Children's Home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC403895 Inspector Matthew Hedges Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Stoke on Trent City Council Registered person address City of Stoke-on-Trent, Civic Centre Glebe Street STOKE-ON-TRENT ST4 1HH Responsible individual Susan Hammersley Registered manager Kevan John Hopkinson Date of last inspection 28/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 16/12/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people adequate Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides consistent care to young people they know well. Young people talk positively about the care they receive and their relationships with staff. Young people have individualised care plans, which highlight key risks and strategies that staff should follow.

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Overall effectiveness

The inspection highlighted shortfalls in a number of areas. These include; some aspects of record keeping, staff recruitment, monitoring and other management tasks, and fire safety. Other areas included the recording of young people’s views.

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Overall effectiveness

Outcomes for young people are variable. Some young people make progress in all aspects of their life; others struggle at times, which limits the progress they can make. Young people feel safe in the home. Some young people’s behaviour puts them at risk, especially when out of the home. This impacts on their progress.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses. A development plan is in place to promote improvement. 3 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by the local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2014 Interim good progress 18/12/2013 Full good 13/03/2013 Interim good progress 11/09/2012 Full outstanding

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that no person is employed to work at the children’s home unless that person is fit to work at a children’s home (Regulation 26 (1) (a)) 23/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) maintain in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children’s home a record in permanent form which is kept up to date, specifically in relation to medical needs and information (Regulation 28 (1) (b)) 23/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that when any notifiable event takes place, the registered person without delay notifies the appropriate people including HMCI, Ofsted (Regulation 30 (1)) 23/01/2015 4 of 10 (2001) ensure that the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and any regulations made under it, are complied with in respect of the home, specifically ensuring actions noted in the home's fire risk assessment are complied with (Regulation 32 (1A)) 23/01/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) establish and maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at least once in every 3 months and improving the quality of care provided in the children’s home. (Regulation 34 (1)) 23/01/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that where any sanctions, disciplinary measures or restraint are used, children are encouraged to have their views recorded in the records kept by the home (NMS 3.18)  ensure that staff members who are placed in charge of the home and other staff at particular times (e.g. as leaders of staff shifts) have substantial relevant experience of working in the home and have successfully completed their induction and probationary periods (NMS 17.5)  ensure that information about the child is recorded clearly and in a way which will be helpful to the child when they access their files now or in the future. Children are actively encouraged to read their files, other than confidential or third party information and to correct errors and add personal statements. (NMS 22.5) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Some young people make progress to develop a positive self-view and their self- esteem increases. They enjoy good health and risk taking behaviour reduces. This helps them to achieve more. Other young people are more unsettled. They engage in risk taking behaviour and put themselves at risk. This impacts on their self- confidence, and their emotional wellbeing. In addition, some young people’s physical and sexual health is affected by their behaviour.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

All young people had excellent attendance at school in the last academic year. For some young people this has continued. One teacher stated that a young person’s attendance is 98.5%. This has led to improved attainment. Their teacher went on to say, ‘they have improved a lot and have really matured’. Other young people’s attendance has reduced significantly this year. They have missed key periods, including some examinations. This has affected their attainment and the progress they can make academically.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people are able to share their views, wishes and feelings and do so very effectively. Examples of this include some young people chairing their own review meetings. This improves young people’s sense of control over their lives and ensures that their views are taken seriously.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people attend local clubs and get involved in local activities within the wider community. For example, a young person recently took part in a pantomime. Another young person attended a summer camp and has had some of their work published in a book. These are significant achievements and help young people to engage positively in the community.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people see their friends and often invite them to the home. They also have regular contact with their families, where this is appropriate. This helps young people to keep in touch with the people that are important to them and understand their background.

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Outcomes for children and young people adequate

Young people develop practical and life skills, including cooking and other domestic tasks. Young people confirm that these skills have increased. They feel this helps prepare them for greater independence in the future.

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Quality of care good

6 of 10 Staff and young people have positive relationships and interact well with each other. These relationships have been built over a number of years by a consistent staff team. Young people feel that staff are concerned for their welfare. Staff talk to young people about why they are concerned. This helps young people to understand their behaviour and its impact. One young person stated that living in the home was, ‘like having another family’ and that, ‘staff are great’. These relationships are further enhanced by spending time together during a range of positive activities.

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Quality of care good

Relationships between young people are sometimes strained. Staff support young people through individualised strategies to manage conflict. This helps young people’s relationships with each other to improve.

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Quality of care good

Parents also talk positively about the home. One parent stated they felt that the home was, ‘the best they had seen’ and rated them, ‘100%’. Another stated the home was, ‘great’ and confirmed they worked well together.

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Quality of care good

There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Young people are clear and confident regarding the home’s complaints procedure. This was confirmed by an independent advocate. They also noted that the, ‘open and honest relationships’ between staff and young people were very effective at addressing any issues.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s views influence the running of the home, for example, when choosing activities and menus. In addition, young people are involved in redecorating the home. This is very successful; the home is bright and nicely decorated. This promotes a sense of pride in the home for young people and staff.

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Quality of care good

Young people’s placement plans are individualised and contain clear goals and targets. These are regularly reviewed but do not include personal statements from young people. The impact of this is reduced by young people’s involvement in other aspects of their care planning.

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Quality of care good

Staff work closely with education providers to try and ensure that all young people attend school regularly. An education provider commented that, ‘communication with the home is excellent’. Another stated that the home is, ‘very supportive’. In addition, the home supports young people’s attainment through regular attendance at parent’s evenings and help with homework. This encourages young people to achieve their potential. Relationships with other agencies (including social workers, health professionals, and the police) are also strong. This ensures that young people get the support they require.

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Quality of care good

Medication is stored and administered safely and the home work closely with health professionals. This helps promote young people’s physical health. Some young people’s care plans are not kept up to date in relation to some aspects of medication. This has limited impact on young people as staff understand their medical needs well. 7 of 10

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people report that they feel safe in the home. Young people talk positively about staff and identify people they can talk to if they feel unsafe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Some young people’s behaviours puts them at risk when they are away from the home. This includes incidents when some young people go missing. Care plans clearly identify these risks, they are monitored and reviewed regularly by a multi- agency group including the Registered Manager, the police, social workers, health, education, and other specialist services. This approach is helping to reduce the number of missing incidents. One professional stated that, ‘the team work is tremendous; staff at the home go above and beyond.’

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Information is shared effectively outside of the formal review meetings. Relationships with both local and specialist policing teams are strong and proactive. This further protects young people. In addition, staff have a good awareness and understanding of safeguarding issues and know young people well. This enables them to identify particular vulnerabilities for young people and factors that may trigger young people going missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Positive behaviour management strategies are consistently applied and young people’s behaviour improves because of this. One young said they had learnt that, ‘life can be up and down, but that’s no excuse to be naughty, you have to get on with things and be positive’. Positive behaviour is highlighted and rewarded which helps young people to take pride in their achievements. Consequences exist for negative behaviour. Young people understand these consequences but their views are not recorded effectively in the records kept by the home. There has been no use of physical restraint in the home over the last year. This further evidences the effectives of the strategies in place.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Full pre-employment checks are not evident on all staff files. One file reviewed lacked details including a full employment history and other associated checks. Evidence of other checks were present including references, checks by the Disclosure and Baring Service and health checks. This helps to limit the impact of the shortfall. Staff show good awareness and knowledge in relation to safe working practice and specifically the home’s whistleblowing procedure. This provides a further safeguard to young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Bullying is not identified as an issue by staff or young people. Staff are aware of the changing nature of some young people’s relationships and monitor this closely. Any incidents are managed quickly before they can escalate. This helps young people to feel safe. 8 of 10

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Leadership and management adequate

A suitably qualified and experienced Registered Manager has been in post since February 2013. The Registered Manager is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and a development plan is in place.

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Leadership and management adequate

One requirement was made at the last inspection. This required the Registered Manager to send the home’s quarterly monitoring reports to HMCI, Ofsted. Since the last inspection no reports have been completed by the Registered Manager. Monthly audits are in place, the format of these do not reflect current guidance. This limits the Registered Manger’s overview of the performance of the home and the detection of patterns and trends.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is visited each month by an independent visitor. A report is produced following these visits which is sent to HMCI, Ofsted in a timely manner.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home is generally well maintained. Regular health and safety audits are carried out and a fire risk assessment is in place. This assessment identified a number of areas where action was required. Some of these areas have been met, others are still awaiting completion. This delay reduces the safeguards that are in place. Other checks including fire drills, equipment checks, and regular fire training for staff help to limit the impact on young people’s safety. Staff and young people are aware of the procedure to follow in the event of a fire.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home’s Statement of Purpose clearly sets out the home’s aims and objectives and is updated regularly. This ensures that staff, young people, families, and placing authorities understand the services offered by the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

Staff receive regular training and supervision. Staff talk positively about the support they receive and feel that it helps them to support young people better. The stable staff team work flexibly to cover any staffing shortfalls. This means that the home does not use agency or temporary staff. This helps young people receive consistent care by adults that they trust. Some staff are left in sole charge of the home before the end of their probationary period. This has not impacted negatively on young people or the care they receive.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager has positive relationships with a range of other agencies and works closely with them. This helps support young people. Information is shared effectively with others following any significant events. This does not always include HMCI, Ofsted as the Registered Manager has failed to send several notifications in a timely way. This reduces the oversight that Ofsted has.

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Leadership and management adequate

Records are stored securely and staff understand the requirements of confidentiality. This ensures that young people feel their privacy is respected and understand when information must be shared. 9 of 10 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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