Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC378181 Inspector Ruth Loughridge Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person

Platinum Services For Children (Residential Care) Limited Registered person address Platinum Services for Children PO Box 3138 LEEK Staffordshire ST13 9AX Responsible individual Leonard James Pattinson Registered manager Shereen Elizabeth Bloor Date of last inspection 24/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 18/12/2014

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Registered person

Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

Since placement at this home, young people engage less in risk taking behaviour. As a result, young people, whose lifestyles were chaotic, settle and they are able to engage positively in relationships with their families and with staff. They are also better engaged with health services and in education.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff have high aspirations for young people which are reflected in clear expectations of young people’s good behaviour. Young people’s cultural needs are understood and are supported through contact with their families and respect for their individual traditions.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe at this home. Their safety is supported by strong and effective working relationships with other agencies, staff training, and attention to health and safety practices including the safe administration of medication.

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Overall effectiveness

The stable, well qualified and experienced staff team have access to good quality supervision, support and training. Two requirements and two recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. These relate to the monitoring of the home, and including young people’s views in the annual appraisals of staff. A recommendation has also been made that asks the provider to repair damage to the grass in the front garden. None of the shortfalls identified have any immediate 3 of 10 impact upon young people’s progress or wellbeing. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This privately-owned children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is located next door to its 'sister' home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2014 Interim good progress 03/01/2014 Full good 16/01/2013 Interim good progress 25/10/2012 Full adequate

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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) establish and maintain a system for monitoring the matters set out in Schedule 6 at least once in every 3 months. (Regulation 34 (1) (a)) 28/02/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure for the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is not fit to work at a children’s home unless full and satisfactory information is available in relation to him in respect of each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 (Regulation 26 (3) (d)). 28/02/2015

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Recommendations

5 of 10 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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. This is with particular reference to the garden at the front of the house (NMS 10.3)  ensure all staff have their performance individually and formally appraised at least annually and this appraisal takes into account any views of children the service is providing for (19.6). 6 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

In relation to their starting points and the length of time since they have been placed at the home, young people make good progress with their education. The small steps young people take represent great strides for them. Young people speak positively about their education.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop a more positive self-view at this home. This is evident to external professionals and to the young people themselves. When asked what the best thing about the home is, one young person said, ‘Having a roof over my head and not being in prison and not going back to court. I am not a criminal any more – I have changed.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Previous episodes of missing from care cease at this home, and incidents which lead to the criminalisation of young people are vastly reduced. Young people develop positive relationships with staff and their behaviour is more positive. The social worker for one young person commented, ‘There is lots of praise and reward for him – this is helping him work toward his targets - his progress is really wonderful. His sleeping and eating have been really good. He is completely different not only in his physical wellbeing – it’s the way he holds himself – his confidence and his emotional wellbeing. His confidence in his social skills have increased.’

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from well-planned contact that is agreed in line with their assessed needs, and with placing authorities. This ensures that contact is a positive experience and that young people are protected from the possible negative consequences of unrestricted contact. The social worker for one young person commented, ‘His relationship with his family has improved immensely.’

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Quality of care good

Young people have positive relationships with staff and they are all able to identify staff with whom they would talk, if they had a problem. One young person commented, ‘I always speak to any of the staff – they are all sound. My keyworker is (name) – he comes to all my meetings. He is always helping me out – he’s the person I mostly speak to.’ Young people work with staff to discuss and agree their daily routines including their choice of activities and the menus. Cultural events, such as the celebration of Christmas, are planned sensitively in order to reflect young people’s wishes and their individual family traditions. This shows young people that their views are important and that they are respected. All of the young people are supported to participate in their statutory reviews. The independent reviewing officer for one of the young people said, ‘His behaviour is calmer – he sat and participated in

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Quality of care good

7 of 10 his review throughout – before he would storm out and was volatile. He was supported by staff to express his views – he presented as so much more mature than in the past.’ This allows young people to influence and keep up to date with the overall plans for their care.

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Quality of care good

The home has effective working relationships with health agencies. This includes specialist and universal services. Good knowledge of, and working relationship with, the local drug and alcohol service means that referrals are made for young people in a timely way. The home works with placing authorities to ensure young people have access to appropriate therapeutic support.

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Quality of care good

Since placed at this home, staff have secured appropriate education provision for the young people. They have worked with education providers and placing social workers to ensure the right provisions are in place. The social worker for one young person said, ‘He had no education when he was first placed – they gave him work and helped to set up the one to one tuition – they played a big part in this.’ Young people also have opportunity to learn in the home, and they build skills, such as cooking and shopping, that will eventually help them to live independently. Young people are offered, and they take part in a range of activities such as pool, horse riding, cinema and swimming. This provides opportunity for fun, new experiences and the development of social skills.

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Quality of care good

Clear systems have been developed that allow young people ready access to the complaints procedure. Young people state that they know how to complain should they feel it necessary. One young person stated, ‘I would speak to staff – I know how to complain. I would talk to (name) or (name).’

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from a homely environment that is furnished and generally maintained to a high standard. One area which does require some attention is the garden at the front of the house.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people feel safe at this home. One young person commented, ‘Staff make sure we are safe – there are restrictions on the computer and they ask our social workers if we can go on certain things like Facebook – I’m not on Facebook anymore.’ Staff work constructively with the police in a way that reduces the risk of young people being criminalised for harmful or destructive behaviour. Some young people recognise this, one of whom said, ‘They always fight my corner. If I need help I can go to anyone at any time. They would help me with my situation. If I have done something wrong they help me. I did something and they called the police and helped me to see what I was doing wrong. I feel more settled and safer.’

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Strong and effective working relationships with the local police contribute to young people’s safety. The police visit the home regularly, they speak to and get to know 8 of 10 the young people, they attend strategy meetings and help with information gathering when there are concerns about young people’s behaviour.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Risk assessment and safe care practices ensure that risks to young people are minimised. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed to reflect any changes identified. Risk assessments link to behaviour management plans, which clearly set out strategies to minimise negative and encourage positive behaviour. Reward charts set out clear expectations of young people. When young people are routinely achieving their targets these are reviewed to reflect higher expectations of behaviour. As a result young people’s behaviour settles and improves. The well documented plans, and the approach, provide for consistent practice from all staff and demonstrate that staff have high aspirations for the young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Use of restraint at the home is appropriate and proportionate to the behaviour displayed. Behaviour management focuses upon positive reward and restorative practice rather than sanctions. Sanctions are used infrequently but when used are appropriate and proportionate.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people do not go missing from this home. As a result previous concerns, for some young people, about child sexual exploitation (CSE) are no longer present. Staff however, remain vigilant to the potential for CSE to occur. Safe care practices are maintained by regularly updated safeguarding training which includes training on CSE.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Although Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) checks are undertaken, and references are taken up for new employees. The absence of a full employment history for one member of staff means that recruitment practice does not always meet regulatory requirements. There is no evidence of any negative impact of this upon young people, however, an appropriate requirement has been made.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There was no evidence of bullying at this home. Nevertheless, staff assess and seek to develop young people’s understanding ensuring that young people know what they can do and whom to approach should they experience bullying.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Scrutiny from an external health and safety professional, and routine checks carried out by staff, ensure the building is physically safe and secure.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2008. She holds a relevant management qualification and is suitably experienced and qualified to undertake the responsibilities of the post. The Registered Manager also manages the provider’s adjoining home.

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Leadership and management good

In order that all required information is available, and to minimise delay for young 9 of 10 people, staff persist in efforts to chase outstanding information or consents required from placing authorities. Records are kept for young people which include photographs and memorabilia of their time spent at the home. Their case files are well organised and are helpful in identifying patterns and trends in young people’s progress, and, when concerns escalate.

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Leadership and management good

Regulation 33 reports are effective in monitoring and promoting improvement. However, they do not routinely reflect that the views of relatives or parents have been considered. The Registered Manager’s monitoring of the home, although regular, does not meet with regulatory requirements. There was no evidence that either of these shortfalls have had any immediate impact upon young people.

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Leadership and management good

Young people benefit from being cared for by a well qualified and stable staff team, whose practice is supported and developed through ongoing training. Staff receive good quality supervision which is both supporting of staff and challenging of any shortfalls in practice. This reflects the high professional standards expected. Staff annual appraisals set clear targets for ongoing development and training. Consideration of young people’s views, in staff annual appraisals would further enhance young people’s participation in the provision of the service. Consistency of practice is enhanced by very regular team meetings which address young people’s needs as well as health and safety and housekeeping matters.

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Leadership and management good

In response to a recommendation at another of the provider’s children’s homes, they have taken action to address a possible conflict of interests in relation to the previous independent visitor. As a result the newly appointed visitor is suitably independent. Additionally, action has been taken to deal with all of the recommendations of the last inspection. This demonstrates the provider’s commitment to ongoing improvement. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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