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

Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 1 SC481172 Registered provider: Absolute Childrens Services 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 children’s home is privately owned and run. It provides care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who may 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 is not yet registered with Ofsted. An application to register has been submitted.

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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 good

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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: SC481172 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2019 Full Outstanding 22/03/2018 Full Good 06/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/10/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 3

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Recommendations

 Regulation 45 sets out requirements for the registered person to have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months. The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. Reviews should be underpinned by the Quality Standards as described in regulations 5 to 14. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  The processes the registered person puts in place to enable such a review to take place, should allow for a report to be generated at least once every six months. The generated report should be sent to Ofsted and the placing local authority of all children in the home who are looked-after children. (‘Guide to the children’s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.3)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home’s statement of purpose is reflective of the excellent therapeutic and individualised care the home provides. The children and young people engage well with the resident therapist. This is helping them to come to terms with past traumas and move on with their lives. A social worker commented: ‘They provide a unique service. [Name of young person] has responded well and already made measurable progress.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people are encouraged and supported to make their views known and they grow in self-confidence as a result. The use of restorative practice has given the children and young people a greater understanding of the consequences of their behaviour. Staff have built really strong relationships with the children and young people, and their parents have embraced the therapeutic model of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children and young people have significantly increased their engagement in education since coming to live at the home. The manager will actively challenge and advocate on behalf of the children and young people to ensure that education is in place for those who are new in placement. The staff effectively unpick the barriers to learning for children and young people and are quick to find solutions. As a result, children and young people are doing well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and young people’s health needs are very well met and their emotional well-being is continually improving. They have all formed strong relationships with the Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 4 staff, which is building their self-esteem and sense of security. The voice of the child is clearly demonstrated through consultation and feedback. Children and young people are fully involved in day-to-day decisions about their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of care is excellent, it is highly individualised, and staff take the time to get to know children extremely well. This high level of care is consistent and sustained. They build close relationships with the children and young people. Staff practice is entirely child-centred. Children and young people are empowered to make their views known and have an outright say in decisions about their future. This has been instrumental in helping two young people transition into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Much work is undertaken to help the children and young people have a world outside of being a ‘child looked after’. The children and young people go on holiday together and enjoy a range of activities tailored to their interests. Friends and family are encouraged to visit and participate in the daily life of the home.

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

The manager and staff are very alert to the risks for each child and young person. Well- documented risk assessments underpin the individualised response to the risks associated with each child and young person.

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

Highly effective planning and practice ensure the safety of the children and young people. The manager, prior to placement has sourced and acquired knowledge about the risks associated with each child or young person that informs comprehensive impact assessments and risk management plans. The environment of the home is made as safe as possible for the children and young people.

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

Risks for children and young people are continually reducing as a result of living in the home. Significantly, there are no incidences of missing-from-home episodes since the last inspection. This is a significant improvement. The need for physical intervention is reducing because staff understand the triggers.

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

The manager has clear and strong expectations around behaviour which are applied consistently by the staff team. This helps children and young people to regulate their behaviour and learn more appropriate ways of dealing with their anger and frustration. One professional said: ‘[Name of young person] has responded well to the nurturing environment and consistent boundaries. I have already seen a decrease in self-harm. I am very impressed with the quality of care.’

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

The children and young people receive a lot of input from the staff to help them develop their own sense of safety. A great deal of work is done around keeping safe online and appropriate online safety tools are used to block unsuitable activity.

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

The therapeutic environment and support that is in place helps the children and young people to manage their behaviour and feelings. Staff clearly have a good understanding of the triggers for negative behaviours because they know the children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 5 people so well and understand their history. Restorative practices improve peer relationships and increase the children’s and young people’s sense of personal responsibility.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager is new in post and is awaiting registration. There has been a seamless transition and the departing registered manager remains in a supportive capacity. The new manager is motivated, committed and takes a very child-centered approach, having progressed from being the deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is currently in the process of developing her own quality assurance and monitoring systems. These systems should ensure the delivery of high-quality care and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team spoke highly of the manager’s leadership capabilities. There is a range of training available and staff receive regular supervision. This helps the staff team to meet the complex needs of the children and young people living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is well-established and provides stability and consistency for the children and young people in the home. Retention of staff is a key attribute of the home and staff have opportunities to further develop their skills and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked hard to develop an excellent team culture, with all the staff being accountable for their practice. New staff experience a well-coordinated induction and probationary period. Continuous professional development is encouraged and taken up by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care planning processes are child-centred and demonstrate that the team is heavily invested in ensuring that the needs of the children and young people in its care are met. The manager has ensured that restorative practice has been embedded and this is reflected in case recording and key-work sessions. Relationships with other professionals are excellent and contribute to a ‘team around the child’ approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from placing authorities and other partners is very positive.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 6 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

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Information about this inspection

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 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Absolute Childrens Services Limited

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC481172 8 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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