote a more varied diet that honours the child’s cultural background.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff enable the child to have a more positive experience of care by using a therapeutic approach. Staff know the child very well. They can understand and communicate with the child using different methods. Staff show the child kindness and affection. They talk about them in a positive and non-judgemental way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to prepare the child for formal education. Staff provide a variety of different experiences for them that promote the child’s sensory and learning needs. They have supported the child to settle into the home and have helped the child to feel stable and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s rights to privacy, dignity, participation, and inclusion. Furthermore, the manager sought an independent advocate for the child as soon as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is aware that the home feels sparsely decorated in some areas. This is due to changes made due to concerns about risks to the child. The manager has started to reverse this gradually at a pace suitable for the child.

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

Staff act to keep the child safe. Risks to the child have reduced over time. The child enjoys more positive relationships with caring adults and siblings. The child shows through their behaviour that they have a greater sense of safety. Staff work together with multi-agency partners and the child’s parent. This ensures that risks are not managed in isolation.

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

Staff respond to incidents of concern in a trauma-informed way. They use different ways to help the child feel calm. This prevents situations from escalating. Despite some incidents where the child has struggled to manage their emotions, staff treat the child with respect and understanding. Leaders take learning from these events and respond in a proactive way to reduce risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 2843244 3 Where staff have needed to hold the child, this has been proportionate and necessary. Staff adopt a less restrictive approach that promotes the child’s rights. Leaders have systems of oversight in place to check on the safety of the child. Leaders speak to staff after events and promote reflection on what has happened. In most cases, they record this conversation in writing.

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

Staff do not record the use of any consequences for the child’s behaviour. This prevents leaders from ensuring that these remain effective and appropriate. The manager is aware that consequences for the child should be restorative in nature. They gave examples that were appropriate for the child’s level of understanding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is ambitious and zealous in their commitment to the child’s welfare. They have achieved significant change in the child’s life within a short period. The manager has created a culture of high aspiration for the child. They lead by example to staff and others. This ensures that the child receives the best possible support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager fosters excellent working relationships with their staff team and multi- agency partners. They adopt an approach of collaborative working. The manager invites external scrutiny in a proactive way. The child has benefited from specialist services because of the manager’s intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an exceptional advocate on behalf of the child. They have a clear focus on how to meet the child’s needs and keep them safe from harm. The manager offers a high degree of appropriate challenge to others. This includes within their own organisation. This ensures that professionals remain child focused.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders are creative about how best to meet the child’s needs. They do so in a way that promotes the child’s welfare as well as positive risk-taking. Leaders have tried to develop and maintain positive community relations. Where issues have arisen, leaders have responded with professionalism and integrity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have a keen awareness of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have adapted to an evolving understanding of the child’s needs and risks. They offer high levels of support and praise to staff. This has boosted staff morale in difficult circumstances. It has also contributed to greater staff retention. As a result, the child enjoys a consistent team of staff around them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager draws on evidence from research to further develop staff practice. They give importance to staff development and learning. The manager ensures that the quality of the child’s assessments and plans is high. This results in staff and leaders seeing the wider context of the child’s emotional needs. As a result, the child enjoys a better quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2843244 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and proportionate. This includes ensuring that staff record the use of any consequences or sanctions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraphs 9.35 and 9.36) Inspection report for children’s home: 2843244 5

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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: 2843244 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Riverside House, Main Street, Rotherham S60 1AE

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Inspector

Sam Saxby-Brown, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2843244 7 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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