Children's home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Cannock Chase

Inspection report children’s home: SC066881 1 SC066881 Registered provider: Educare Adolescent Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people, aged between seven and 18 years old, who have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager has worked for the company since June 2018. She has obtained her level 5 qualification in leadership and management, has 13 years’ residential experience and has submitted her registration to Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 December 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: SC066881 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2017 Full Good 15/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/09/2016 Full Outstanding 10/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC066881 3

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(g)(ii)(h)) 30/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy which sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect.

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Requirement Due date

The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular— provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (1)(b)(2)(d)) 30/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all necessary information; and within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 30/01/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taking in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 30/01/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC066881 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been no admissions or discharges since the last inspection. The home is very well presented and maintained to a good standard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have built trusting relationships with staff. Young people report that they feel listened to. For example, one young person said, ‘I feel respected by staff and get the attention I need.’ This means that young people have a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have access to an independent advocate. This helps young people to raise any views, wishes and feelings in respect of their care to someone independent of the home and their social worker.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people know how to complain. However, when young people have raised complaints, not all their concerns are dealt with in line with the home’s policies. For example, young people’s complaints are not always addressed in a timely manner. This means that on occasion young people are not being provided with feedback on the actions taken to address their concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people attend school full-time and are making good progress. The staff liaise well with schools and provide additional support when young people need help.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are supported to attend health appointments. An in-house clinical team offers support and advice to staff to assist them to understand each young person’s needs. The manager is proactive in advocating for additional services to be put in place to meet the young people’s emotional health needs and will escalate concerns with the placing authority when required. This multi-agency engagement helps to support young people’s progress.

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

Staff undertake key-work sessions with young people. These sessions cover a range of subjects, including relationships, behaviour and using social media. This promotes their welfare and provides young people with an opportunity to express their wishes and feelings.

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

Staff use physical restraint as a last resort and instead adopt the organisation’s de- escalation model, known as playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy (PACE) to engage young people and help them manage their behaviours and emotions. There have been several occasions when a physical restraint has been used to de-escalate an incident, although these have not all been recorded in line with regulatory requirements. This compromises the practice of staff and does not allow for managerial review and Inspection report children’s home: SC066881 5 evaluation.

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

Young people’s individual risk assessments contain clear guidance for staff. These documents are reviewed and updated regularly to ensure that they remain current. As a result, staff understand the needs of the young people and how to support them to keep them safe.

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

Since the last inspection, an investigation into an allegation has been undertaken. Despite the investigation being completed, the manager does not have access to all the findings. This creates a missed opportunity to develop staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since June 2018. The manager is passionate about the home and this ethos is also echoed by staff. There is an experienced and committed staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although there are monitoring systems in place to evaluate the quality of care afforded to young people, at times this is not consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team receive supervision in line with the home’s policies and procedures. This means that the manager and staff are regularly receiving feedback in respect of their performance.

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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: SC066881 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Educare Adolescent Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Venture House, 12 Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspector

Sarah Junor-Fitzpatrick, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC066881 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 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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