Children's Home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 Support to young people who move into the home is variable.

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because:

 Important information is not always available to staff in a timely way. 

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because:

 Some young people do not receive the information they need about the home before they move in. 

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because:

 Managers do not always deploy staff effectively or with adequate planning.

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because:

 There are not always sufficient staff to meet young people’s needs.

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because:

 Management arrangements are not robust. This has affected the speed of development.

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The children's home strengths

 There has been improvement since the last inspection.

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The children's home strengths

 Young people make significant progress in their education.

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The children's home strengths

 Staff are aware of key safeguarding issues and take effective action.

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The children's home strengths

 Young people receive individualised care.

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The children's home strengths

 Staff engage young people in a range of positive and healthy activities.

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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

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard with particular reference to staffing, the registered person must: -

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Requirement Due date

(2)(d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. 19/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

14. In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to young people’s admissions, the registered person must ensure that: -

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Requirement Due date

(b)(i) arrangements are in place to ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. 19/02/2016

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional/behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a Local Authority and only supports young people from their area.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

18/02/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate progress

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Requires improvement

A small number of young people have recently moved into and out of the home, some leaving in very challenging circumstances. Support to these young people is inconsistent. Some experience exceptionally well-planned and well-supported transitions. A social worker confirms this stating, ‘it was the best planned move I have ever been involved in’. In contrast, arrangements to support the induction of young people have not been effective. On one occasion, key information relating to a specific health need was not available in a timely way. The temporary manager was still writing guidance for staff on the day the young person moved in. Furthermore, changes required to the home’s documentation (including the young people’s guide) to ensure it was accessible, were not made in a timely way. Because of these shortfalls, staff were not adequately prepared and the young person did not have access to all of the information they required.

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Requires improvement

Despite these shortfalls, young people are well ‘matched’. Staff and young people develop strong relationships and enjoy spending time together and undertaking a range of positive activities. This improves the quality of their day-to-day experiences, increases their social skills and promotes their self-confidence. Staff increasingly seek young people’s views which have started to influence the running of the home. Consequently, young people have been able to express their wishes in a number of areas, including arrangements to see their families. Staff sensitively support these wishes when appropriate.

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Requires improvement

Young people make significant progress in their education. This is underpinned by good quality support from staff who have effective links with schools. A head teacher confirms this stating, ‘communication and partnership working is great… I cannot praise the staff enough’.

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Requires improvement

Staff help young people to develop their independence skills, encouraging cooking, shopping, budgeting and other household tasks. This helps to prepare young people for adulthood and equips them with the practical skills they need. Judgement grade

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Good

Young people are now safe and feel safe.

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Good

There has been a significant amount of reflection and learning since the last inspection. Senior managers arranged for the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) to conduct a review (of all agencies) in relation to the support one young person received. Senior managers have taken swift, responsible action to address safeguarding concerns relating to the home.

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Good

Risks are now well identified, understood and managed. Staff develop good knowledge and awareness of key safeguarding issues because of the training and guidance they receive. This includes missing from home, child sexual exploitation and e-safety. This ensures young people are safer. Missing incidents have decreased significantly.

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Good

Staff are well equipped to support young people who self-harm. They offer sensitive and timely intervention. Parents talk positively about this, one stating, ‘I have no concerns…I am really happy with the care they provide.’

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Good

Consistent boundaries and clear expectations help young people develop a sense of security and well-being. Incidents are well managed and responded to appropriately. Incentive schemes are well used to promote positive behaviour and staff ensure that young people are praised for their achievements. This helps young people to manage their own behaviour and increases their self-esteem.

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Good

Staff are knowledgeable about how to respond to allegations and disclosures. They support young people at these times and ensure effective liaison with other professionals. A social worker highlights this confirming, ‘staff are really proactive’.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager has been away from the home for several months. A senior service manager took on day-to-day responsibility at that time. She is suitably qualified and experienced. The service manager took significant steps to improve the quality of the service provided and has driven improvement passionately. She has addressed the overwhelming majority of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection and has ensured the home now meets the objectives described in its statement of purpose. This has dramatically improved the quality of care young people receive and has ensured their needs are prioritised. In December, a new temporary manager took over this role until a registered manager is appointed. The assistant manager’s role is also vacant. This has led to uncertainty for staff. These changes have slowed the speed of progression. The deployment of staff is inconsistent. For example, on the day a young person

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Requires improvement

moved to the home there were not sufficient staff to provide care to each young person. The temporary manager addressed this, but only hours before the young person’s arrival. This leads to uncertainty for staff and impacts on the effectiveness of young people’s inductions. Monitoring and review systems are generally effective, and the majority of actions quickly addressed. These systems also helping managers to have a clear understanding of young people’s progress. Staff training is robust, team meetings are useful and staff receive regular supervision. Managers and peers induct new staff appropriately. Staff confirm this, talking positively about the guidance they receive. Managers have developed positive relationships with young people’s families and a range of partner agencies. Families and professionals talk positively about this. This ensures consistent care for young people and helps them feel more secure.

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Requires improvement

Staff actively challenge other agencies when they do not meet young people’s needs sufficiently. This ensures young people receive the support and services they require.

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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

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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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