Children's home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 1 SC463188 Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care And Education Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care and accommodation for four children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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managers

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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managers

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2017

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managers

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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managers

Enforcement action since last inspection: N/A

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people with a history of non-engagement make and sustain valuable relationships at this home. Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 2  When young people have previously been involved in risk-taking behaviour, this is greatly reduced.  Excellent care planning helps young people to make positive changes in their lives and develop aspirations for their future.  Young people grow in confidence and self-esteem. Personalities flourish in this home.  Young people with a history of non-attendance at educational settings now access full-time education and external college settings. Young people make excellent progress.  Consultation with young people is very well planned. Young people are eager to engage and they voice valuable views and opinions that are listened to and acted upon.  Healthcare planning is excellent. Collaborative working between the service, young people and health professionals means that all health concerns are

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Key findings from this inspection

exceptionally well addressed.  Detailed key-work sessions reflect the aims and goals of the service. Young people are key to identifying and reviewing their placement goals.  Young people are happy in the home. They form excellent relationships with staff and clearly recognise this house as being their home.  Young people make excellent progress. Incidents of unacceptable behaviour are considerably reduced. Strategies for managing unacceptable behaviour are entirely individual to each young person and clearly reflect triggers, behaviour and positive management strategies.  Young people rarely absent themselves from the home. On the occasions when this has happened, staff take effective action to return the young person and work through the reasons for the episode. Managers escalate behaviour of concern effectively and this ensures that a wrap-around safety package is developed quickly.  Staff benefit from consistent training opportunities. This range of targeted

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Key findings from this inspection

training provides staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake work with difficult and complex young people.  Supervision is consistent and effective. Staff feel exceptionally well supported and are happy and motivated in their work with young people.  The home is maintained to a high standard and provides a spacious, warm and child-friendly environment in which young people can flourish.

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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

 While the home completes detailed incident reports for any episode of a young person being missing or absent, there is no individual log as a reference guide to identify patterns and trends.  Similarly, any episode of bullying is addressed, managed effectively and Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 3 recorded as an incident. However, there is no individual log as a reference guide in order to identify patterns and trends.  Records of restraint are held within an individual log and a full incident report is routinely completed. However, reports do not always identify the release and restart times of a restraint where behaviour has escalated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/12/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all records of restraint are reviewed in order to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern arise. Specifically, records should contain release and restart information where behaviour has escalated over a period of time. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ paragraph 9.59, page 49)  Ensure that a specific record or log is kept detailing all individual incidents of when children go missing from the home to aid the clear evaluation of missing incidents. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 9.31, page 45)  Ensure that a specific record or log is maintained in the event of an incident of bullying in the home in order to evaluate patterns and trends in accordance with Regulation 34 (3). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, paragraph 8.16, page 39)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection in February 2017, three young people have moved on from the home. One young person made a successful transition into foster care while another young person made a positive transition to independent living. One young person was discharged from the home after the manager and staff assessed his needs as being more effectively met in a smaller group setting. The assessment provided by the home ensured that this young person was placed in a home more suited to meet his complex individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people living in this home have a range of complex attachment difficulties. They have found previous placements, both residential and foster care, difficult to maintain. Consequently, young people have had multiple placements before coming to live at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are committed to ensuring that young people feel safe and happy at this home. They work hard to build young people’s trust and respect young people’s difficulties in managing this. During the inspection, it was clear that young people have built positive and trusting relationships with staff. One young person said, ‘I get on really well with the staff here. They are funny and help me a lot.’ A social worker said, ‘My young person has spoken very positively about his experiences at living in this home and although he finds it hard to admit, he has reflected on ways that his time there has helped him.’ The registered manager said, ‘We build a culture of nurture, safety and trust. We want young people to have positive experiences and memories of their time with us.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 5 Care planning is excellent. The registered manager and staff ensure that young people’s

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

individual needs are prioritised and addressed effectively. Weekly key-work sessions, group sessions and individual consultation with the organisation’s cognitive behavioural therapist enable young people to come to terms with their past and begin to move forward. Young people are cared for on a one-to-one basis and are central to developing their care package. They consistently review their care with staff and make comments and suggestions as they progress. This ensures that young people have a sense of control about decisions being made about them and their future. From their initial starting points, young people make excellent progress in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Appropriate contact with family and friends is prioritised. Updated contact plans ensure that young people only have contact where it is formally agreed. Prompt action is taken by staff where any concerns arise and this serves to minimise any disruption between family relationships. For example, staff provide additional support and supervision where necessary to ensure that young people and their families have positive and happy experiences. As a result of this work, plans are in place for one young person to return to live with his family at the Easter break. Likewise, where contact is restricted, young people are consistently helped to understand the reasons why, and are supported to come to terms with these decisions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people come to the home with a history of educational disruption, which may include non-attendance or disruption in school. Staff work well with the virtual headteacher and educational coordinator to ensure that young people receive the right support and guidance in order to sustain an educational placement. As a result, young people reintegrate into school. School reports highlight excellent progress. One young person has progressed so well in Year 5 that he has not only caught up, but has completed the year’s work for Year 6. Another young person with a history of educational difficulty is now on target to gain eight GCSE examinations. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘It is clear during my review meetings that all staff are totally committed to understanding and meeting the needs of the child I review, with a view to achieving the desired outcomes.’ The staff at this home demonstrate a clear

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

commitment to educational attainment and achievement for all young people. This undoubtedly significantly increases their life chances as they grow into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people take part in a range of activities, for example snow-boarding, ice skating, football, gymnastics, trampolining and attending the gym. They also have ample toys and games in the home appropriate to their mixed age range. It is clear that the home works hard to address personal interests, abilities and aspirations of each young person and develop activity planners with them in order to try out new things. While discussing activities with young people, the inspector observed them complementing each other on their skills in different activities. One young person commented, ‘He will be the next world-class gymnast.’ This level of open praise shared between young people, peers and staff provides young people with the confidence and motivation to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Consultation with young people is part and parcel of the day-to-day routines in the home. Young people engage in one-to-one consultation sessions, key-work sessions and group discussions. They are encouraged to complete in-house questionnaires and Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 6 provide feedback on how the home operates and the work undertaken with them. A young person said, ‘It is good here because staff talk to us about everything. We are asked our opinions and they count. It’s really good.’

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

Young people’s safety is prioritised effectively within the home. Detailed impact assessments ensure that all young people placed at the home are assessed against the needs, interests and aspirations of those already resident. Likewise, individual risk assessments are balanced against a full chronology of life events. This means that risk is measured, and appropriate individual strategies are in place to address any concerns.

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

Behaviour management is effective. Young people and staff form excellent relationships based on trust and mutual respect. Consequently, young people work well with staff to identify areas for development and a suitable reward for the progress they make. Staff are consistent in their approach, and this enables young people to work within the house boundaries. Young people say, ‘It is fair here. The staff are sound and help me a lot.’ A social worker said, ‘Since my young person has lived in this home, there has been a massive improvement in emotional health, behaviour and self-regulation.’

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

Young people know how to complain, and receive valuable information from the home and their placing authority to guide them in this area. Since the last inspection, there have been no complaints made. A young person said, ‘If we are not happy, we can make a complaint or speak to the staff or our social worker.’ Evidence from young people’s meetings and key-work sessions highlights consistent opportunities for young people to raise any matters they feel need to change or be improved. Ideas around activities, decor and menus are regularly reviewed with the young people.

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

Staff receive annual training in the use of physical intervention and pride themselves on their conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. On the whole, this works well with the majority of young people. For example, where young people exhibit behaviour which could place themselves or others at risk, they require a minimal hold on an infrequent basis to help them to calm down and regulate their emotions. Likewise, risk assessments are updated in partnership with the organisation’s cognitive behavioural therapist, staff and young person. This process enables all parties to review what works and what doesn’t work to inform future behaviour management strategies. However, where behaviour escalates, resulting in a restraint stopping and starting again in order to protect the young person, records are not always clear and can be misinterpreted. For example, where a restraint needs to resumed, this needs to be clearly recorded in the

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

incident report. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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

The home operates a robust no-bullying policy. Staff work closely with young people to reinforce this message in the day-to day-running of the home. Anti-bullying messages, including posters, are provided and include details of what to do if they experience any form of bullying. Episodes of bullying or targeting behaviour are recorded as an incident and held on file. Risk assessments are updated and key-work sessions take place to address such behaviours. However, there is no clear log to identify how many episodes Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 7 of bullying have taken place or if there are any patterns or trends that trigger this behaviour. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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

Young people come to the home with a history of absenting themselves from their previous placement. Staff prioritise young people’s safety and work with young people to identify risks and to develop an individual missing-from-home plan. Partnership working between placing authorities and external safeguarding services ensures that young people receive the wrap-around support they need in order to keep safe. As a result, there is a significant reduction in young people going missing or absent from the home. However, although incidents of young people being absent or missing from the home are clearly recorded in an incident report, there is no clear log to identify patterns and trends connected to the incident. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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

Since the last inspection in February 2017, there have been two allegations made by young people. The manager and staff take effective steps to ensure the continued safety of young people during the investigation process. Records are clear and contain the outcome and any actions required to reduce further risk. A staff member said, ‘We understand the safeguarding protocol and report matters immediately. The young people need to know they are safe in their home.’

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

Young people live at a home with consistent routines, boundaries and expectations. Young people thrive. They are safe, cared for and believe in themselves. This is clearly evident in how young people present themselves. They are confident, have good social skills, have developed their own style and personality and are polite and happy. Young people have also developed an uplifting sense of humour. Observations of interactions between staff and young people evidence the fun-loving and happy atmosphere which is apparent at the home. Young people are keen to show off their achievements, especially their rewards, and their aims for their future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since March 2013. She is qualified at NVQ level 5 in social care management. She is committed to leading a consistent, dedicated and strong team in the delivery of individualised nurturing childcare practice. Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets and exceeds the aims and objectives of the statement of purpose, and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support that the home provides. Internal and external monitoring systems provide the home with an exceptional approach to the overall monitoring of care. Detailed information highlights areas for development, and the manager’s action plan details the methods used to enhance the service. Staff receive a high level of support from the manager. Supervision takes place regularly and serves to identify training needs and personal development targets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are provided with an excellent annual training package. Mandatory training is regularly refreshed, while additional training based around the theoretical framework for Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 8 attachment is the basis for all planned work with young people. Likewise, staff benefit from regular input from the organisation’s cognitive behavioural therapist and children looked after nurse, who play vital roles in the development of personalised effective care planning. Therefore, staff receive up-to-date, quality training essential to maintaining the excellent childcare practice evident in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager makes good use of reflective practice, and the views of external services and families are taken into account to ensure that young people’s needs are appropriately met. The registered manager and staff demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering excellent child-centred practice that is tailored to the individual and personal needs of young people. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress that young people make, particularly in education, self-esteem and positive social integration. The home employs a strong and committed staff team. Senior residential staff are qualified at NVQ level 5 and residential staff are all qualified at NVQ level 3. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care and management of young people. Leaders and managers ensure that all referrals to the home are suitably assessed for compatibility. Evidence of impact assessment leading to decisions to place or not to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

place demonstrates a clear commitment to the young people already placed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The statement of purpose is reviewed and updated where necessary, with a copy forwarded to Ofsted in accordance with regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff routinely notify Ofsted, placing authorities, parents and community police of any concern or event involving a child in accordance with regulation 40. Immediate action is taken to reduce risks, including, where necessary, additional staffing. The home places the needs of the young people at the forefront of its practice and this is evidenced in the excellent progress they make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

At the last inspection in February 2017, six recommendations were made to improve practice further. A review of these recommendations was made at this inspection and they are deemed to have been met. Three recommendations are made at this inspection. These recommendations are linked to recording issues and do not impact on the excellent care received by young people. It is recommended that logs relating to episodes of going missing, absences and any bullying incidents would help inform the manager’s quality monitoring programme.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 9 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: SC463188 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care And Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Genesis Centre, Unit 18, North Staffs Enterprise Centre, Innovation Way, Stoke-On-Trent ST6 4BF

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 11 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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