Children's Home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC062288 Inspector Andrew Hewston Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Educare Adolescent Services Limited Registered person address Venture House 12 Prospect Business Park, Longford Road CANNOCK Staffordshire WS11 0LG Responsible individual Paul Anthony Callander Registered manager POST VACANT Date of last inspection 07/08/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 04/03/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been some changes in placements. Half of the young people are the same as at the last inspection and have enjoyed a consistent period of development. Those who have left the home, moved due to continual issues relating to their absence. A detailed evaluation of the work completed during this time shows that although the staff worked hard with the police and social worker, they were unable to sufficiently support the young people involved.

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This inspection

The home’s management structure has changed since the last inspection. The previous Registered Manager has left, as has their interim replacement. A new manager is now in post and a decision is yet to be made regarding their status. The turnover of managers has not provided stability to the young people. The input of a consistent senior manager has mitigated the impact of this. Staff state that their support during this time has been good.

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This inspection

New young people have settled well and staff seek educational placements quickly to ensure that they are busy during the day. The home works well with educational professionals to respond to issues raised at school and ensure that young people have the most appropriate placement to meet their needs and interests. Staff effectively promote young people’s health needs. In addition to ensuring that they attend all primary health appointments, staff work with external agencies to meet their emotional and psychological health needs.

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This inspection

Internal quarterly monitoring is thorough and examines the developments of young people and how staff resolve challenges in their care. However, monthly independent visits often take place when young people are not in the home. Consequently, visitors do not consistently seek their views about their care. For example, no young people have taken part since October 2014. 3 of 5 The management’s enthusiasm to develop further is evident in the response they make to any suggestions arising from monitoring. A development plan shows areas that have moved forwards since the last inspection; including the redecoration of the lounge, dining room and the refurbishment of the kitchen. Young people have been involved with the decoration of their rooms and they are positive about the way that they look after their rooms. Improvements in staffing support also form part of the development plan.

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This inspection

At the last inspection, two requirements and three recommendations were made to develop the provision further. Managers have taken action about all but one of these areas. The manager still does not review restraint records sufficiently. For example, there has been no scrutiny of the majority of one young person’s records to ensure restraint has been safe and appropriate. Staff do now send detailed notifications of significant incidents to Ofsted. Health and safety monitoring is recorded fully and the home now has a system for keeping a check on food labelling. Electronic records of when children go missing are now in place and these show the views of young people on their return to the home. This helps to reduce recurrence. A training plan is in place and all new staff have completed induction, with additional courses completed to enhance individual skills. Restraint records now show the correct names of holds used and staff are clear about the record. A placing authority

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This inspection

highlighted a number of issues at a recent visit and managers have responded to these fully.

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This inspection

The home has sustained effectiveness. However, the instability within the management structure and issues regarding both external and internal managerial monitoring require action to support positive outcomes for young people. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is part of a large organisation operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to three young people of either gender who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or a learning disability.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/08/2014 Full adequate 10/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 23/01/2014 Full good 26/02/2013 Interim good progress

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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 the external visitor interview, with their consent and in private, such of the children accommodated there, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as appears necessary in order to form an opinion of the standard of care provided in the home (Regulation 33(4)(a)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure within restraint records there is the signature of the person authorised by the registered provider to make the record (Regulation 17B (3)(i)) 30/04/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

7 (2001) appoint an individual to manage the children's home. (Regulation 7(1)) 30/04/2015 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

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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