Children's home run by Absolute Children’s Services Ltd in Staffordshire Moorlands

Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 1 SC481172 Registered provider: Absolute Children’s Services Ltd

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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 children’s home is privately owned and run. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home creates a therapeutic, restorative family environment for the recovery and rehabilitation of children and young people who have suffered abuse, neglect and other trauma. Its aim is to transform the lives of children and young people who suffer severe emotional and psychological difficulties, so that they can relate well to others, fulfil their potential and enjoy life.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in February 2018. He is suitably experienced and 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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2018 Full Good 06/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/10/2016 Full Outstanding 21/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people living at this home are flourishing. The home is warm and nurturing and they experience a real sense of permanence and belonging. Staff embrace and promote family relationships, and this is having a positive impact on children’s and young people’s outcomes in every aspect of their lives. A parent said: ‘I truly believe our working relationship is successful, but of primary importance is [Name’s] progress and I am so grateful that you see the need and welcome my input.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children and young people are making sustained and measurable progress relative to their starting points. The staff understand the children’s and young people’s life experiences and the impact that they have on their behaviours and their sense of self-worth. The needs and complexities of the children and young people underpin the individualised, responsive and extremely child-focused care the children and young people receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A key strength of this home is the importance staff place on maintaining the children’s and young people’s education. Staff promote engagement in learning opportunities irrespective of the challenges faced by some of the young people. As a result, all of the children and young people have benefited from greatly improved attendance and attainment. Some are successfully transitioning from school to college. These achievements are celebrated by staff, and one young person was ‘over the moon’ when she heard that she was accepted at college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The on-site therapy is of considerable benefit to the children and young people. As a result, they do not have to wait for therapeutic intervention. This specialist support helps them to deal with their emotions and overcome childhood traumas. The children and young people are more settled, they make positive choices and they are more able to move on with their lives. A parent said: ‘[Name] has made lots of progress. She has access to therapy and this has helped her a great deal.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s and young people’s participation is given high importance; they are empowered to ‘have their say’ and make their views and opinions known. The children and young people really feel involved in decisions about their home and their lives. They have participated in interviewing potential staff members, have been supported to attend their reviews and have helped in the decoration of their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people engage in activities that have really boosted their confidence, and this has helped them to develop positive peer relationships. One child has really excelled in horse-riding, and another has now started attending a support group for young people with Tourette’s syndrome. Two young people went to Disneyland Paris, which was a first-time experience for them.

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

Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 4 Risk management procedures to address risk-taking behaviours are underpinned by the well-documented and individualised risk assessments. Staff place the children and young people at the centre of their practice, and this results in improvements in their safety and well-being.

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

The diligence and one-to-one staffing arrangements mean that the children and young people seldom go missing from the home. On the rare occasion when one young person has gone missing the staff and manager have been proactive in locating the young person within a short period of time. This is because staff are intuitive and know the children and young people very well.

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

The children and young people experience placement stability, and for most this has been their only placement or their longest. This is because staff are skilled and highly effective in their response to the diverse and complex needs of the children and young people in their care.

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

The work undertaken with the children and young people through key-work sessions and independence training has enabled them to take well-managed and measured risks. This has helped one young person to feel confident in her transition to adulthood. A young person told the inspector: ‘I am more than ready. Staff have really helped me to feel safe and I am looking forward to moving into my own accommodation.’

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

The manager has been proactive in ensuring that her staff team is aware of the risks posed by criminal exploitation, county lines and child sexual exploitation. The close working relationships with other professionals, such as the police, have facilitated work with the children and young people that helps them to stay safe in the community.

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

The children and young people learn how to keep safe online through extensive individual work with staff and the use of suitable online safety tools.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and his deputy are highly motivated. They embed a culture of inclusiveness, and this ensures the safety and well-being of the children and young people in their care. The atmosphere is both warm and nurturing, and the children and young people are thriving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The stability of the staff team is a major factor in the positive outcomes for the children and young people. Staff report how well supported they feel. Regular supervision sessions and work with the therapist ensure that they remain skilled to fulfil their roles. All the staff regularly undertake specialist training to meet young people’s individual needs. An independent reviewing officer said: ‘I think they do a cracking job. When [Name] first came she had a lot of therapy and really engaged with this, but this has now come to an end. I have no complaints and the social worker would echo that.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 5 The children and young people are clearly valued and respected. This is evident in the layout of the home and the personal touches. The children and young people have their own pets, and families are welcomed and are involved in the lives of their children. It is

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

very much the children’s home, not a children’s home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Comprehensive reports prepared by the home’s external visitor contribute towards the manager’s excellent internal monitoring processes. This ensures that all achievements are celebrated and any areas for development addressed. The manager’s reports incorporate the views of young people, staff and all other interested parties, which ensures that they have the opportunity to influence care in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A research-based therapeutic approach has been embedded throughout staff practice. It is used effectively to identify and plan for the needs of the children and young people, to monitor their progress and to clarify thinking in case supervision. The manager and the staff fully understand each of the young people in their care, what their presenting needs are and how to achieve the highest outcomes in their best interests.

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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: SC481172 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Absolute Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 98 Grove Street, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8DU

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Inspector(s)

Cath Sikakana, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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