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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff provide young people with a high degree of continuity and stability. There have been minimal changes in young people, with most young people showing good levels of progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the three young people have progressed into the home from rural placements. These moves were well planned. One social worker recently said, ‘[My young person] has settled well. The team has helped her engage in education with positive outcomes.’ The suburban setting provides young people with a high degree of independence. They learn to take advantage of the opportunities while sustaining their other commitments, such as that to education. Most young people make friends locally and use sports and other amenities. One young person gained sufficient skills to return to her home area. Having greater independence does not always go smoothly. However, staff liaise well with fellow professionals to implement strategies to help young people to re-engage. For example, diverting a young person from minor truanting. His attendance at school has now reverted to an acceptable rate and he shows a high level of effort.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection, the manager improved the way in which staff address each young person’s targets. This reduces the documentation used by young people and improves their engagement with the objectives. It also means that young people have a clearer understanding of their circumstances, such as the reasons for moving here.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff proactively address difficulties. One young person has found it hard to settle here and staff are actively helping the social worker and family to resolve the situation. When staff have concerns, they promptly use their links with the police to assess young people’s social networks. Consequently, young people stay safe. Since the last inspection, no notifiable incidents have occurred. Other professionals praise the way that staff apply boundaries consistently.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The standard of presentation of the property is good overall. Some areas are damaged or worn, such as the kitchen and landing, and the manager has recorded these for attention by the maintenance team. The manager monitors the service and addresses emerging patterns and trends. For example, in young people’s behaviours. However, the manager’s six-monthly reports do not sufficiently evaluate the opinions of young people or show what actions are necessary to improve the service. The monthly reports about the service produced by the company’s independent person are now sufficiently factual. They confirm that young people feel safe and happy in this home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has improved her attention to the developmental needs of herself and her team. Staff now routinely use online training courses and become confident in a wide range of subjects of actual and potential relevance to young people, such as radicalisation and post-traumatic stress disorder. The manager has completed a short course on cognitive behavioural therapy, which she intends to use in planning the direct work with young people.

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Information about this children's home

A large private provider operates this children’s home. Ofsted has registered it to care and accommodate up to four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/09/2016 Full Good 10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/09/2015 Full Good 16/03/2015 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

Produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review. This is with regard to producing a report that includes an evaluation of the quality of care, the feedback and opinions of children and any actions necessary to improve or maintain the service. (Regulation 45 (3)) 24/04/2017

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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 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 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

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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