Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Good

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

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Summary of findings

 The young person experiences genuine care from a committed and stable staff team.

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Summary of findings

 Staff work endlessly to ensure excellent person-centred care is delivered day after day.

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Summary of findings

 The registered manager provides effective leadership to the small team of experienced staff.

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Summary of findings

 Staff work exceptionally well as a team.

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Summary of findings

 Internal care planning process is child-centred.

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Summary of findings

 The young person is consulted and involved in the running of the home.

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Summary of findings

 Attendance and engagement in education is exceptional.

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Summary of findings

 The young person knows her rights and is confident to exercise them.

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Summary of findings

 The young person thrives as a result of the nurturing environment.

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Summary of findings

 The young person is helped to gain the skills, confidence and self-esteem to make meaningful progress.

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Summary of findings

 In a few areas some improvement is needed. These include safe recruitment, staff training, risk assessments and one policy.

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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

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedure that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that fully and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in schedule 2. In particular, a full employment history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (Regulation 37(1)(3)(d) Schedule 2(6)) 31/03/2016

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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 staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 Ensure the policy on protection of children from abuse and neglect includes arrangements in relation to dealing with allegations involving staff in the home, e-safety and to counter risks of self-harm and suicide. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, p 44, paragraph 19.9)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by an organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

good

Staff have a strong and shared commitment to improving the young person’s well- being. They are highly motivated and strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for her. As a consequence, the young person’s day-to-day care is an outstanding feature. This includes receiving a nurturing and stable environment which is enabling her to thrive, educationally, physically and socially.

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good

Staff enjoy spending time with the young person and support her to engage in a wide range of positive activities. Two particular favourites are swimming and dog walking. This helps to improve her physical health and increases her opportunities to socialise within her local community.

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good

The young person engages with her care planning, it is individual and enables her to track the smallest of achievements.

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good

Staff actively promote health on a daily basis. This includes, staff ensuring primary health care appointments are made, such as regular visits to opticians and the general practitioner to more specialises services. For example, staff have work collaboratively with the placing authority to ensure the young person has access to a therapist. Keyworker sessions are child-centred and take a holistic approach to help the young person to understand age related development that can affect both her physical and emotional health.

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good

The young person recognises the home is making a difference in her life. She comments, ‘I really like all the attention I get here’. This positive relationship means the young person is making future plans on a daily occurrence, this includes talking about having a pet.

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good

The young person embraces every opportunity to enhance her learning, obtaining 100% school attendance, even when this involves raising early in the morning to undergo a long distance journey to attend school. Her achievements are recognised by school and the staff. For example, she recently received a number of ‘pupil of the week awards’ reflecting outstanding achievements. Staff have ensured these achievements are celebrated with additional rewards, reinforcing how proud they are.

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good

Admission to the home have been robust and effective. One professional stating ‘the move to [the home] was planned and this was really good’. As a consequence, the young person has been able to personalise her environment making it very much her home.

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good

Staff ensure the young person has meaningful contact with siblings making sure these visits take place regularly and include fun activities. This has helped relationships to strengthen and to sustain a sense of identity.

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good

The young person plays a central part in the day to day live of the home. For example, she helps in the preparation and cooking of the evening meal. She will also assist in tasks such as shopping. This positive engagement helps her make well-informed choices about healthy and safe lifestyles.

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good

Where serious incidents occur, the staff team take effective and appropriate actions. For example, when it has been necessary to make a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer this has been done promptly. This has ensured the young person’s ongoing welfare is protected and they know that staff put their safety first.

p.7

good

The staff recognise how young people’s vulnerabilities can place them at risk of harm. This includes risks to child sexual exploitation associated with going missing from care. The positive relationship staff have established with the young person means she is happy to spend time with them. This minimises these risks considerably. Staff are also, aware of the risks associated with social media and ensure the right level of supervision is in place to safeguard.

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good

Clear complaints procedures enable the young person to present the smallest of concerns. When she has used the procedure the registered manager has ensured she has been kept well informed of each step of the process. This transparent process gives the young person a strong voice in her every day live.

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good

The use of restraint is appropriate and only used where absolutely necessary. This is further supported by detailed discussions with the young person following all incidents. This aids the young person to understand the situation and to be able to express her views to inform the home’s practice. The registered manager reviews all incidents and challenges practice where necessary to help develop staffs understanding and to promote the overall experiences of the young person. The use of sanctions are appropriate and contribute to helping the young person to manage her behaviour. Staff are keen to focus on positive behaviour and have been creative in their thoughts around this. A therapist commented that ‘I have already seen an improvement in her ability to self-regulate’ she also comments in relation to staff ‘I have been very impressed with their approach’.

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good

Collaborative working with the local Police is well established. For example , the local community officer visits most weeks and engages with both the young person and the staff. In addition , the registered manger has consulted with a range of professionals when completing his locality assessment. This is helping to ensure the young person stays safe out in the community.

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good

Most aspects of safe recruitment are good with careful selection and vetting processes that help to safeguard the young person. However, not every new employee’s employment history is scrutinised to ensure all gaps are fully explained. This slightly weaknesses what is otherwise a robust process.

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good

Staff are vigilant to everyday hazards and risks. Risk assessments are generally robust, understood and managed. However, they do not always demonstrate the steps that are needed to safeguard the young person. For example, risk assessments around self-harm are limited in identifying the action that should be taken to response to such an event.

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good

The home is managed efficiently and successfully by an experienced manager who holds his registered managers award. He was registered with Ofsted in January 2016 and is also the registered manager of another children home close by. The manger effectively shares his time between the two homes depending on the needs, demands and circumstances of each young person. The registered manager is supported by an experienced and qualified deputy.

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good

Staff are well supported and have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities. They work exceptionally well as a team because of effective communication and strong leadership. They demonstrate a very clear commitment to delivering high standards of childcare practice, matching their approach to the very specific needs of the young person. The team provide constant and familiar care because staff rotas are managed to minimise the impact of any change.

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good

Regular meetings with a range of professionals such as a therapist, help evaluate progress and map out necessary changes to care. These arrangements play a full and vital part in how the home is organised to help the young person succeed and improve her life chances .

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good

The registered manager understands his roles and responsibilities to challenge others. For example, he recently challenged the young person’s school about the lack of homework being received.

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good

Staff are well supported in their role. They receive regular formal supervision that appraises their performance and highlights their strengths and identifies their area’s for development. Training programmes for staff cover many aspects of practice including first aid, behaviour management and basic food hygiene. However, more specialised training to reflect the young persons’ individual needs are not secured. This leaves staff with only a limited knowledge in areas such as mental health.

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good

The young person’s records are organised well and contribute to an understanding of their lives and experiences. Appropriate arrangements are in place to notify individuals and agencies of any significant events affecting the young person’s safety and welfare .

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good

The provider meets the aims and objectives outlined in the statement of purpose. The registered manager conducts regular monitoring of the service and an independent person visits the home monthly. The independent visitor reports provide the registered manager with an overview of the home’s operation.

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good

The ethos and culture of the home is for staff to act as ‘good parents’. Consequently, the young person receives the nurture, care, and support she needs to enable her to thrive.

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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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