Children's Home run by Hopedale Children and Family Services Limited in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC444869 Inspector Marina Tully Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Registered manager Sarah Marie Deaville Date of last inspection 12/11/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 12/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection None

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

Young people continue to make significant progress from the start of their placements. They all attend the home’s school and have excellent attendance due to improved routines and self-esteem. Their attitude to learning and behaviour in school has vastly improved, which enables them to learn and achieve. Furthermore, some young people who previously refused to attend school now attend fulltime and have made admirable progress.

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This inspection

Young people enjoy good physical and emotional health. With staff’s consistent supervision and support they make healthier life choices, such as regular exercise through sport and healthy eating. They attend all routine appointments with the dentist and optician. Additionally, their emotional well-being is effectively addressed through regular input from the in-house therapists. The home has forged good working relationships with specialist services such as children and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) and youth offending services. This ensures young people get support from all relevant professionals and staff are working collaboratively to meet their wide ranging needs.

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This inspection

Young people benefit from a nurturing, respectful and comfortable home environment. Staff have fostered and maintained excellent attachments with those in their care. As a result, young people trust staff and are willing to take on board their sound guidance and advice. What is more, they feel valued and safe. This is reflected in a young person’s comments, ‘I like safe space time as I can think and reflect on my behaviour.’

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This inspection

Young people enjoy a range of meaningful and fun activities. This includes ballroom dancing, horse riding, holidays abroad and hockey. The home strives to ensure that each young person is taking part in at least two community based activities a week. This means that young people are getting the opportunity to meet new friends, try 3 of 5 new things and grow in confidence.

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This inspection

Safeguarding practice has improved. Staff recruitment procedures have been reviewed and the home now ensures that all the necessary checks, such as police checks and references, is carried out prior to new staff starting. Furthermore, the manager ensures to notify Ofsted of all notifiable safeguarding incidents.

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This inspection

Although there have been a number of restraints since the last inspection. The manager regularly monitors restraint records to ensure such measures are used appropriately and safely. All staff are trained in de-escalation and physical intervention strategies. Records demonstrate a reduction in the use of physical intervention as young people become more settled. Young people do not go missing neither are they at risk of child sexual exploitation. Sufficient staffing means young people are afforded with a high level of supervision, which enhances everybody’s safety within the home. As a result, young people are safe and feel safe.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager is a passionate and dedicated leader. She is supported by an equally committed deputy and two assistant managers. The management team demonstrate enthusiasm towards continued improvement and show capacity to drive the service forward. This is evidenced in the improvements made in safeguarding practice since the last inspection.

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This inspection

Staff feel extremely supported and enjoy working at the home. Robust monitoring procedures including monthly independent monitoring visits clearly highlights the service strengths and areas for development. The manager takes swift action to address any actions raised from these visits. Her monthly auditing of the service also ensures that outstanding outcomes and quality of care is maintained, and young people’s welfare is effectively safeguarded. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 14 young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It has its own school on site which is registered with the Department for Education. The home is privately owned.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2014 Full good 26/03/2014 Interim good progress 05/06/2013 Full outstanding 09/11/2012 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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