Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stoke-on-Trent

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the 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

This home has had no children since shortly after the full inspection in August 2015. As a result, there is insufficient current evidence with which to make an accurate judgement. The last inspection found that the service required improvement. Subsequently, an internal review of the service occurred and led to the disbanding of the staff team and appointment of a new manager in December 2015. A complete refurbishment of the property is underway and high quality fittings and equipment are now in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A critical impact on this service is the presence of another children’s home across the road, operated by the same company. This has a direct effect on the arrangements for staffing in both homes, the management arrangements, and the matching of new children. The previous inspections of both homes found shortfalls in these areas. To ensure in future that the homes operate in tandem effectively, the new manager has responsibility for both. His registration with Ofsted is underway. The manager intends to admit children when he has consolidated the improvements and changes at the other home. This is a reasonable and proportionate approach.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring of the service occurs every month. However, some of the comments in the reports about important matters are pre-populated, including health and safety, children’s activities, and staff recruitment records. This means that rather than assessing certain areas the authors imply or speculate that certain outcomes are satisfactory because policies and procedures are in place. This is poor practice and misleads readers. Also, it does not help the organisation identify shortfalls, such as those that occurred recently, or raise the standard of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation has considered the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. Implementation of some issues has been delayed by the refurbishment described above and will, therefore, be reviewed at the next inspection. Other important matters, including the need to improve the property, the matching procedures that will apply to new children, and the need to review the management arrangements, have received satisfactory attention. This means the manager is preparing the service appropriately for new children.

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Information about this children's home

A large provider of children’s services operates this two-bedded home. Its registration allows it to accept children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is located close to another home operated by the same company and has the same manager. At present, there are no children in placement.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/08/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

06/03/2015 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. This is with regard to ensuring that Regulation 44 report findings are not pre-populated. 28/03/2016

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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

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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