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 Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the skilled and dedicated staff have worked hard to manage a very challenging situation. This is due to the admission of two additional young people who were inappropriately matched. Staff lacked the facilities, support and skills to manage the complex dynamics between the three young people. They have effectively helped one young person to engage in education, which represents significant progress for her. However, two other young people have not made progress and have suffered emotional harm and instability.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home environment has become shabby in places, due to violent and challenging behaviour by young people. This led staff to remove soft furnishings and pictures for safety reasons. Despite these difficulties, young people remain positive about the staff and the care they have received. One young person, who has now left the home, but did not want to go, said that she has felt cared for by the staff who, ‘make it like a family’. Another young person talked about the tension in the home when there were three young people there and confirmed that she had has asked her social worker to move her. She too acknowledged that the staff are very caring and do their best. The third young person has been subject to racist bullying by another young person in the home and is currently missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person was not listened to when she expressed fears and concerns about the situation in the home. Staff felt powerless to provide the security and ensure positive relationships between the young people based on mutual trust and respect. However, there is no evidence that they took this matter up with the local authority or that the young person received feedback about her concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Impact assessments were not sufficiently robust or analytical to ensure that staff could effectively meet the complex and differing needs of young people. The assessments did not acknowledge the need for a high enough staff to young person ratio, or the level of staff skill and experience required. Staff attempted to address daily issues of absconding, physical and verbal aggression and racist behaviour with the addition of, often inexperienced, agency staff. Regular use of agency staff has compromised the consistency of care. One agency staff member was sent out into the community by herself with a very challenging young person, who she had known for less than an hour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers did not work together and responded quickly enough to identify and resolve the issues. They did not work sufficiently closely with local authorities until the staff were no longer coping, had very low morale and could not meet the needs of the young people. Managers were slow to robustly challenge the local authorities regarding the need to consider all of the young people in the home. Record keeping suffered as staff attempted to manage the day-to-day situation and key work sessions do not evidence how staff have addressed crucial issues such as racism with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have found it difficult keeping young people safe. Since the last inspection, the Camhs therapist for one young person has expressed concern that she has suffered emotional abuse. This young person was placed here with a plan to nurture her and meet her therapeutic needs. Despite a clear bullying policy being in place, another young people was repeatedly bullied and racially abused by a peer. The third young person, whose care plan required firm boundaries, has now experienced yet another placement and has had to move. Young people have threatened and intimidated each other and have assaulted staff. Risk assessments have not been effective and staff have not updated behaviour management plans. Although staff have only been involved in one use of physical intervention, there have been many incidents of bullying, smoking cannabis, absconding, threats made to staff, criminal damage to the home and assault, which staff have been

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

unable to prevent or significantly influence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have worked with local authorities, education, the police, health professionals and family members to try to improve the progress and experiences of young people. Staff have been praised by young people, Camhs and an agency worker for being very caring and doing their best. The Camhs worker says, 'The home and staff are lovely and genuinely care. The registered manager very committed... it is a good staff group'.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager responded positively to the requirements of the last inspection, ensuring that agency staff were appropriately checked and monitored and that staff helped young people to recognise and understand damaging relationships. However, issues of sufficiency of staff numbers, the unsafe use of agency staff and continuity of care have arisen again. A number of shortfalls have been identified which must be addressed by the registered person in order to improve the safety, care needs and management of the service.

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Information about this children's home

This privately- owned children’s home is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/10/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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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

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must: (2)(a) understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff- (i )understand and apply the home's statement of purpose (ii) protect and promote each child's welfare; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background; 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard In order to meet the children's views, wishes and feelings standard the registered person must ensure that staff: (1)(c) take their views wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children's care and welfare and their lives. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

10: The health and well-being standard In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure that- (1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (2)(a) that staff help each child to - (i) achieve the health and well-being outcomes in that are recorded in the child's relevant plans. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard In order to meet the positive relationships standard the registered person must ensure that: (1) Children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on- (a) mutual respect and trust (b)an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. 31/03/2016 (2) in particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (a) that staff- (i) meet each child's behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child's relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour. (xii) understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and (xiii) have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how the deal with them.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure: (2)(a) That staff- (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; (b) that the home's day- to- day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must ensure that: (2)(c) staff have the experience , qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (e) ensure that the home's workforce provides continuity of care to each child. 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure: (2) (e)that the child's placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child's relevant plans is requested, when- (i) the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet his or her needs. (ii) the child requests a review of his or her relevant plans. 31/03/2016

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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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