Children's home run by Absolute Children’s Services Ltd in Staffordshire Moorlands

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both the recommendations raised at the previous inspection have been fully met. This demonstrates the home’s ability to improve while maintaining outstanding outcomes for young people. The committed and efficient manager is aspirational for all staff to be well trained. This ensures that the manager and staff are fully equipped to meet each young person’s individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no new admissions to the home since the last inspection. One young person has moved on to semi-independent living very successfully. Carers from the home are maintaining regular contact during the initial settling in phase, as good parents would. This reassuring support allows the young person to continue their personal growth and build on the independence skills learned in the home. A young person said, ‘They have done tons for me, so much more than social services ever would. I miss being at [Name of the home] and would have stayed there forever but it was time for me to move on. I am ready.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s sense of belonging and their secure attachments with carers empower them to engage and benefit from the care and therapeutic interventions provided. The introduction of house pets allows all the young people to take shared responsibility for another living creature. Young people talk about how much they love their animals and feel safe in being able to demonstrate that love. Consequently, young people continue to make exceptional progress in building self- esteem and feelings of self-worth.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the young people are engaged in daily education provision. The proactive manager and staff liaise regularly with schools, the virtual headteacher and tutors. This ensures that young people receive the best and most appropriate form of learning to meet their diverse needs. This enhances young people’s future employment opportunities and chances for success. An education provider wrote, ‘Two members of staff from the home attended her PEP review. Her key worker drops her off at our unit in the morning and picks her up at the end of the day, so we have daily communication. The home has communicated well with us if she has been running late or they have had issues getting her to school.’ Young people are, and feel, safeguarded as a result of the close attention to ensuring their protection. There have not been any missing episodes. For some young people, this is a marked improvement on previous placements. Young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people state clearly that this is their home and they feel safe, negating the need for them to absent themselves. An education provider wrote, ‘From the comments she has made about the placement, i.e. "They treat me like a 14-year-old", I would say her welfare and safeguarding are taken very seriously.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s comprehensive behaviour-management plan now includes a detailed section on countering bullying. This document complements each young person’s individual plan, ensuring that their individual needs and ‘tics’ are known and understood. On occasion, young people’s behaviours mean that physical intervention is necessary to protect both themselves and others. Any such event is managed appropriately and sensitively. Clear recording and life-space interviews provide all involved with the opportunity to learn from the experience. A young person said, ‘I think I’ve grown up a lot because of the carers here. I feel chilled and glad to be home.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The consistent use of restorative practice is embedded into the life of the home. This, coupled with clear sanctions and rewards, means that young people are learning to take responsibility for their actions and how to control impulsive behaviours. This growth in self-knowledge and understanding enhances young people’s social abilities, allowing them to engage in inclusive activities together and within the community. A staff member said, ‘It’s the best job satisfaction you can have, seeing a young person grow in happiness and confidence. You can’t put a price on that.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people fully understand and utilise the complaints system. This empowers them to express any discontent in an appropriate manner, and they are confident that their voice is heard. For example, following recent discord with neighbours about noise levels while young people were playing in the garden, young people’s sense of being valued was enhanced as a result of the amicable settlement achieved by the manager.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff continue to identify further ways to meet the needs of the young people in their care. For example, the introduction of the new ‘principal carer’ model allows those young people who would benefit, to have an intensive one-to-one relationship. Further, the introduction of art therapy will free young people to express themselves in more creative ways.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one staff disciplinary issue since the last inspection. Records evidence that the management team dealt with the matter thoroughly and effectively. As a result, young people remained protected and their quality of care was assured. However, the regulator was not able to have a sufficient overview as Ofsted was not notified.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately run children’s home for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It can accommodate up to four young people, irrespective of gender, at any one time.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/10/2016 Full Outstanding 21/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/06/2015 Full Outstanding

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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 notify the HMCI without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(e)) 08/03/2017

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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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