Children's home run by Staffordshire County Council in Stafford

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

Young people continue to experience an exceptionally welcoming centre which is furnished and maintained to a very high standard. They have warm and trusting relationships with the dedicated staff. Child-focused staff use a range of highly skilled communication methods to enable young people to choose which themed room they wish to stay in for their short break. Young people are also able to choose from a number of stimulating and fun activities, including arts and crafts, watching DVDs, playing on the swing and trampoline in the garden, going to the library and Outward Bound activities. Young people enjoy seeing their photographs on the walls, illustrating the fun they have and their achievements. They take pride in having graduated from the ‘children’s university’ since the last inspection, having received their silver awards.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Dedicated, highly skilled and trained staff ensure that they enable each young person to communicate their views, wishes and feelings, and to engage fully in the centre. Young people are increasingly involved in activities in the community, and their visibility at, for example, the local swimming pool and ski centre helps to break down barriers with local people. Staff have been very effective at enabling and encouraging more young people to attend and contribute to their child in need reviews. Young people are now preparing to put their own article in the quarterly newsletter to families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make excellent progress in independence, emotional and physical well-being, and social development. Hard-working and diligent staff have developed key work with young people, such as the anti-bullying workshops, in order to make them increasingly effective. Creative staff now help young people to bake a gingerbread ‘friend’ in the workshops. Young people have to decide the right ingredients to go into a friend. In response, young people have developed a stronger understanding of relationships, including what bullying behaviour is and how to respond. Staff have also developed tools to enhance the ability of the young people who have the most limited communication skills to express their views, wishes and feelings. Staff use sensory and tactile items, including music, to stimulate sight, touch and sound. Highly skilled and experienced staff use a range of exercises which enable young people to communicate using the senses, rather

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff keep young people safe. One young person who came for a short break experienced a diabetic emergency while at the centre. Staff had recently undertaken specialised training in diabetes, thus were able to respond quickly and effectively to keep him safe. The registered manager addresses any complaints regarding staff practice openly and honestly. Parents and professionals comment that they really appreciate her approach. This quality of service enables parents to develop the high level of trust required to bring their young people for short breaks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The highly dedicated and innovative registered manager closely monitors the service. Robust risk assessments and behaviour management plans, regular and stimulating supervision, and ongoing staff training all contribute to this highly effective and dynamic service. She ensures that the service constantly improves in effectiveness by gathering feedback from young people, staff, professionals and family members via ongoing dialogue and formal consultations. Staff recently invited parents to respond to a questionnaire about the service. In response to the parents’ feedback, the service is now working to enable parents to establish their own parenting group. The registered manager is very aware that young people and families worry about transition to adult services, and she is focusing strongly on ways to improve this aspect of the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations from the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The local authority manages the centre and provides residential short breaks for children and young people who have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. The centre also provides outreach services to support children, young people and their families.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/12/2015 Full Outstanding 19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/12/2014 Full Good

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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