Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Staffordshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the 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

Since the last inspection, the manager has continued to improve the service. Small changes have occurred in the staff team and the resident group. However, the service has remained settled overall. This inspection identifies no requirements or recommendations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last inspection identified shortfalls in the leadership of the service. The manager has addressed these shortfalls. He has recently appointed a senior member of staff to the vacant deputy position, which has improved the leadership team. The manager and deputy create an energetic and positive atmosphere in the house. Visitors acknowledge this in their written feedback. Social workers commented positively about the professionalism of staff and their passion for their job. One said, ‘I’m very satisfied with the care [my young person receives]. He is happy and settled.’ Another wrote, ‘My child’s needs are met well.’ Some staff have left in order to pursue different careers. The manager has replaced them with suitably experienced staff. Staff undertake a high quantity of training. Recent training courses have given staff information about topical issues, including, for example, deprivation of liberty orders. Because this service does restrict young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people in some ways, the manager is investigating how this legal responsibility affects the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service is also a registered school, which all the young people attend. Since the last inspection in July 2016, the manager has endeavoured to improve communication between school staff and the home staff. Part of the solution is that one member of his team is also a qualified teaching assistant. Despite the school being on the same site, the levels of school attendance are mixed. Some young people attend all the time and make good progress, but others are somewhat disinterested. One young person is pursuing a course at college that will lead to a vocational qualification. For two others, the manager has introduced contracts to encourage better attendance. Two 15-year-old young people are considering their futures. Both young people are already undertaking some tasks that improve their independence skills, but the manager is in the process of addressing this more systematically. Staff regularly speak to each young person about their progress in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

reaching agreed targets. The last inspection identified that the existing documents were not helpful for young people. The manager has therefore condensed the essential parts, which helps each young person to understand his objectives. Reward charts give this process a visual representation. Staff now implement targets that are specific, measurable and attainable. This makes their work more focused and effective.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of the last inspection, concerns arose about the high number of incidents in which young people went missing. Through the staff’s effective and sensitive engagement with young people and their families, this situation has now improved and as a result there have been almost no serious events. The social worker for one young person who was at high risk said, ‘My child has made significant progress with his behaviour.’ This significant improvement in stability benefits individual young people and the group. The home is in a very rural location, but has two close neighbours. One has no concerns, but the other has complained about the service on several occasions. Agencies, including Ofsted, the parish council, and the police, have investigated and none of the concerns have been substantiated. The police have now installed closed-circuit television in order to monitor the issue. The manager has improved the written assessment of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

locality. This now shows, for example, that there are no other children’s homes nearby.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The location of the service facilitates outdoor activities. Young people get the full benefit of active, outdoor lifestyles. They have opportunities to spend time in the nearby hills, play football, go fishing, visit the skate park and go on trips. One social worker said, ‘[There are] fantastic activities, which are well thought out.’ All the young people comment favourably on this feature of the service. The last inspection identified shortfalls with regard to the way in which staff met the company’s policies on dogs. Some staff were bringing their dogs to work, so the manager completed written risk assessments for each animal. Consequently, few of the staff’s dogs now visit the home, which reduces the risk of accidents. All the young people enjoyed the celebrations for Halloween and Christmas. For some young people, the sensitive period around the new year proved to be extremely positive. This was achieved because of the staff’s careful work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has left to live with a foster family in his home area. This move occurred over a period of time that allowed the young person to feel fully engaged in it. The young person keeps in touch with staff. There have been very few changes in the resident group and some young people have benefited from living here for several years.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have a wide range of opportunities to express their views. Some have used these recently in order to improve their bedrooms with posters and other items. Staff have improved the bedrooms by redecorating them and installing new furniture. Each young person has a safe for private items. Recently, the manager simplified the use of these by installing key pads. The standard of presentation and cleanliness in the bedrooms is satisfactory, and further improvements are on the way. Young people have ample communal space for group and individual activities. The deputy manager is implementing several plans to refresh certain areas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Senior personnel are keen to improve the service further. To this end, the monitoring systems have been improved. The monthly quality assurance reports are now accurate and informative. In the past, the manager has struggled to evaluate the service accurately. He is now clear about the relevant regulations and about how to meet them.

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Information about this children’s home

A large provider of children’s services operates this home. The home is located in a rural area and may provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/07/2016 Full Good 24/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/12/2015 Full Good 10/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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 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 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: 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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