Children's Home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report children’s home: SC369840 1 SC369840 Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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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. A local authority operates the home. The home only supports children from the local authority’s area.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no new admissions or young people moving out. Young people continue to make good progress from living at the home. Young people have experienced positive changes. These include engaging with specialist services, engaging with staff and learning how to keep themselves safe

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people have good school attendance. Staff provide consistent and nurturing support and, through this, young people value the role that education plays in their lives. One young person told the inspector, ‘I like school now. I have settled down a bit, and manage to go through a whole day without misbehaving.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC369840 2 Staff continue to ensure that the healthcare needs of young people are met. Young people access all primary healthcare services, such as doctors, dentists, opticians and specialist providers. Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe management of medicines to promote the safety and well-being of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Levels of missing from home are low, and since the last inspection there have been no physical interventions. This is a consequence of staff using positive interventions at an early stage and rewarding young people’s positive behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact arrangements support young people to maintain positive relationships with their family and friends. Staff will facilitate contact by providing transport. This helps to ensure that these important connections are maintained.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff carry out regular fire drills to ensure that the premises are safe and that young people know what to do in case of an emergency.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well maintained and decorated. Young people take pride in their bedrooms and have personalised them. However, the bath in the bathroom is showing signs of age and is stained and discoloured. This presents as an unsightly and unhygienic facility for young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be managed by a suitably qualified manager who has been in post since December 2016. Staff benefit from a range of appropriate training to develop their knowledge and professional practice. New staff undergo an induction programme and all staff either have or are working towards the level 3 diploma in residential childcare. As a result, staff are well trained and qualified to meet the needs of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has responded positively to the three requirements and two recommendations raised at the last inspection. Young people’s damaged bedroom furniture has now been replaced, the statement of purpose and workforce plan have both been updated, staff supervision records now contain more detail and young people have undertaken online safety training. Inspection report children’s home: SC369840 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2017 Full Good 06/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 09/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(2)(c)(i)) 30/03/2018

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC369840 4 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

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: SC369840 5

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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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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC369840 6 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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