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

Inspection report children’s home: SC387784 1 SC387784 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 supports young people aged between 10 and 17 years old. The home offers care and accommodation for up to two young people. A local authority operates the home. The home only supports children from the local authority’s area. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 February 2019

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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

Date of last inspection: 23 January 2018

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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: SC387784 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2018 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC387784 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(xi)) 10/03/2019

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home to live independently. One young person has moved into the home, who is the sibling of the young person currently in placement. The manager considered carefully professionals’ views before the young person moved in. This information was used to inform an initial impact risk assessment which identified the appropriateness of the placement in meeting both young people’s needs. The assessment also helped to identify actions that may be needed to reduce any risk-taking behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The new young person’s reviewing officer told the inspector, ‘I can honestly say that since being at the home, I can see for myself that, amongst other things, [name of the young person] has made huge progress, especially in relation to his self-confidence and development of his social skills.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC387784 4 Care plans reflect young people’s individual needs and how staff will meet them. These are reviewed regularly, which helps to ensure that young people are getting support based on their current needs and risks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have clear health plans and are registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. Staff receive guidance from relevant professionals to support their work with individual young people to facilitate implementation of agreed strategies and support. This provides continuity for each young person. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained on the administration of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people are engaged in education and benefit from support to promote their educational achievement. All young people have good school attendance at their respective education provisions. Their educational achievements are positive, considering both their attainment and progress from their starting points. Additionally, staff support and encourage young people to complete homework and to access activities to support their overall educational attainment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family contact is promoted and there is a clear understanding of the importance of this for both young people. One parent told the inspector, ‘The staff have been great, they have supported me with contact arrangements that has really helped. I cannot thank them enough’. This was validated by a reviewing officer, who told the inspector, ‘Carers promote, encourage and support family contact, so much so that Dad is encouraged to visit the boys in placement.’

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

Staff understand young people’s vulnerabilities and the risks that some behaviours may pose to their welfare and safety. Good levels of supervision and support, alongside good- quality risk assessments, are used to protect young people and minimise the risk of harm.

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

Staff receive safeguarding training that is regularly refreshed. They have a good understanding of their duties in promoting young people’s welfare. They understand the procedures to follow in relation to safeguarding concerns and allegations. This reinforces the safety and protection of young people living in the home.

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

Some members of staff’s response to young people’s challenging behaviour has not been consistent, and not all staff members are as confident or competent in dealing with some behaviours displayed by young people. For example, some staff members have locked themselves in the staff office as a de-escalation technique. This does not give a consistent, positive message to the young people.

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

Staff take health and safety seriously in the home, and this helps to keep young people safe. Equipment and installations are serviced as required. Fire safety tests are carried out as required and young people and staff take part in regular fire drills. Inspection report children’s home: SC387784 5 Young people are protected by the local authority’s recruitment practice. This means that only adults deemed suitable and safe are employed to care for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has an appropriately qualified registered manager in place. The manager has been in post since January 2018 and holds a level 4 national vocational qualification in leadership, health and social care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and annual performance appraisal, and report that this supports their practice. Most staff are qualified to a level 3 diploma in residential childcare. Those who are unqualified are in the regulatory period to obtain their qualification. Training opportunities, in addition to the mandatory training, are good. This helps to ensure that staff are supported in developing their practice over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses weekly team meetings to ensure that everyone is up to date about how to promote and protect the young people’s safety. A psychologist who works with the authority attends team meetings, which enables staff to reflect on any incidents of significance and how they can learn from them. This means that learning is captured from significant incidents, which enables staff to learn and develop greater skills in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Suitable action has been taken to address the recommendation from the previous inspection. The statement of purpose document has been updated and now accurately describes the service.

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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: SC387784 6

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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: SC387784 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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