Children's Home run by Steps 4 Life Care Limited in Wolverhampton

Inspection report children’s home: SC474724 1 SC474724 Registered provider: Steps 4 Life Care 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 home provides care for up to four children and young people between the ages of eight and 16 at the point of admission. Care is provided to children and young people who may have complex behavioural and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has an experienced and qualified registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 28 to 29 November 2018

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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 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC474724 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2018 Full Good 19/09/2016 Full Good 17/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC474724 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate and enthusiastic about the children and young people they care for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people make good progress. They have good school attendance and are thriving educationally as a result. Children and young people can manage their emotions and behaviour better than in the past because staff help them to make better choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people make good progress in developing life skills. This is because staff set achievable targets that are linked to their care plans. These include cooking meals, washing their own clothes and getting to school independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager considers the impact of each child or young person moving into the home. Mostly, matching information is good and well considered. However, on one occasion the placing authority did not provide all the relevant information prior to the young person being placed. This resulted in the placement being unsuccessful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are child-focused in their practice and reflect on how they can best meet the needs of the children and young people in their care. Children and young people who struggle with their emotions are well supported because staff understand their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The organisation is starting to develop a therapeutic model of care. The staff are positive about this development and believe it will support them in how they care for children and young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC474724 4

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

Staff have good safeguarding knowledge. When children and young people have gone missing from the home the staff response is good. The swift action of the staff means that children and young people are safeguarded from potential harm. For example, staff prevented one young person from meeting unknown males and provided intelligence to the police to help safeguard the young person in the future.

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

Staff are good at de-escalating children and young people’s behaviour and do not instantly resort to using physical restraint. The registered manager and staff are committed to exploring the reasons behind a child’s or young person’s change in behaviour, so they can provide the right support. As a result, there has been a reduction in the number of physical restraints used.

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

The registered manager supports staff in developing their knowledge on topics relating to child exploitation, safeguarding and radicalisation. This is done through training, and by testing their knowledge by using quizzes and discussions in team meetings. When appropriate, this information is shared with children and young people to support them in keeping themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is appropriately qualified and experienced. She is creative in supporting staff to learn and develop their practice. For example, staff are encouraged to use research to inform their everyday care of children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that children and young people are involved in decisions about the home. For example, she has consulted with the children and young people about how they would like to personalise their bedrooms.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The number of staff on duty is enough to ensure that the needs of each child and young person are met. Staff receive regular supervision, are well trained and feel well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is committed to supporting children and young people’s progress. She has a creative approach which is mirrored by the staff. Professionals involved in the home speak positively about the registered manager and staff and feel that communication is good.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC474724 5 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: SC474724 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Steps 4 Life Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Arbor House, Broadway North, Walsall, West Midlands WS1 2AN

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Inspector

Lisa O’Donovan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC474724 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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