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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, this home has effectively focused on identifying and meeting young people needs. Young people enjoy a settled, comfortable, and welcoming home where they can relax and have trusting relationships with the highly committed and positive staff team. They personalise their bedrooms and contribute to the decision-making about the home. The kitchen is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, making it an even more attractive place for young people and staff to eat and chat. Young people benefit from a happy and motivated staff team, which provides the consistent parenting that they need. Staff encourage and enable young people to enjoy a range of activities, which support their physical and emotional wellbeing, including regular horse riding and football. Quieter activities include playing board games and going out for walks with staff. One young person, who has been admitted since the last inspection,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

says that staff listen to her and take her seriously. They have offered her an independent advocate and that she knows how to make a complaint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff explore and effectively support young people’s diversity and identity needs. Staff sensitively and appropriately provide for their religious and cultural needs and individual choices. The care and stability that young people receive enables them to progress in their social development, education and personal relationships. One young person is significantly improving her Maths and English skills. Another young person is fully engaging in her A level studies, with a personal tutor and staff encourage her high aspirations for her future career.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The social worker for one young person said,’ She is progressing well- staff are supportive and deal with her emotional issues very sensitively; the staff have been fantastic and have tried everything they can to meet her cultural needs’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff were recently able to take a young person away for a weekend as a reward for her improved behaviour. She has made significant progress in her ability to manage her emotions and behaviour. In a significant breakthrough in her social development, this young person has, for the first time, made and sustained a friendship. In response to this development, staff allow her to spend some unsupervised time with her friend.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager holds a level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care, children and young people, and level 5 Award in Leadership and Management. He has over 11 years’ experience of working in residential care. He also manages another home in the group, which was judged outstanding at the last full inspection in May 2015. The registered manager has been in this post for a year, during which time he has improved the service from adequate to good with improved effectiveness. There is also now a new deputy manager who supports the staff and registered manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager takes great pride in the home and this creates a culture of respect and positivity amongst staff and young people. Over the past six months, there have been a number of staff changes and he has supported his staff to form a cohesive team. Staff say that are working in keeping with the ethos of the home and all equally committed. All of the staff are happy to be here and young people benefit from seeing the staff getting on well and providing consistent care. There is a friendly atmosphere in the home and staff clearly support one another. Staff say that the new deputy manager is very keen to get to know the team. One staff member said, ‘She has got a really good approach in working with the young people and she understands the therapeutic approach’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff speak highly of the registered manager. They say that his patience and skill in planning and implementing improvements to the home have ensured that change has been effective. The registered manager is an excellent communicator who challenges the local authority on behalf of young people when services are not forthcoming. Systems of recording are clear and accessible. Records are up to date and are therefore valuable working documents for staff. He provides regular supervision for staff whom he supports to develop their skills and knowledge. Each staff member now has a specific piece of work to do in the home including training development, quality assurance, rotas, and health and safety. Staff say that they are enjoying these additional responsibilities, which make them feel valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager says that he feels excited by the development of the team and by what it has achieved over the past few months. Staff have undertaken part one of a therapeutic parenting training course, which, along with the planned new clinical training, will further enhance their understanding and ability to meet the young people complex needs. There has been no staff sickness since last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a significant reduction in incidents since July as one young person in particular has made progress with managing her emotions and behaviour. Staff, who focus on the known triggers incidences, are well aware of the causes of challenging behaviour. They work together consistently to reduce the recurrence of distress and challenging behaviour in young people. Highly trained staff appropriately manage incidents of concern and record them clearly. Staff help young people to keep themselves safe via key work sessions and daily ongoing informal discussions. The home has welcomed the community police officer in to speak to young people about the potential consequences of their behaviour. The use of physical interventions is for safety reasons only. Detailed records, which include staff’s action to de-escalate the situation, are reviewed and signed by registered manage. He also reviews and updates risk assessments and behaviour

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

management plans to ensure effective safeguarding.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are very safe here and feel safe. The social worker for one young person said, ‘She is kept safe and staff put things in place to reduce risks. Staff always prioritise safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with family members, professionals and the community. They liaise with the police, education and therapeutic services, local authorities and local clubs. Staff receive very positive feedback from professionals and family members about their high levels of professionalism, warmth and co-operation and understanding of young people’s issues. Perceptive and reflective staff recognised that, although one young person had had weekly therapy since September, she was not engaging. Consequently, staff contributed significantly to a plan for her to receive life story work instead. A visiting home educaiton tutor commented, ‘ the staff are always very welcoming and are on hand if needed to go on the internet to download test paper's…they provide a good working atmosphere.’ One mother says- ‘we are made to feel really welcome, staff are unobtrusive in contact, they know what they are doing. ‘One staff member is really taking interest in her

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. They currently offer care for children and young people aged from 7-18 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

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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