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

Inspection report children's home: 1259118 1 Registered provider: Stoke On Trent City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a local authority

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Information about this children's home

Inspection dates: 31 October to 1 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people feel safe.  Staff are proactive in supporting contact so that young people maintain key links with the people who are important to them.  The manager and staff work closely with other professionals to safeguard young Inspection report children's home: 1259118 2 people.  Young people’s health needs are met.  Staff receive training that supports their understanding of young people’s individual needs.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children's home's areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager has not ensured that monitoring systems are reviewed.  Not all staff have not completed the appropriate qualification within the regulatory timescale.  The manager has not ensured that the statement of purpose is reviewed and updated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

First inspection Inspection report children's home: 1259118 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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that promote their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(b)(2)(h)) 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ a person in a children's home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3) in particular that the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform (Regulation 32(2)(a)(3)(b)) 28/02/2018

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the statement of purpose is kept under review. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 14, paragraph 3.5) Inspection report children's home: 1259118 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive warm and nurturing care. This enables them to feel safe and well cared for. Staff understand the individual needs of the young people and provide care that reflects their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in partnership with schools to help young people to make educational progress. One young person has received an award for achieving 100% school attendance. Staff work closely with teachers, which helps to maintain this high attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that young people are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians. Staff support young people to attend regular appointments. Young people have access to psychological support services. When they experience delay in accessing these services, staff advocate on behalf of the young people. Because of this intervention, young people’s health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have daily access to activities that reflect their individual interests. These include trips out to local parks and a local football club. Staff are creative in finding local opportunities to meet young people’s needs. Staff assist young people to attend, providing transport and attending with them if appropriate. This means that young people have increased social experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that young people develop life skills in preparation for adulthood. Young people participate in cooking, shopping and self-care activities. Young people are helped to complete a formal independence programme. Staff support this through regular 1:1 sessions and reviews of their progress. This helps young people to be better prepared for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support young people’s family contact. One parent told inspectors ‘nothing is too much trouble.’ Family members visit the home regularly. They told inspectors that they are made to feel welcome.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people report feeling safe in the home. One young person told inspectors ‘They keep me safe’. Risk assessments for individual young people are clear and regularly reviewed. Inspection report children's home: 1259118 5 There are good reporting procedures in place for young people who go missing from care. Staff keep in contact with young people and work closely with other professionals to safeguard young people. All young people receive an independent return home interview that enables staff to have a better understanding of why young people have been missing.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been no physical intervention at the home since the home’s registration.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The manager makes sure that the organisation’s recruitment procedures are followed. All staff are suitably vetted before they work at the home to prevent employment of unsuitable people. This promotes the safety of young people.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff complete regular health and safety checks to ensure that the home remains safe for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager has not been in day-to-day management since June 2017. A new manager has provided cover during this period and is in the process of registering with Ofsted to take over the registered manager’s position.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The statement of purpose demonstrates the aims and objectives of the home. However, the manager has not ensured that the statement of purpose is accurate. For example, the document refers to another home. This hinders parents and placing social workers in receiving an accurate overview of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

An independent visitor completes monthly visits. The visitor gathers the views of staff, young people and professionals. These views are then used to help evaluate the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager makes sure that staff receive regular supervision. Staff take part in regular consultations with an external psychological service. This provides them with additional advice on management of behaviour. Staff told inspectors that they feel supported in their role. However, not all staff hold the required qualification in residential childcare within the required regulatory period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has established a range of professional networks that support the work of the staff. These include the police, housing, education and local safeguarding board. This supports a wider team approach to meeting the needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager’s monitoring and review of the service is not effective. For example, some of the home’s documents require reviewing and updating to make them working documents. Inspection report children's home: 1259118 6

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the 'Social care common inspection framework', this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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'. Inspection report children's home: 1259118 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: City Of Stoke On Trent, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke On Trent, ST4 1HH

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Susan Hammersley

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Inspectors

Tracey Coglan Greig, social care inspector Dave Carrigan, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 1259118 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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