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 offers care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 23 March 2013.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 14 to 16 November 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

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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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 23 January 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection : outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2018 Full Outstanding 21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/09/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 3

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Recommendations

 Local authorities have a duty under section 22(3A) of the Children Act 1989 to promote the educational achievement of their looked after children, which includes seeking a school or other education setting that is best suited to the child’s needs. The local authority’s responsibilities as a corporate parent apply wherever the child is placed (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.5). With specific regard to placing a child in an education setting closer to the children’s home.  In accordance with, ‘Managing medicines in care homes’ (March 2014), a care home provider offering non-prescription medicines or other over-the-counter- products (homely remedies) for treating minor ailments should consider having a homely remedies process, which includes what the medication is for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Care planning is exceptional. Plans are detailed, relevant and up to date, and work seamlessly with the in-house psychotherapy service for young people. This means that young people receive a high level of support that is specifically targeted at meeting their individual and complex needs. A social worker commented, ‘The home in my opinion is excellent. The staff are approachable and go above and beyond expectations to get the right care support and outcomes.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people work together with staff to develop and review their plans. Regular key- work sessions clearly highlight the levels of engagement and progress that young people make, while identifying future goals and targets. Records are regularly reviewed by young people. Reviewing this work helps young people to see the progress they make from their initial starting points and guides them towards their future goals and targets.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people and staff form excellent relationships. Staff have an in-depth knowledge of each young person and work with them in a way that promotes their individual strengths. This means that young people have a continuous sense of achievement and this strengthens their individual self-esteem and confidence. A staff member said, ‘We all go the extra mile. We really want the best for our young people.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the value of including families, where possible, in the planning of young people’s care. They work extremely hard to develop trusting relationships with family members and promote contact wherever it is possible. Where young people do not have Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 4 regular contact, they are helped and supported to understand why. Staff understand this painful journey and enable young people to express their feelings in a safe and nurturing environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Educational attendance and achievement are consistent features within this home. From their initial starting points, young people’s attendance has significantly increased, attainment has exceeded expectations and young people have formed positive friendships within their individual schools. Young people enjoy school. A teacher said, ‘The support and encouragement shown by staff have been the driving force to this young person’s progress. They have come along in leaps and bounds.’ However, the delay in one placing authority agreeing an education provision nearer to the children’s home means a travel time of 45 minutes each way. While the registered manager has been proactive in escalating this concern, the authority has yet to respond. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Healthcare is prioritised in the home. Young people are provided with additional internal and external support from a variety of professionals, including a psychotherapist, counsellors, advocates and the children looked after nurse. Young people engage with services and this means that they receive the best help and support to make effective changes in their lives. Medication is reviewed daily and health appointments are suitably managed and fully recorded. However, records of homely remedies do not consistently state the reason for administration. As a result, a true reflection of possible patterns and trends in young people’s minor ailments cannot be identified. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are supported to try new activities. Activities include the gym, horse riding, cycling and Cub Scouts. Furthermore, young people are encouraged to be themselves and enjoy the things they are interested in. For example, one young person is currently having piano lessons, while another young person enjoys his personal ball pool in his bedroom. Young people develop a sense of self-belief and this enhances their confidence and self-esteem. Photographs displayed in the home are a testament to the unique and valuable experiences that young people have, and the memories that they make, at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Consultation with young people is prioritised in the home. Observation of engagement between staff and young people demonstrated how young people’s views and opinions are respected and encouraged.

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

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. Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 5 Positive behaviour management is effective. Young people and staff form excellent relationships based on trust and mutual respect. Consequently, young people work with staff to identify areas for development and suitable rewards for the progress they make. Staff are consistent in their approach and this helps young people to manage their behaviour.

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

Young people know how to complain, and receive valuable information from the home and their placing authority to guide them in this area. Evidence from young people’s meetings and key-work sessions highlights consistent opportunities for young people to suggest any changes or improvements to the home. Ideas around activities, decor and menus are regularly reviewed with the young people. There have been no complaints since the last full inspection in January 2018.

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

Staff receive annual training in the use of physical intervention and pride themselves on their conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. Overall this works well. Where a physical intervention is required, detailed records including a debrief and key-work session highlight the steps taken to address behaviours and help to reduce further interventions. Since the last inspection in January 2018, episodes of physical intervention have significantly reduced in number.

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

Young people do not go missing from the home. Staff take effective measures to ensure the safety of young people at all times. On occasion, young people have been late returning from seeing a friend or playing out. However, staff are extremely proactive and make sure that young people understand the importance of their own safety, and of returning home on time.

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

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 styles and personalities, and are polite and happy. Observation of interactions between staff and young people evidenced the fun-loving and happy atmosphere which is apparent within the home. Young people are keen to show off their achievements, especially their rewards, and to share their aims for their futures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since 23 March 2013. She is qualified at National Vocational Qualification (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.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets 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. Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 6 Clear and detailed records outline the progress that young people make. Records are securely stored and regularly updated in accordance with the needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Internal 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. External monitoring also takes place in accordance with regulation. Reports provide a positive insight into the progress young people make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

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 a consistent annual training package. Mandatory training is regularly refreshed, with additional training being provided regarding the theoretical framework for attachment, which is the basis for all planned work with young people. Likewise, staff benefit from regular input from the organisation’s psychologist. Regular consultation sessions help young people and staff to focus on the progress being made with the young people’s emotional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

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 their education, self-esteem and positive social integration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home employs a strong and committed staff team, with the majority of residential staff being 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.

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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 or young person, in accordance with Regulation 40. Immediate action is taken to reduce risks, including, where necessary, the provision of 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

Two recommendations are made at this inspection. One recommendation is made to further develop records relating to homely remedies and a second recommendation refers to concerns regarding a placing authority’s delay in agreeing suitable education provision nearer to the children’s home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Three recommendations were made at the last inspection in January 2018. The registered manager has made excellent progress in addressing these matters. Specifically, records have been further developed to include a full chronology of the event, particularly in relation to absences, restraint and bullying. Inspection report children’s home: SC463188 7

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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: SC463188 8

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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, SO8, 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 9 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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