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

Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 1 SC381089 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 has been one change in the young people living in the home. This has resulted in one young person leaving the home to move to another residential placement within the authority.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress. They benefit from high levels of support and guidance given to them by staff. A social worker said to the inspector, ‘This is a good placement; it meets all of [young person’s] needs and takes her views into account.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that young people’s school attendance and engagement with Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 2 education continue to be good. As a result, young people are making good educational progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are registered with primary healthcare services and are supported to attend any appointments. Specialist support is readily available to meet the emotional needs of young people through tailored therapeutic sessions. Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe management of medicines to help to promote the safety and well-being of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe in this home. However, one incident was not particularly well managed. Staff did not use the appropriate de-escalation techniques or other alternative strategies to respond to young people’s challenging behaviour. This resulted in the use of physical restraint. Since the incident, the manager has taken time to reflect on the incident to improve staff practice. This has included staff receiving additional training.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know what action to take to promote young people’s safety if a young person goes missing from the home. No young person has gone missing from the home since the last inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote family contact. This means that young people are able to maintain their relationships with people who are important to them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are protected by effective health and safety procedures that include staff undertaking regular fire drills. Recruitment and selection processes are thorough. These measures positively promote the safety of the young people by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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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 June 2016. Staff are suitably trained and qualified, and the manager has development plans in place for staff to ensure that they develop, as well as improving the quality of care provided to meet young people’s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working with social workers, health professionals, the police and other professionals is effective. This results in good coordinated support to meet young people’s needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has responded positively to the two requirements and one recommendation raised at the last inspection. The lounge area of the home has recently been refurbished, and staff are now more familiar with the home’s whistle-blowing policy and risk assessments. Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/08/2016 Full Requires improvement 03/02/2016 Full Requires improvement

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on mutual respect and trust, an understanding about acceptable behaviour and positive responses to other children and adults. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iv)(xi)) 09/04/2018

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 4 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

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: SC381089 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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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: SC381089 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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