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 requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person moved out of the home soon after the last inspection. Staff offered good support to the young person at the time. A social worker told the inspector, ‘The support was really good. Staff helped her with painting and preparing her new home. After she moved, the staff had a plan to keep in touch… She was very positive about staff when she left and had really good relationships.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another young person has recently moved into the home. He spoke positively about the care that he is receiving. The registered manager made sure that this move was well planned. This helped to reduce the young person’s anxieties. A social worker spoke highly of this by commenting, ‘I can’t praise the staff enough. They have listened to the young person. They have tried to make him feel as welcome as possible… They were great at thinking about his background… They thought a lot about the moving process. The move was slow and done at his pace.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person resident at the last inspection continues to live in the home. He has made good progress. Most notably, his behaviour has improved. He now rarely goes missing or leaves the home without the permission of staff. This improvement has allowed him to have increasing independence. For example, he now has a mobile phone, something that is a significant achievement for him. Staff were good at helping him to use this safely. This has given him a better understanding of the potential risks and how to keep himself safe. Staff are also mindful of the risks and make sure that they monitor the use of his mobile phone appropriately. However, this good practice is not captured in records. This does not afford the young person with the safeguards that he needs. For example, he would be unable to prove that he is using his phone appropriately should he need to do this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has been involved in numerous activities and positive events. For example, he was involved in a ‘takeover day’ when he acted as a senior manager in the local authority. He did so well that they invited him back. He has also been involved in raising awareness of road safety issues and raised a substantial amount of money for charity. In addition, his attendance and engagement at school have improved. A teacher told the inspector, ‘He has been a perfect student. His attendance skyrocketed due to the support from staff.’ These achievements help the young person to develop his confidence and self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management arrangements are strong. The registered manager started just before the home’s last inspection and has since been registered with Ofsted. An enthusiastic and skilled assistant manager ably assists her. Together they have improved monitoring systems. This has helped them to understand the home’s strengths and weaknesses better. They have also met all of the regulatory shortfalls identified at the last inspection and the vast majority of the recommendations made. This includes improvements to staff training, transitions planning and risk assessment processes. These developments help young people to be safe and improve the service they receive. In contrast to this, the managers failed to meet one recommendation. Staff receive good quality supervision. However, not all records of these sessions are fully completed. In particular, managers do not always record the dates of these sessions on the ‘supervision

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

matrix’. This prevents them from being able to evidence quickly that they deliver supervision in line with regulation. This is primarily a recording issue and does not affect the support staff receive. Consequently, the recommendation has been made again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This inspection also identified a further area for development. Despite overall improvements to monitoring and review processes, the ‘quality of care review’ completed by the registered manager requires improvement. Specifically, there was a delay in completing this report, which covered an extended period of eight months. As a result, much of the information presented was outdated. Furthermore, the report does not ascertain or consider the opinions of young people, their parents, placing authorities or staff. Finally, the registered manager did not send the report to HMCI, Ofsted in a timely way. Other processes and the working relationships between managers, staff, families and other professionals reduce the impact of this shortfall.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and managers have developed strong relationships with young people’s families. They also work closely with a range of other agencies. This includes education and social care. Professionals and family members talk positively about this and the communication between themselves and the staff. This makes sure that information is shared effectively and that young people receive consistent care.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A local authority operates the home. They support only young people from that area.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/07/16 Full Requires Improvement 07/03/16 Interim Improved Effectiveness 27/10/15 Full Inadequate 15/07/15 Full Inadequate

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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, the 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to mobile phones, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(b) that the home's day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. 24/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. (Regulation 45(1)) 24/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a)) 24/02/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the quality of care review provides for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 24/02/2017

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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 that a record of supervision is kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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 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 that 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 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 whom 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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