Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Staffordshire

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people are happy and feel safe.  Young people make significant progress in all areas of their lives.  Young people’s views are embedded within the home.  Young people are able to manage their behaviours well and physical interventions are rarely required.  Young people are involved in a range of activities both in the home and in the community.  Managers and staff work exceptionally well with other external agencies.  There are a couple of shortfalls in practice. These relate to training and staff and young people relationships.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care quality care standard the registered person must ensure that children receive care from staff who

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Requirement Due date

2 (b) (iii) treat each child with dignity and respect. 17/11/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home (The guide to Quality Standards, paragraph 10.11, page 53)

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional and or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

Young people are supported, encouraged and empowered in all aspects of the lives and as a result are making significant progress.

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good

Young people choose their own activities. For example, going to music concerts, watching the England football team train, celebrity spotting and army cadets to playing the drums. A young person says, ‘This home was set up for me, it has everything I want and need, staff look after me and encourage me with my music, go to gigs with me when it is probably not their taste in music.’ All these opportunities ensure young people are able to fulfil their goals and dreams. Young people’s bedrooms are adapted and decorated to their own personal taste. For example, a young person has a full set of drums in his bedroom. As a result, young people’s self-esteem and confidence is encouraged to grow coupled with a real sense of belonging in their home.

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good

Young people’s health needs are met, regular routine appointments are undertaken. Emotional and psychological health is seen as imperative for young people to thrive and as a result collaborative working with health professionals has resulted in young people achieving considerable progress. A health professional comments, ‘Progress has been really positive, I would like to see other young people receive this level of care.’

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good

Care plans for young people are child focused and they are fully involved with the planning and decisions around their care. As a consequence, they are confident in discussing their care and any concerns they have with staff and their views are embedded in the running of the home. A parent comments, ‘They have given him opportunities to fulfil and he has been involved in a lot of the decisions in the home.’

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good

Young people are aware of the complaints procedure. There has been one complaint made by young people since the last inspection, the complaint was fully resolved to a satisfactory conclusion. However, some staff who primarily work with young people do not always sustain high standards of good child care practice. This leaves relationships compromised and trust diminishes. Young people have specialised education packages appropriate to their needs. Attendance is excellent and they are achieving good educational progress. Staff will support young people within their education setting, which helps them maximise their achievements.

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good

Staff are clear that contact primarily needs to be in the young person’s best interest. Contact is flexible, facilitated by staff and is guided by young people. This ensures contact is enjoyable and strengthens relationships.

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good

Clear robust risk-assessments, combined with strong effective leadership and pro- active safeguarding practice ensure young people are protected and are gaining a stronger sense of personal safety. Staff are attentive to the particular vulnerabilities and emotional characteristics of young people. Young people’s risk assessments are rigorous and accurately promote their understanding of risk, vulnerability and personal safety. Staff are aware of the potential risks to young people in accessing the internet and social media sites. Staff work with young people to help them understand how to manage such interaction safely. Young people understand their risk assessments and behaviour management strategies and work with staff to update the plans on a regular basis. As a result, risks for young people are carefully considered and diminish over time.

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good

Young people respond well to the home’s rules and boundaries, which are regularly reviewed to reflect the emotional maturity of young people. Positive behaviour plans are clear and effective and sanctions used to deter unacceptable behaviour are fair, proportionate and reasonable. There has been no reported use of physical restraints or missing from care since the last inspection. Judgement grade

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good

The manager is experienced, suitably qualified and has been registered with Ofsted since October 2013. The manager’s hard work and commitment ensures the home is continuing to improve and maintain high standards. Managers ensure the home is appropriately staffed and the ethos they have developed prevents the use of agency staff. Recruitment follows guidelines to ensure that all staff who are employed go through a robust vetting system to ensure young people are cared for by suitable adults.

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good

The complaints system is transparent and child focused. Young people also have access to independent advocacy services and information on other agencies they may contact for support. This helps to promote their views, wishes and feelings.

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good

The manager tracks and evaluates the progress of the home through regular internal and external monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of the service. As a result, the manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and can clearly demonstrate the impact and value living at the home has for young people.

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good

The home has a consistent staff rota and is well resourced. Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals taking into account young people’s feedback. Staff receive mandatory training, for example, medication awareness, safe guarding and fire safety. However, staff do not undertake relevant specialist training that would enhance their knowledge and ability to further meet the needs of young people placed.

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good

The home has good relationships with external agencies. Where specific risks are prevalent in the home, managers ensure collaborative multi-agency approaches and agreements are met to reduce risks to the young person. This approach ensures young people receive a seamless service and consistency from all professionals.

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good

No requirements were made at the last inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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