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 good at the last 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

Staff have strong relationships with young people. Young people talk positively about the care they receive and the homely, nurturing environment within which they live. They make good progress in all areas of their lives because of the support staff provide. For example, both young people’s education attendance is excellent. This helps them to make continuous progress academically. Staff promote positive friendships and help young people to understand the risks that other people/groups may pose. Young people regularly invite their friends to the home, enjoying sleepovers, and spend time at their friends’ houses. This helps young people to feel part of their community, to develop their social skills and to build their resilience. A social worker commented, ‘The young person is making massive progress. She has great relationships with staff.’ Another social worker commented, ‘Staff are really supportive of the young person, he is making great

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s emotional well-being and self-confidence grow. They are able to ask for help when they feel upset and engage in therapeutic support when this is required. A therapist described the care that one young person receives as, ‘Compassionate, nurturing and genuine.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff offer sensitive support to young people, guiding them towards good decisions. Young people respond well and grow in maturity because of this approach. Concerning incidents are rare. Staff tackle them effectively and quickly. This minimises the risk to young people and keeps them safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have made significant progress in developing their independence skills. For example, one young person now has his own door key, manages his own money, and is able to travel around independently. Another young person has recently been able to have a mobile phone. This is a significant achievement for her. Staff skilfully assess and balance the risk that increasing independence can bring. However, in one instance they have not recorded this risk assessment clearly. Specifically, one young person’s risk assessment states that he can spend time alone in the home. It does not detail how long for, or the actions staff take to make sure he is safe. As a result, the record does not show that these risks have been continually assessed. Nor does it detail the steps that staff take to manage them. This is a recording issue only. It is not reflective of the high quality support that staff offer.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is highly effective. She is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses, and takes action to tackle any concerns. However, one aspect of her monitoring requires improvement. Specifically, on one occasion she did not complete the ‘quality of care review’ in a timely way. In addition, the review did not fully ascertain or consider the opinions of young people, their parents, placing authorities and staff. Other monitoring and consultation processes, and the relationships between staff and other agencies, reduce the impact of this lapse.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager remains focused on young people’s needs. Their welfare is her priority. She has met all of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. This has improved aspects of record keeping and staff recruitment processes. She has also made sure that staff seek, and record, the advice they receive from medical practitioners in relation to young people’s medication. This has improved the quality of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff work closely with a range of other agencies. These include health, education and social care. One social worker summarised that the communication between professionals, and the support that staff provide, are, ‘Fantastic.’ This helps to make sure that information is shared appropriately and that young people receive consistent messages about their 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. The home is operated by a local authority which only supports young people from its area.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/06/16 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/05/2015 Full Good 11/02/2015 Interim Improved 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 within the given timescales.

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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. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.(Regulation 45(1)(5)) 03/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are concerns, their placement plan must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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 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 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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