Children's home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Cannock Chase

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 .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection the home was experiencing an unsettled period which had a negative impact on all of the young people. This was partly due to the home accepting and sustaining an inappropriate placement. The registered manager has worked hard to improve her impact assessments and has ended placements more rapidly if they have been disrupting other young people. Since then, two young people who had been in long-term placements at the home have successfully moved on to independence, and the home has settled down. Dedicated staff worked hard to support the young people to make positive moves, and have continued to visit and telephone them to ensure that they are managing in independence. The social worker for one of them commented to staff: ‘I have nothing but positive things to say about her time at this home. In your care, she was able to modify her risk taking behaviour and she came to trust everyone in the

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

placements, she considered this her home for over three years. Her move on was supported with sensitivity and was realistic.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is only one young person in placement currently, who has recently been admitted. She is enjoying a comfortable, welcoming and well-maintained home where she has developed trusting relationships with staff. She says that her cosy room is comfortable and personalised, and that staff offer her a range of activities and strongly support her interest in animals. She says that staff listen to her and she can talk to them if she has concerns.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This young person started engaging in education, initially via the internet, after a lengthy period of little school attendance prior to this placement. The resourceful registered manager liaised with the virtual head to argue for a college placement where she can study farming and develop her strong aptitude for working with animals. She is now full-time at college and is engaging in a course, which includes English and maths. The registered manager has requested an independent advocate for the young person as the local authority is not listening to her wishes and feelings. Since being admitted, this young person has made good progress in keeping herself safe. She has made a positive decision not to go missing and there has been a significant reduction in self-harming behaviour. Highly trained staff keep young people safe and there are no longer any concerning patterns of incidents or physical intervention.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The social worker for the young person is very positive about the care provided by staff and said, ‘She has very positive relationships with staff, she’s doing really well – the fact that she is in full-time education is down to the home and support from the registered manager.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has also made significant improvements by addressing staffing issues, including dismissing one staff member who did not show the level of commitment that was expected. She ensures that staff training is relevant and provides regular supervision. New staff members feel very well supported and staff speak highly of the registered manager and of each other. The registered manager has a plan to strengthen the team, which includes developing staff members and appointing a new staff member to complete the team.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager responded quickly and positively to the requirements from the previous inspection, meeting almost all of them. The only exception is that one staff member still needs to complete the level 3 diploma. The registered manager has written a detailed support plan to ensure that she achieves this. The improvements have resulted in increased challenge of placing authorities who are not meeting young people's needs, increased staffing and consistency of care, and more effective impact assessments and care planning. All of these provide young people with better experiences and opportunities to make positive progress.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to care for up to three children and young people aged between 10 and 18 years who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 23/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 26/10/2015 Full Outstanding 28/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘ the Level 3 Diploma’); or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma. (regulation 32(4)(a)(b)) 28/04/2017

p.5

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’.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

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

p.7