Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC426318 Inspector Louise Whittle Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Unity Residential Care Services Ltd Registered person address Cartwright House Broad Street STOKE-ON- TRENT ST1 4EU Responsible individual Israel Kofi Amponsah Registered manager Susan Peggy Weston Date of last inspection 07/01/2015 2 of 5 Inspection date 26/03/2015

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Previous inspection outstanding Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Since the last inspection staff have continued to review and adapt to young peoples’ changing needs, enhancing their progress and experiences. Young people’s attendance in education has increased, due to the tenacity of staff advocating on their behalf. This has improved their learning and social opportunities. Young people benefit from access to cultural experiences and religious worship supported by staff, who are sensitive to their identity and spiritual needs. Consequently, young people learn tolerance of other people’s differences and their relationships improve with their peers and staff.

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This inspection

Young people say they are happy and well cared for and that they get on well with staff. Young people say that the care is very good, that staff listened and that they feel safe. Young people clearly valuing the emotional warmth offered by the staff and seeking out hugs from them. A social worker said, 'The way they have responded to his needs is fantastic'. 'They listen to him'.

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This inspection

Young people learn to engage in the community in very positive ways including charity fund raising. They are looking forward to doing a walk for charity, which staff have arranged for the near future. This supports their social skills and self-esteem and provides valuable evidence for their future career plans.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager is very enthusiastic about providing young people with learning experiences, such as voluntary work in the community, and with interesting and challenging leisure activities such as martial arts.

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This inspection

Young people are safe and feel safe. Staff regularly review and update risk assessments. Weekly health and safety checks are undertaken and include medications, the condition of the property and fire safety. Personal transport for young people is well maintained. 3 of 5 The local area risk assessment includes detailed strategies for keeping young people safe when they are out in the community and the local police recently visited to speak with young people about personal safety.

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This inspection

Young people get on well with staff, who ensure they are fully aware that support will always be there for them, even when their behaviour becomes challenging. Young people are therefore able to work with staff to understand and manage their behaviour through key worker sessions and discussions following incidents.

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This inspection

Safeguarding training for staff is up to date. Staff recognise the important connection between behaviour and past experiences and use this knowledge effectively to reduce the risks to young people.

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This inspection

Staff work in effective partnership with education, health, the police and local authority professionals and are in regular contact with family members to keep them informed of young people’s progress. A local police officer recently fed back to the home by commenting, ‘staff and home provides exceptional care’ and 'regular contact with staff and police invited to meetings'. The Registered Manager regularly consults with key stakeholders about the quality of service and uses this information in order to improve the service still further.

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This inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations from the last inspection. The Registered Manager has identified and set goals for the service in order to respond to young peoples' needs and ensure they continue to receive an outstanding service. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/01/2015 Full outstanding 03/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 22/11/2013 Full good 06/02/2013 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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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