Children's home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Cannock Chase

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have continued to have positive experiences and make good progress. They enjoy trusting and warm relationships with staff who listen to them. They can express their views wishes and feelings both informally to staff and formally in the regular young people’s meetings and 3 monthly questionnaires. Staff have arranged for one young people to have an independent advocate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is welcoming and young people have personalised their rooms. They enjoy the pool table in the games room, and the books and dvd's in the sitting room. The garden is large and well maintained for outside activities. The very usable space in the home enables young people to spend time together or alone, as they wish. One young person enjoys cooking after school and enthusiastic staff help her to find and try out a wide range of recipes. Another young people likes to spend time looking after his pet gecko and staff ensure that it is well cared for and that it has the specialist facilities that it requires.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Whilst there has been some recent redecorating, young people are waiting to have their bedrooms repainted. The kitchen still requires some refurbishment as some of the units look old and worn and staff say they are difficult to keep looking clean.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person is now on an independence plan and is making progress with independence skills, self-confidence and education. She is able to make good choices with her money, has just finished at college and staff are helping her to pursue her wish to become a nurse. She has shown real enthusiasm and an awareness of how to improve her circumstances for the future. Another young person demonstrates improved emotional maturity and ability to manage his behaviour. This has led to an improvement in his relationships with staff and the other young people in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The social worker for one young person commented that staff maintain clear boundaries whilst offering lots praise and appropriate rewards. She cited the fact that this young person has chosen to stay here until she is 18yrs, as an indication of how well she feels that staff care for and about her. The registered manager holds a level 4 qualification in Social Care, a Registered Managers Award and a Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Child Care. He has managed this home for 18 months and as achieved and maintained a good standard of service. He is now also managing another home in the group and has appointed a deputy manager to work with him in this home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and young people speak very positively about both the registered manager and the deputy and confirm that they are always available to provide support and advice. Staff consider that the home runs well and that the new deputy role is a positive innovation, as it increases their access to managers. Staff supervision is regular and they feel supported to develop professionally. Staff are clear about the ethos of the home as set out in the statement of purpose. The registered manager demonstrates a high commitment to the home and young people and maintains a clear child focus, which he also expects of his staff team. Staff enjoy working here and feel that they work well and consistently as a team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has a comprehensive plan for driving up standards in the service, which he and the staff address on an ongoing basis. This includes involving young people in their behaviour plans and the statement of purpose in order to improve their experience and progress. Staff training is an important part of the plan. Staff have recently received face-to-face training, which has provided then with valuable information about the development of the adolescent brain.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager’s response to the requirements from the last inspection has been positive. He has instigated a range of questionnaires for consultation with young people, professionals and family members which he incorporates into his review of quality of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been few incidents or accidents since the last inspection. The young people are settled and staff manage incidents of challenging behaviour skilfully. Physical interventions are limited and staff effectively de-escalate volatile situations. Staff are highly trained in safeguarding and work to keep young people safe. Staff undertake focused key work sessions, which address how young people can reduce the risks to themselves. One young person recently took it upon herself to forcefully highlight the risks that another young people was placing herself at when she failed to keep staff informed of her whereabouts during free time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff produce robust risk assessments, which they regularly review. Staff liaise closely with social workers about any concerns they have and challenge any young people’s plans that do not sufficiently address safeguarding issues. Child sexual exploitation risks have been highlighted by staff with regard to one young person who was recently been allowed unsupervised free time. Staff took appropriate action to stop the free time after the young person became vulnerable to child sexual exploitation whilst away from the home. Staff work effectively in partnership with other agencies to improve the experiences and progress of young people. They regularly with liaison with education, local authority and health care professionals to obtain and support services for young people. They have made links with a local police officer who runs boxing classes for girls, which they consider can be of great benefit to some

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

of their young people. Staff are proactively working with a school enable the therapeutic team to assess one young person’s emotional, behavioural and educational needs. The parent of one young person confirmed that communication with him is very good and that staff always call him after contact. He said, ‘They are great and give me time to talk things through’.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home is registered for three young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is currently offering crisis intervention, short, medium, and long-term care for children aged 10 to 17 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/01/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

With specific reference to the refurbishment of the home, the registered person must ensure that the child's basic needs are met in a way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where there needs have not been consistently met- doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that staff care for the child and value them as an individual.

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Recommendations

(The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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