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

Inspection report children’s home: 2484586 1 Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home offers care and accommodation for up to two young people. A local authority operates the home. The home only supports young people from the local authority’s area. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2484586 2

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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. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h)) 17/02/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must— keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 17/02/2019

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the home’s first inspection since registration in August 2018. Since this time, there has been one admission to the home. The young person has settled in quickly and has developed a good relationship with all the staff. This stability has given her a sense of permanency. The young person told the inspector, ‘I like it here. The staff are nice, and I feel safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the healthcare needs of the young person are met. The young person is encouraged and supported to attend all routine appointments with the relevant healthcare services. Specialist support is readily available to meet the emotional and psychological needs of the young person through individual therapeutic sessions. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained effectively on the administration of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value education and use their positive relationship with the young person to ensure that she has good attendance and has every opportunity to reach her potential. Staff Inspection report children’s home: 2484586 3 work well with education professionals and ensure that any barriers to the young person’s learning are challenged effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships with family and friends are promoted. This enables the young person to retain positive links with those people who are important to her.

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

Staff are knowledgeable about the young person’s vulnerabilities. They have developed detailed risk assessments and management plans that are reviewed and updated so they remain relevant and effective.

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

Staff know how to manage the young person’s behaviour safely. The young person receives regular praise and rewards for positive behaviour. If the young person’s behaviour becomes challenging, staff engage with her in a way that matches her understanding and circumstances. This helps the young person to appreciate the effect her behaviour has on herself and others.

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

Staff ensure that the home is well maintained, and all relevant health and safety checks are in place. All equipment is regularly maintained and when necessary serviced or replaced. Staff are trained in fire safety and records indicate that fire drills take place.

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

The young person is protected by the organisation’s recruitment practice. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the young person by preventing unsuitable adults from working with her.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since August 2018 and holds a degree in social work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the manager. They benefit from regular supervision that enables them to reflect on their practice and development. Most staff are suitably qualified or currently undertaking the relevant qualification. Staff have access to training that equips them with the necessary skills to meet the needs of the young person in their care. However, the training record is not kept up to date. This leaves the manager without an accurate log of the training completed by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose has recently been reviewed. However, the document refers to another home within the authority. This casts doubt over the uniqueness and accuracy of the document.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with other professionals and family members is good. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to assist the young person’s progress and to maximise her potential. Inspection report children’s home: 2484586 4

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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: 2484586 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City of Stoke-on-Trent, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 1HH

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2484586 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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