Children's home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

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 sustained effectiveness . The registered manager has recently announced that he is leaving the service and is currently not working in the home, although he remains registered with Ofsted at the time of this inspection. The responsible individual has implemented interim manager arrangements and has appointed an acting manager. The acting manager will apply to register with Ofsted in the coming weeks. At the last inspection in November 2016, Ofsted made seven requirements. The registered manager has sufficiently addressed five of these requirements and met the remaining two in part. The young person has made progress in some areas of her development since the last inspection. This is because staff provide improved care and support that better reflect her individual needs. For example, incidents of disruptive and challenging

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

behaviours have significantly reduced. Staff work with the young person to encourage reflection and contemplation. These bespoke and personalised one-to- one keywork sessions promote accountability and encourage the young person to take responsibility for her actions. Subsequently, these sessions help the young person to adopt positive means of managing her behaviour and frustrations. Since the last inspection, staff have reviewed and revised the internal risk assessments for the young person. These documents now detail all known risks and stipulate strategies to reduce these risks. This means that previously identified concerns, such as online safety and cyber bullying, are included in these records. Staff are more aware of the young person’s specific vulnerabilities when accessing social media sites and take action to reduce these risks. For example, staff complete tailored one-to-one sessions relating to safe internet access with the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person. These measures promote the young person’s safety. The acting manager has improved professional relationships between the service, the placing authority and other agencies. At the time of the last inspection, managers failed to effectively challenge other services or hold them accountable for their actions and inactions. These professional relationships are now stronger because of improved communication between all relevant parties. Nevertheless, these developments do not mean that the young person has access to an appropriate or registered education provision. Managers, staff and the placing authority have failed to take sufficient action to address this shortfall. This means that the young person is unable to participate in any form of suitable education. Subsequently, the young person does not recognise the importance or value of education, or appreciate the positive impact that continued formal learning will

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have on her future. Staff now make sure that they have access to all necessary information and documentation relating to the young person. The young person’s case files now include up-to-date statutory care plans. Staff devise internal placement plans, support plans and behaviour management plans that mirror the aims and objectives of the placing authority. This means that the young person receives planned and integrated care to support her personal development. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has made some improvements to the internal monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided by the service. Areas for review are now more pertinent to the function of the home and the individual needs of the young person. However, the quality of care assessment documents lack purposeful evaluation, feedback from young people and consultation with other professionals. These reports fail to sufficiently highlight

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the strengths of the service or identify any areas for improvement. Furthermore, the provider has not sent this internal review to Ofsted as required.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for one young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private organisation owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 Interim Sustained 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 education standard, the registered person must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

(viii) help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. 17/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)(c)) 17/04/2017

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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 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: 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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