Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report children’s home: SC470413 1 SC470413 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to two children and/or young people who may exhibit a variety of behaviours and who are likely to have experienced placement breakdowns because of their early childhood experiences.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private provider currently operates this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A new manager started work in the home in January 2020 and is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

p.1

Inspection date: 26 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC470413 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home has had a change of leadership during this inspection period. A new manager came into post in January 2020 and he has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this home’s last inspection in June 2019, the inspector raised one requirement. The registered manager has addressed this shortfall. Staff have acted effectively when there have been concerns about a young person’s welfare. Staff have alerted agencies and families by sharing information at the earliest opportunity when young people have gone missing from home. Staff have had police support in locating young people and encouraging them to return home. Staff have also taken young people to hospital when they have expressed low mood. As a result, young people have received appropriate health assessments, and monitoring by staff has prevented young people from harming themselves.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When the registered manager believed young people to be vulnerable to exploitation, she worked with agencies to share risk factors and improve protection plans. Ultimately, the registered manager has ended placements when she assessed that risks were increasing, and staff were unable to keep young people safe. This has not always been a positive experience for young people if they have not had the opportunity to say goodbye to staff. However, when the manager has worked together with agencies to plan the move, young people have had a more positive experience. One young person visited her new home and the manager shared information with the new staff team. By working together, the manager helped staff in the new home to prepare, which has helped them to manage this young person’s behavioural and emotional needs. Her social worker told the inspector, ‘The transition went well. The manager also visited [the young person] afterwards which

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is important for her attachment. Managers shared risk assessments which was important. It was a good move in that respect and she is making progress.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has supported staff who, over an extended period, have cared for young people with high levels of risk-taking behaviours. This has had an impact on staff resilience and, on one occasion, staff decision-making. The way staff responded to an incident unnecessarily escalated a young person’s behaviour, resulting in staff physically intervening to keep everyone safe. The young person alleged that staff hurt her during the physical intervention. The registered manager responded appropriately to this incident. She made a referral to the designated officer and carried out an internal investigation. The registered manager identified lessons learned from this incident in terms of how staff managed the situation, and the experience for the young person. Staff have clear care and conduct guidance in place to prevent a reoccurrence. Inspection report children’s home: SC470413 3 Leaders have managed high levels of staff sickness during this time, with staff from

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

other homes within the company supporting shifts. This has provided young people with familiar carers. However, there has not always been an equal gender mix when staff have covered shifts. During this period, one young person complained that she was being cared for by two male workers. The young person was involved in an incident and would have felt more comfortable with a female staff member rather than male workers who supported her to stay safe. The manager has completed further staff recruitment and now has a full team with an equal gender mix and skills and experience relevant to the young people the staff are caring for. One staff member described the team as ‘small, but it is now working from the same page’. She stated that their skills complement each other. Staff feel supported by the manager, and their supervisions provide time for personal and professional reflection.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is currently one young person living in the home. He had a positive experience moving in. He visited the home, which helped him become familiar with his surroundings and get to know staff beforehand. His social worker described staff as being proactive and having activities in place to encourage a healthy lifestyle and develop independent living skills. The young person enjoys going on bike rides and attending football matches at the local stadium with staff. This has helped the young person to build relationships with staff and develop his confidence and self-esteem. As a result of this good planning, the young person has settled quickly, and his episodes of challenging behaviour have significantly reduced.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders continue to work with a range of agencies to support young people living in this home. Social workers confirm that communication from staff is good, which enables them to understand the progress that young people are making. The manager promotes good-quality care. He has escalated requests to identify an educational provision for the young person who has recently moved in and has challenged delay in the process. The manager is therefore advocating for the young person to have his learning and social needs met, which will help him to reach his full potential. Inspection report children’s home: SC470413 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/06/2019 Full Good 16/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/07/2018 Full Inadequate 01/11/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC470413 5

p.4

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.

p.5

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (a) (b) (2) (f)) 08/04/2020

p.5

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.5

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC470413 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Belvoir Farmhouse, Woolsthorpe Road, Redmile, Nottingham NG13 0GN

p.6

Inspector

Joanna Warburton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC470413 7 to 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7