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 Good 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

There have been temporary management arrangements in place because of the registered manager’s planned absence. The provisional arrangements placed the experienced deputy into an acting manager’s position for a period of ten months. Because of the effective organisation, planning and transition arrangements, the impact of these changes were kept to a minimum. The registered manager has now returned to the home following a comprehensive handover period.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been changes to the resident group of young people. The team are alert and responsive to changing relationships especially when young people arrive and depart to and from the home. Staff ensure that new young people are welcomed and that they are encouraged to make a positive start towards achieving the agreed aims and goals of their placement. Young people are helped to settle in because staff work well together to build daily routines that match individual needs and circumstances. Newly arriving young people have responded well to this approach. Overall, young people have good attachments and relationships with the team, which demonstrates the continued potential of the home to positively influence the choices and decisions they make.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety and protection continues to be prioritised. Staff use well established practices and procedures to help keep everyone safe. Detailed and individualised assessments are in place, which identify areas of risk and vulnerability. Staff use this information along with their training and knowledge of each young person to respond to any concerns about an individual’s safety. Where disclosures or events of a child protection nature occur, managers and staff work professionally and responsibly with other agencies to ensure information is appropriately shared that follows agreed safeguarding procedures and protocols. Managers work in partnership with child protection professionals such as the Local Authority Designated Officer in making sure young people are safe. Consequently, young people’s safety and protection is prioritised when any allegations or concerns are raised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff regularly talk to young people about keeping themselves safe. They help young people identify and be aware of risks and the protective behaviours necessary to promote their own safety and well-being. This helps young people become more aware of what they need to do and can do to help themselves. Young people with significant histories of vulnerability and being missing from care are safer now because of the direct work undertaken by the team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have significant histories of being missing from care and being vulnerable to exploitation. Some of this behaviour has continued but incidents of leaving the home without permission or being missing from care have reduced significantly. This is because the staff have worked successfully to reduce these events from occurring in the first place. Staff use their relationships with young people to influence safer behaviour as well as maintaining close supervision and keeping them engaged.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Currently, arrangements are not in place for young people to talk to someone nominated by their placing authority about the times they have gone missing. The registered manager has reminded placing authorities of their duty and requested that they make these arrangements. However, the home is no further forward in terms of this task being carried out. Consequently, approaches and actions taken to promote young people’s safety in these circumstances are not complete.

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Information about this children's home

This home, run by a private company, is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

18/02/2015 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(s):  ensure each child has an independent return interview following every missing from care incident. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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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