Children's home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report children’s home: SC434520 1 SC434520 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 home is operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to four young people who have social and emotional difficulties. The company has its own therapeutic team. The manager has been registered since 2011 and is suitably qualified.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC434520 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2017 Full Outstanding 28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/12/2016 Full Good 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC434520 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people continue to make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives. They enjoy living in a well-maintained, comfortable and homely environment, where staff work endlessly to create an atmosphere that is full of warmth, respect and individualised care. This is demonstrated by the staff’s attention to detail in making sure that young people are at the heart of the home. This includes having young people’s photographs proudly displayed throughout the house.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have formed trusting relationships with staff, and confidently approach them for support and advice. Young people make a personal investment in living in the home. Consequently, young people thrive physically, emotionally and socially. Compliments from professionals involved with the young people were overwhelmingly positive. One social worker wrote: ‘[Young person’s name] has stabilised in her placement; her confidence has grown, her presentation has improved, she is making progress socially, emotionally and academically within a short time, she is happier than I have seen her in foster care.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have access to a wide range of activities, including being able to go swimming and horse riding, joining the local scouts club and receiving music lessons so that they can learn how to play musical instruments. Two young people are volunteering in local community services and one young person is actively seeking a part-time job. This means that young people are occupied, and have opportunities to learn new skills and to be part of their local community. As a result of these varied opportunities, young people do not have time to get bored.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work closely with schools, colleges and therapy colleagues to ensure that young people’s needs are fully understood. This coordinated support means that young people’s achievements, school attendance and behaviour all improve. For example, two young people have obtained college places and have high aspirations for their futures. Staff support young people with their homework and as a result they are all achieving their targets in education. One social worker wrote: ‘I have observed the amazing progress made by [child’s name] as a result of the outstanding and consistent support provided to her. Her reading skills continue to improve and this has been supported by having reading sessions every day following school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Notably, all young people could describe the progress that they have made since the last inspection. Two young people are working hard on their semi-independence plans and all young people could describe the progress they have made in their education. One young person told the inspector: ‘I think this home is outstanding, I don’t think there is any improvements that could be made.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC434520 4

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

All staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities, and are vigilant about how to safeguard young people from harm. The registered manager and staff understand the risks young people face and keep themselves well informed about risks associated with young people using social media, and risks relating to child exploitation and county lines.

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

Staff apply consistently clear routines and boundaries and this means that young people understand what is expected of them. Staff approach challenging behaviours with understanding and compassion. They look past the behaviour being displayed and instead try to understand what the young person is trying to communicate. The staff explore and review interventions with the therapist and ensure that approaches are considered and well thought out.

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

Staff work creatively to ensure that they maintain a climate where mutual trust, respect and confidence are embedded in their care practice. This support helps young people to begin to make sensible choices, for example about how to spend their free time. As a result, young people do not usually go missing from the home.

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

Staff ensure that there are good-quality risk assessments in place for each young person. These are detailed records that reflect changes in young people’s behaviour and vulnerabilities. Staff use these records to ensure that they maintain an excellent understanding of young people’s individual needs and risks.

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

The registered manager responds swiftly to any safeguarding incidents, offering support to young people and staff.

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

Young people are safe and feel safe in the home. There is no bullying and young people have positive relationships with one another.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since 2011. He is suitably qualified and experienced, and provides excellent leadership. The registered manager continues to motivate and inspire the staff to provide the best possible care for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Two thirds of the staff are suitably qualified and have a level 3 diploma in residential childcare, or an equivalent qualification. The remaining staff are currently working towards completing the qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff reported that the manager is incredibly supportive. They have regular supervision and reflective practice sessions that enable them to discuss the care of young people, as well as their own practice. Staff have a comprehensive and relevant range of training opportunities, including essential courses such as safeguarding and first aid. In addition, they undertake a range of training courses that are specific to individual young people’s Inspection report children’s home: SC434520 5 needs. These include awareness training relating to young people who may have autism spectrum disorder, and to self-harm and attachment theory.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The therapy team offers clinical support sessions to staff to develop their understanding of young people’s behaviours and presenting difficulties. As a result, the young people are helped and protected by staff who are skilled in keeping young people safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff team have developed strong relationships with all of the relevant professionals, including school staff, social workers and the local police. As a result, there is excellent communication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager understands the strengths and the areas for further development in the home. He continues to ensure that the home achieves its aims as set out in the statement of purpose. The registered manager scrutinises all aspects of the service to ensure that it continues to meet young people’s needs.

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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: SC434520 6

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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: 90 King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JB

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Inspector

Debbie Holder: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC434520 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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