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

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there has been a deterioration in the promotion of children’s safety and wellbeing. There has been a lack of robust management oversight and the registered provider has failed to follow safeguarding procedures and promote children’s welfare. Requirements have been raised in these areas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection children continue to have good attendance at school. They engage and are making progress academically. For example, children’s literacy skills have improved. Children say they like school. Some children have struggled with changes within their classes and there has been an increase in physical interventions within their school settings. However, the new acting manager is liaising with the schools to monitor this and extra support is being provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote positive behaviours. Children are rewarded for positive behaviours both in school and in the home. The home has a ‘rewards box’ which children get to pick a toy from. Children like this and it reinforces and promotes positive behaviours. Staff continue to promote children’s engagement with clubs such as swimming, football and drama. Children are proud of their achievements and enjoy receiving certificates. At the last inspection, children had scrap books which displayed significant moments such as photographs of outings and certificates. Since the last inspection, staff have not been updating them. Children have requested that they continue to have scrap books and the new acting manager is in the process of rectifying this for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management plans are child focused and inclusive. Staff engage children within their behaviour management plans and seek their views regarding what strategies will help them to manage certain behaviours, such as settling at bed time. Children’s documents in their files are written so as children are able to understand them, using symbols.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk management is not as robust as it was at the last inspection. For example, some children have been allowed free time in the community without thorough risk assessments in place and without consideration of their vulnerabilities. Some children’s risk management plans do not contain detailed, relevant information in order to provide sufficient guidance to staff to enable them to manage these behaviours. Previous managers have not ensured that they have followed up on incidents of bruising or when children have made allegations against staff members. They have not reviewed the incidents or learnt from them; they have not followed safeguarding procedures in referring concerns to the relevant safeguarding professionals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management oversight has not been robust. There has been a lack of management oversight from previous managers in respect of the daily running of the home and the quality of care provided to young people. The registered person has failed to notify Ofsted of significant events that have occurred within the home; such as out of hour’s children’s services attending the home due to community complaints being raised. They have failed to ensure that monthly independent auditing of the home has been sent to Ofsted in a timely manner. There is a lack of evidence as to how previous managers used the monitoring systems to promote the progress and experiences of children within the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a new acting manager in post who is experienced and child focused. He is managing the home whilst the registered manager is currently not in the home. He is aware of the strengths and areas of development of the home. The acting manager is committed to meeting the requirements raised from this inspection in order to enable the children to make continuous progress.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home, registered to provide care for up to three children and young people 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

10/03/2015 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

11: In order to meet the positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure that staff (2) (a)(x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. 18/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff (2) (a) (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 (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies 18/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must (2) (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 18/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

40: The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident 18/04/2016 relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious (Regulation 40 (4) (e))

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Requirement Due date

44: The registered provider must ensure that the independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI (Regulation 44 (7) (a)) 18/04/2016

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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

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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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