Children's Home run by Mulberry House Care Homes Limited in Staffordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement 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

At the last full inspection in November 2015 the home required improvement. All requirements raised at the time have all been met. There were no requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and the staff team have worked hard to take action to address the previous requirements. As a result, improvement has been made. Young people’s transition plans are now in place and kept up to date on a monthly basis. As a result, young people gain independent skills in preparation for leaving care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people now take more responsibility for their actions because staff talk with them following any incident. Staff discuss the consequences of behaviour and help them to recognise the impact. This has helped to reduce negative behaviour and built positive relationships between staff and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well-maintained to a good standard. Staff now undertake routine daily checks on young people’s bedrooms. This identifies any potential risk of hazards and keeps them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager understand the knowledge staff have in regards to safeguarding because they discuss practice in supervision. This ensures staff’ knowledge and understanding is sufficient and also identifies training needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has devised a new format to record all information required to meet Schedule 3. All young people’s statutory documents are now in place. This means staff provide care in line with their plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have provide well-planned support to young people who have left the home. A young person who left the service said, ‘Staff always helped me to look for placements, they did everything’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress particularly in education, behaviour management and forming relationships. For example, one young person struggled to attend education on a regular basis and has now achieved regular attendance. A social worker said, ‘Excellent achievement of five days at school; before he was not going on a regular timetable, he had low attendance’. Staff work effectively with external partners in respect of education. This has helped staff to understand the aims of the education provider and how they can work together to encourage attendance and attainment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe and feel safe. A young person said, ‘ On a scale out of ten on how safe I feel it is a strong ten definitely; I am safe happy and well’. Young people do not go missing from care and physical intervention has not been used since the last inspection. A social worker said, ‘He has made progress in returning home; before would go missing from care.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and professionals speak highly of the quality of care staff provide and the relationships they have with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has improved the home environment. The new carpet and decorated bedrooms offer a warm and welcoming feel to the home. This makes young people feel relaxed and valued.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

03/11/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

12/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained 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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