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 Outstanding 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 enjoy a welcoming home, and warm trusting relationships with a dedicated and cohesive staff team. The home, which is spacious, airy and well maintained, is undergoing some refurbishment. One young person has been admitted since the last inspection and received a high level of support to meet his complex behavioural and emotional needs. Consistent and sensitive care provided by the staff led to this young person gradually became less challenging and more positive. However, he has struggled to settle in the home and is currently missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make significant progress. One young person applied for and secured a job locally and she has applied to college to advance her performing arts studies. Staff have supported her to make progress with independence skills and she is now cooking, shopping and managing her money effectively. The registered manager, to reward her achievements, is taking her horse riding. She continues to pursue her career plans with the total support of the staff. Staff understand the anxiety that she feels about her independence plan. They recognise her vulnerability and emotional needs and reassure her that they will continue to support her after she has left the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another young person has maintained 100% school attendance and is making progress in his social development. His, often challenging, behaviour has improved considerably with staff praising and rewarding him. His mother says that the staff ‘really understand’ her son and provide him with the firm boundaries that he needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has been in post since May 2012. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management for residential childcare and has several years’ experience of working with children and young people. In addition, she has now taken on a mentoring role for managers at other homes, which she visits on a regular basis. The registered manager has recently promoted two of her staff to acting seniors and has implemented a very thorough and challenging development plan for them. Staff benefit from the regular focused and thorough supervision she provides. They say that she is a highly organised manager who is supportive of staff and ‘knows what she is talking about’. The registered manager is constantly looking for ways to drive up standards in the service, in terms of both staff practice and improvements to the home. She is very proactive with regard to achieving her goals and demonstrates clarity of thought and practice. She responded rapidly

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

when concerns arose regarding the new placement of a young person, by convening strategy meetings herself and inviting the local authority, police and youth offending professionals. This enabled the services to work together early on to support all of the young people in the home and reduce challenging behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has been analytical and reflective about this challenging placement, ensuring that she and the team have learnt from the experience. The team did not fully implement the impact assessment or strategies that had been identified to provide the best support for the young person’s admission to the home. In addition, staff failed to record the key work undertaken with this young person after he returned from having gone missing from the home on one occasion. Consequently, this information was not available for the young person or for staff who needed to be aware of the work undertaken, and the issues that required addressing further.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager responded positively to the requirement and recommendations of the last inspection. This has resulted in the statement of purpose now providing local authorities with accurate information about the service. Staff have demonstrated an understanding of the importance of writing records about young people in ways that young people can understand and find useful and the registered manager has proactively challenged local authorities to provide appropriate services for young people without delay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

With regard to incidents, January was a very unsettled month with young people engaging in challenging behaviour. Highly trained staff have been skilful in de- escalating behaviour, where possible and only using physical intervention to keep young people and staff safe. Staff have undertaken effective key work with young people on a range of behavioural issues, with careful attention paid to the underlying reasons behind the behaviour. Young people have engaged in these discussions with staff, which help them to link their emotions with their behaviour. Staff have made appropriate referrals to therapeutic, drug and alcohol services to support and educate young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with police to address incidents of young people missing. They liaise with drug and alcohol services and education and youth offender professionals. Their work with local authorities and a range of health services is ongoing and improves the experiences and progress of young people. One young person has begun eating properly after staff arranged a meeting with the school nurse, who also addressed drug use with another young person. Staff collaborate with the MASH team to address issues of child sexual exploitation and grooming and work closely with family members to improve family relationships and contact. The mother of one young people said that there is, 'Brilliant communication’ between her and the home and that she can always contact them. She finds it particularly valuable that they also understand her family arrangements and accommodate these in addition to meeting needs of her son. Staff keep in touch

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with a young person’s grandfather, benefitting the young person and the family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite a difficult period in the home, the staff have remained positive and focused on the needs of young people and have enabled them to continue to make progress.

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Information about this children's home

These privately owned children’s home is registered to care for up to three children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties aged between 10 and 18 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/01/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

27/02/2014 CH - Interim Inadequate progress

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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

14: The care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard the registered person must ensure: (1) The care planning standard is that children receive well- planned care from the home and have a positive experience of admission and transition processes. (2) in particular the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (c)that each child's relevant plans are followed; 31/03/2016

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Requirement Due date

36: Children's case records The registered person must ensure that: The registered person must maintain records (''case records'') for each child which are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. ( Regulation 36 (1) (b)) 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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