Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 1 Unity Residential Care Services

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private provider.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged to be inadequate at the full inspection on 27 February 2017. Since the last inspection, one young person has moved to an alternative placement and one young person has recently moved into the home. This inspection found that managers are starting to make satisfactory progress in meeting the requirements set at the last inspection. Managers have taken action to ensure that the staff have the skills to recognise and protect young people from harm. There is now consistency between managers and staff in respect of setting boundaries for young people. Effective partnership working with placing authorities and appropriate risk assessments in respect of child sexual exploitation ensure that young people’s welfare is protected. Leadership and management of the home are stronger and a newly appointed manager is now in post. Ofsted are currently awaiting her application. Staff are now working as

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This monitoring visit

part of a team and ensure that the day-to-day care is arranged more effectively. This ensures that staff practice is more reliable. As a result, young people know what is expected of them and what they can expect from staff. The responsible individual feels that the team is moving forward and that it is able to meet the aims and objectives outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. For example, the responsible individual is ensuring that all new admissions are matched appropriately with the skills and experience of the staff team. This will ensure that young people’s needs are better met. The remaining requirements will be monitored at the next inspection. There have not been any new requirements made during this monitoring visit. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 2

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/02/2017 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

8: The education standard (1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (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. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

10: The health and well-being standard (1) The health and well-being standard is that— (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard (1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; 28/04/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 4 (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; 12: The protection of children standard (1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard (1) The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees 28/04/2017 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 5 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 28/04/2017

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unity Residential Care Services Ltd, 98 Lancaster Road, Newcastle Under Lyme ST5 1DS

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Inspector(s)

Sandra King, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 1237583 7 to 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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