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 outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Young people enjoy an exceptionally comfortable, welcoming and very well- maintained home. Thoughtful staff have personalised the living rooms with photographs of the young people, who come in from school and clearly relax. Their own rooms are personalised and cosy. Young people form warm and trusting relationships with all staff and one young person has a particularly affectionate relationship with the registered manager. Since the last inspection, both young people have benefitted from the addition of a male staff member, who has improved the balance of staff by providing a positive male role model. Young people receive a high level of emotional support from sensitive staff, who understand their complex personal issues. Enthusiastic staff encourage and support young people to engage in stimulating

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

activities on a regular basis. These include ice skating, walking, horse riding and ice hockey. One young person took up ice hockey when he was placed, and now excels at the sport. Routines and boundaries are a key element of the young people’s experiences, providing them with the stability and security to make significant and lasting progress. Young people make progress in managing their own emotions and behaviour, attending and engaging in education and in achieving stability. Highly trained and skilled staff keep young people safe and work with them to understand how to keep themselves safe. Incidents of aggression to staff by young people have reduced significantly and one young person, with a history of absconding, no longer tries to run off from the home. There have been no physical interventions, concerning incidents or complaints since the last inspection. The father of one young person commented that he has seen ‘…a vast

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

improvement in his behaviour. He is now in a routine, which he needs more than anything else. He is happy here and doesn’t complain. He has settled and keeps himself safe. He has freedom, but they always know where he is.’ This young person’s social worker also confirmed that, after having a number of placement breakdowns, he has now settled and, ‘He has made great progress, he doesn’t abscond, his behaviour is very good.’ The highly child-focused registered manager continues to develop the service, leading to improved effectiveness. He and the committed staff work very closely with placing authorities and a wide range of agencies to ensure that young people’s needs are met. They are not afraid to challenge if professionals are failing to meet the needs of the young people. The registered manager, who also manages another outstanding home, empowers his staff. He has developed his senior staff to run the home competently in his absence. They maintain a well-run home

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

effectively with excellent boundaries and routines. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has established a full team, which has led to improvements in consistency of care for young people, higher staff morale and improved communication. Professionals and parents comment on the good working relationships they have with staff. One parent said, ‘Staff are good to communicate with. They are friendly and seem to know him well.’ The social worker for one young person said, ‘We can have frank conversations with staff.’

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered for two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home’s statement of purpose describes crisis intervention and short-, medium- or long-term placements for children aged 7 to 17 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 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 children looked after 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 at: 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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