Children's Home run by Platinum Services for Children (Residential Care) Ltd in Staffordshire

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

Young people continue to enjoy a warm and welcoming environment and trusting relationships with dedicated staff. They have fun with staff, playing pool, going to the cinema, bowling, enjoying seaside trips and shopping. One young person has made significant progress in his educational achievement, social development and ability to manage his emotions. This has led to a reduction in challenging behaviour and an improvement in his well-being. He took part in charity activities at Christmas and has applied to go to attend a course at a local college. Another young person, who was admitted since the last inspection, has settled in. She feels that staff support her very well. She benefitted from an organised move, which included visiting the home before she came and meeting the staff. She is clear that her plan is to remain here until she is 18 and develop independence skills. Staff supported one young person to make a successful planned move to another

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home, which was able to meet her complex care and therapeutic needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that young people benefit from clear messages about boundaries and routines, which support their stability and security. Young people engage with the sensitive staff in key work and informal discussions about issues of importance to them. Staff listen to them and they are able to contribute to the decisions about the running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Whilst the home has recently been redecorated, and young people have personalised their rooms, there is a lack of photographs of staff and young people in the living rooms. Adding this personal element to the shared living areas would make the house even more homely for young people and their visitors.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager holds a level 5 diploma in management. She has had many years’ experience of working with children and young people, and has been in this post since 2008. She also, very effectively, manages the sister home next door.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has reviewed all aspects of the service and ensured that there are ongoing improvements. These include gaining a better understanding of staff learning styles and needs, and ensuring that the training is up to date. A review of written records that inform social workers about young people’s activities and progress has resulted in them being clearer and easier to read. The registered manager has ensured that record keeping is up to date and clear and that consultation with young people, staff, professionals and family is included in her review of the quality of the service. Innovative staff now provide young people with a programme of child sexual exploitation education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff supervision remains stimulating as well as supportive. The registered manager enabled her staff to feel confident to challenge the local authority, regarding the needs of one young person. This resulted in a move to a placement that could better meet her complex needs. Staff enjoy working here and are positive about the registered manager and the team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of challenging behaviour, physical interventions and unauthorised absences have reduced since the last inspection, due to careful matching of young people. Highly trained staff follow safeguarding procedures and regularly review and update behaviour management plans and risk assessments. Staff keep young people safe, and recently invited a fire officer to the home to speak with one young person about the risks of smoking in his bedroom. He fully engaged in the discussion and has now reduced his smoking. Staff regularly contact schools in order to check where young people are and to keep them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work effectively with a wide range of professionals and family members to support young people. They liaise with social workers, updating them on young people’s progress and meet with the police when incidents occur in order to reduce the risks of criminalising young people. Staff engage with drug services, the youth offending team, teachers and health professionals. This ensures that staff are aware of any problems regarding young people and can quickly pass on any concerns to the agencies which can offer additional help and support. One parent commented that staff communication with her ‘is perfect’. Professionals have provided positive feedback for the registered manager’s review of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has responded positively to the previous requirements, improving the gathering of feedback for her review of the service and encouraging staff to feel confident about challenging other professionals for the benefit of the young people.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home is registered to care for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is located next to its sister home. The service currently provides short or long-term care for children and young people aged 8 to18 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2015 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):  With reference to the lack of personal photographs and pictures in the shared areas of the home. Ensure that the home is a homely, domestic environment. The home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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

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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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