Children's home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

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 at the home continue to make good progress in a number of aspects of their lives. All young people are engaged in full-time education at a range of settings that are successful in meeting their needs. Staff members support young people to follow their interests in pursuits varied activities. This includes animal care, drama, dancing, horse riding and police cadets. Young people enjoyed a caravan holiday away from the home during the summer. The variety of these experiences allows young people to develop intellectually and socially. They learn new skills, meet new people and derive a self-confidence from their success in a range of different settings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact arrangements between young people and their families and friends have increased in frequency. Young people are seeing more of their relatives since the previous inspection. These contacts take place in a number of informal settings and staff work hard to ensure that these interactions are as natural as possible, subject to assessments of risks, which are undertaken in every case. The improvement in quality of contact with family members has led to unaccompanied overnight stays taking place at family homes. Contact arrangements help young people to maintain and in some cases re-build their relationships with family members and loved ones.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people engage regularly in young people’s meetings where they express their preferences about a number of features of the care they receive. Food choices, activity plans, chores, holidays and recent behaviours are all discussed together. This enables young people to have their say in a safe and structured setting. It helps them to express their views and negotiate their needs alongside those of other young people. Young people learn that staff are interested in hearing their views and are willing to act on them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The experienced registered manager monitors the quality of care thoroughly. In addition to acting on the monthly reports provided by the independent person, he maintains his own system of monthly checks. These inform his quality of care review reports, which are submitted quarterly. Together with an effective supervision schedule and regular team meetings, the manager creates plenty of opportunities for staff to reflect on the standard of professional practice in the home. This means that young people are cared for by a team of professionals who are consistent, organised and capable of meeting the diverse needs of young people in their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are well protected by the efforts of staff members who are alert to their individual risk factors and vulnerabilities. Behaviours that were harmful to young people, such as going missing or self-harming have declined during their stays at the home. Staff work well to impress upon young people that the choices they make, can have long-term negative consequences. Such work has seen a marked reduction in the instances in young people find themselves at risk and open to exploitation. Young people learn how to keep themselves safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recruitment process for new staff is detailed and effective. It ensures that the adults employed are safe and responsible to work with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff team have responded professionally and appropriately to significant incidents. They work in partnership with other agencies to investigate and resolve these incidents. Some of these incidents have arisen from young people’s willingness to share with staff, their negative experiences of care prior to coming to live at the home. Young people have healthy, trusting relationships with members of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is adequately staffed to meet the needs of young people. Admissions and departures are planned in such a way that transitions are safe, appropriate and successful. A recent discharge in danger of not going to plan, was the subject of a robust challenge from the manager and provider to the placing authority. The challenge was a good example of advocacy on behalf of a young person whose complex needs meant that he was not able to advocate for himself. As a result, the discharge was delayed and more support to prepare the young person was provided. A smooth transition eventually took place. The young person is settled in his new placement and maintains regular contact with staff in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team works well with partner agencies and this is reflected in the many compliments that are received. One social worker said that the young person she recently placed at the home ‘has settled and is doing remarkably well’. She was also full of praised for the team: ‘The staff are reliable, friendly and extremely professional and they always put the young people first. The communication is also excellent, the staff always give me regular updates, plus I receive a timely weekly report’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The only recommendation arising from the previous inspection concerned the failure to submit a review of care report on time. These reports are now received in a timely way.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

07/01/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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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