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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has left after a three-year placement, when it was agreed by professionals that the home could no longer meet his needs. He had made significant progress during his placement, but his needs had become increasingly complex. Staff sensitively supported him to move to a new placement.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted since the last inspection. Both of the young people in placement are settled and progressing well in this welcoming, comfortable and well-maintained home. The home has had a new bathroom and one young person has new bedroom furniture. Young people form warm and trusting relationships with staff, with whom they enjoy banter and laughter. The child-focused staff listen to young people and support them with any issues they may have. One young person attends education regularly and is achieving very well academically.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Dedicated staff are working hard to identify an appropriate education placement for the new young person, who was not in education for several months in his previous placement. Observant staff quickly recognised that he is gifted at football and found a club for him to join, thereby supporting his physical and emotional well-being and future aspirations. His parent said,‘He has been here five weeks, they have been fantastic. He is doing so well and they have done this for him. He has really good relationships with the women, which he doesn’t normally. He has not had consistency before. They have pushed him in so many different directions that no one else has, for example, with his football. He likes it and tells me he knows he is doing well. I believe he will make something of his life now because of them.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have been kept safe since the last inspection with no requirements for physical intervention, no young people going missing and no self-harm, drug misuse or child sexual exploitation. Staff are highly trained in safeguarding and, in addition, have good relationships with young people and ensure high levels of supervision to support young people’s safety. Staff undertake detailed risk assessments, which the registered manager reviews, and they undertake direct work with young people to help them to understand how to keep themselves safe. Staff talk with young people about internet safety, child sexual exploitation and how to identify appropriate and inappropriate relationships. Staff ensure that any concerns about other agencies or professionals are appropriately followed up. Parents praise the level of care and safety within the home. One parent said, ‘He is not smoking, doing drugs or alcohol and has not gone missing. He is in a good

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has supported the young people and staff though a difficult few months, when a young person, who has now left, exhibited increasingly violent behaviours towards staff. A number of staff sustained injuries and high levels of emotional stress when caring for him. The registered manager made the difficult decision to inform his placing authority that he must leave his placement, as staff lacked the skills and training to meet his needs. The resulting staff shortages placed pressure on the remaining staff and the registered manager to cover additional shifts in order to provide consistent care to both young people. The situation is now being resolved with staff returning or being replaced, and work that had fallen behind, such as staff supervision, now being brought up to date.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager felt strongly that the clinical team for the provider did not sufficiently support her team, and that each staff member should have had some clinical supervision. She challenged the clinical team, which is now exploring how it will support staff in the future when these situations arise.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensured that young people continued to receive a good standard of care. She responded positively to the requirement of the previous inspection, resulting in the home being safer and having a new bathroom for young people to enjoy. There is a small amount of brick work in the garden that has been damaged and needs to be replaced in order to prevent accidents occurring.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to care for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home currently offers crisis intervention and short-, medium- and long-term placements for children and young people aged 10 to 17 on admission.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/11/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/10/2015 Full Good

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2)(d) the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. 28/04/2017

p.5

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’.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.7