Children's Home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Knowledgeable, consistent and motivated staff develop strong relationships with young people, who talk positively about the care they receive. Since the last inspection, several young people have moved into and out of the home. Staff ensure that these moves are well planned. One young person had to leave the home quickly. Despite this, support from staff was highly effective and sensitively offered. This helped to lower the young person’s anxieties and kept her safe. A social care professional confirms this explaining, ‘staff supported the young person exceptionally well. They kept in touch and have supported her brilliantly…The manager has been amazing making sure this can happen… the young person handled the move because of the nurturing that staff continued to offer. She knows she is cared about. Staff are caring and amazing.’ Staff have a good awareness of the emotional needs of the young people they

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

support. They respond consistently to them and engage extremely effectively with the other professionals involved in their care. As a result, young people feel secure and their confidence and self-belief grows.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new manager started in October 2015. He is in the process of registering with Ofsted. He is suitably qualified and experienced. He has implemented effective quality assurance processes. This ensures he is aware of the home’s strengths and has started to address areas of weakness; consequently, he has resolved all of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Significant improvements also include the independent persons monitoring visits and reports. These are now effective. However, on occasion, the manager does not receive the reports for several weeks. This prevents him from making best use of the information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the main, staff training is robust and ensures that staff have the skills they need to meet young people’s needs. In contrast to this, the manager has not met the training needs of a small number of staff in a timely way. Specifically, they have not yet accessed ‘core’ training regarding safe relationships and behaviour. This has the potential to reduce staff confidence in this area, affecting the support they provide to young people. Staff support young people’s physical health needs well. Generally, the arrangements for the safe administration of (often very complex) medication are robust and are consistently applied. On one isolated occasion, a decision was made outside of the home’s own policy and guidance. Specifically, the manager agreed that staff could alter the administration time of one medication, without seeking clarification from a suitably qualified medical professional. This had minimal impact

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

on the young person because of other safeguards in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is generally well presented and maintained and provides a pleasant environment for young people. In contrast to this, damage to the lounge wall detracts from the otherwise domestic feel of the home. The nature of the damage and the speed it has taken to rectify creates a slightly ‘institutional’ impression.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to 2 children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a Local Authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/02/2015 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

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home. (Regulation 23(1)) 08/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure that as far as possible the home maintains a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15 paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53 paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person actively seeks independent scrutiny of the home and makes best use of information from independent monitoring (including under regulation 44). (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

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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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