Children's home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. Despite difficult circumstances, the registered manager and staff made sure that she felt supported. One child has also moved into the home. The registered manager engaged with a wide range of professionals prior to this. He sought their views and used these to make sure that the child experienced a smooth transition. As a result, the child has settled quickly. Her behaviour has improved and there are less serious incidents. Her school attendance is also good and she is making progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Another child also continues to make good progress in key areas of her life. Her school attendance is good and this is helping her to make good progress academically. In addition, she has developed numerous positive friendships in the local community. This helps her to have fun and to develop her social skills. Her social worker told the inspector, ‘She has been more settled here than anywhere. She has made the most progress here and is more emotionally settled.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has made improvements in some areas. This includes aspects of monitoring. This has resulted in internal processes starting to provide better oversight over the provision of care. The registered manager has also taken action to address some areas of poor performance. Consequently, he has met five of the eight shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Significantly, he has clarified expectations and processes surrounding incidents when children go missing. There have been no recent incidents of this nature. The changes made by the registered manager ensure that staff now have clear guidance. This has improved their awareness and their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In contrast, the registered manager has not adequately addressed a number of other shortfalls. These primarily relate to physical restraint and the use of sanctions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Generally, staff have strong and supportive relationships with children, who are positive about the care they receive. However, some staff have used sanctions in response to negative behaviour that are not always reasonable. For example, on one occasion a senior member of staff told a child that she would not get her bedtime story that night due to her behaviour. The registered manager took swift action to make sure that this sanction was not used. However, this could have caused significant upset to the child. On another occasion, a child was told she would have to pay towards the cost of replacing food items she had touched, without washing her hands. These measures are excessive and unreasonable. They also demonstrate that staff cannot always communicate expectations about a child’s behaviour in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding. In addition, records of these incidents lack detail. Specifically, they do not

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

demonstrate that staff consider the effectiveness of the measure or the consequences of its use. The registered manager is aware of these issues. He is taking steps to improve practice in this area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although incidents of aggressive behaviour have reduced, staff are still required to use physical restraint at times. Practice and recording in this area are variable. On one occasion, a member of staff used a restraint that was not proportionate. The registered manager talked to the child after this incident. She raised concerns that the hold used had restricted her breathing. The registered manager took some action to address this. He made sure that medical attention was offered to the child and raised the issue with the child’s social worker. He also discussed the incident with both of the staff that were involved. However, there was a significant delay before he took adequate steps to make sure that this hold would not be used again. This could have placed children at risk of harm. The response of a senior manager during the inspection was swift and this issue is now being suitably addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records of physical restraints do not always contain adequate detail. For example, on some occasions staff record several restraints as one incident. As a result, the duration of each technique is not always clear. Furthermore, the record does not adequately describe the hold used. The registered manager discusses the holds with staff who demonstrate the technique to him. However, the lack of clarity in the records does not allow for easy oversight and future reference.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager consults regularly with children and actively seeks their views. He also has good relationships with children’s families when this is appropriate. The registered manager has also developed close working relationships with a number of other agencies including social care, health, the police and education. This helps to make sure that children receive consistent messages about their care and that information is shared appropriately. However, the registered manager does not include or consider the views of children, parents, placing authorities and staff in his ‘quality of care review’. This detracts from the quality of the report but has little direct impact on the quality of care received by children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A local authority operates the home. The home only supports children from the local authority’s area.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 03/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 03/02/2016 Full Requires improvement 13/10/2015 Full Inadequate 23/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with particular reference to behaviour, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding 10/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no measure of control or discipline which is excessive or unreasonable is used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19(1)) 10/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that restraint in relation to a child is always necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20(2)) 10/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes a description of the measure and its duration. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(iv)) 10/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)) 10/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a ‘quality of care review’ which provides for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(5)) 10/04/2017

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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 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 whom 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: 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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