Children's Home run by Albrighton Care Ltd in Staffordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection the home was 'not judged' .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No children have lived at the home since August 2015. As a result, no judgement is made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is decorated and equipped to a high standard for children who are able to live in a domestic house arranged on two floors. The staff team consists of five members of staff plus the registered manager. Two staff are working at the organisation’s other home at present. The other three staff are appointed and inducted but are not currently paid employees. All five of these staff attend the training put on at the other home. The registered manager also manages the organisation’s other nearby home where a young person is in residence. The arrangements ensure that the staff group remains ready to take a new child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and registered individual have been actively considering referrals over the last six months. They make robust, careful enquiries to ensure that they have full and accurate information about children before making placement decisions. They are confident and child-centred in this work and check information where necessary with relevant professionals, children’s relatives and previous carers. They prefer to meet children and others. They verify the accuracy of information appropriately. At times, this had led to tensions between placing authorities and the organisation because the organisation has discovered later in the process that children’s actual needs would not be met by the home. The manager and registered individual are not organising, reviewing and evaluating what they are learning as they seek an appropriate placement. This is missed opportunity to develop their professional practice in this part of their work.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a small limited company and can accommodate and provide care for up to two children and young people with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that lessons learnt are proactively implemented and good practice is sustained. This is with particular regard to lessons learnt about working with placing authorities in respect of potential new referrals. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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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