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

Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 1 SC381089 Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council 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 run by the local authority and offers care and accommodation for two young people who have experienced early childhood instability that has led to trauma and/or associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2016 and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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

Date of last inspection: 4 September 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/09/2018 Full Good 08/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/05/2017 Full Good 09/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 3

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outstanding

Young people make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives as a result of living in the home.

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outstanding

The standard of assessment of young people’s needs and care planning is exceptionally high. Staff carry out detailed assessments of the young people’s emotional, psychological and physical health needs. Staff then use this information to develop highly individualised care plans that set out clear strategies for everyone to follow in order to meet all young people’s individual needs. This results in the young people receiving consistent and well-planned care.

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outstanding

One of the most positive features of this home is the strength of the relationships that the manager and staff have with the young people. These relationships have played an important part in supporting young people through some difficult and challenging periods. As a result of these strong relationships, young people have learned to trust and respect the adults who care for them.

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outstanding

Staff give priority to young people’s physical, emotional and mental health. Young people are appropriately registered with health services. Staff have established excellent joint working with specialist therapeutic services so that young people receive the help that they need. In addition, staff receive monthly sessions with the organisation’s therapists to support them to develop strategies that improve the emotional well-being of young people.

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outstanding

All young people have appropriate school placements that reflect their educational needs. Young people who have previously found it challenging to engage in education now have very good school attendance and their progress is beyond original expectations. One young person is now a school ambassador and has represented the school in different cities across Europe as well as receiving the headteachers ‘most-improved student’ award. These are exceptional achievements for a young person whose attendance prior to living at the home was 37%.

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outstanding

Staff support young people to maintain and rebuild relationships with their families. For some young people, contact with their families has increased.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that young people benefit from a wide range of social, educational and recreational activities. Each young person is encouraged and supported to pursue their own interests. All young people can participate in community clubs and groups, such as girl guides or youth clubs, that provide opportunities for widening their social networks.

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outstanding

The physical environment of the home is homely and comfortable. There are lots of photographs of the young people proudly displayed throughout the home, which show young people having fun on holidays or engaging in varied activities. Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 4

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outstanding

Safeguarding is a standing agenda item in team meetings and is discussed during the staff’s individual supervision sessions. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting young people. Managers and staff maintain highly effective relationships with the local police and safeguarding agencies. This well-established professional network means that young people receive a high level of support that reflects their needs and vulnerabilities.

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outstanding

Staff are committed to ensuring that young people are safe. Risk-management plans are thorough and regularly reviewed so that they remain current.

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outstanding

Staff understand each young person’s individual triggers and behaviours very well. They take prompt action to support young people to manage their emotions in a constructive manner. A strength of the home is the cohesiveness of the staff team and the consistency in its implementation of behaviour management strategies.

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outstanding

Young people engage well in one-to-one meetings with staff. These meetings focus on identifying and prioritising areas of need and risk, based on ongoing assessment and review. Consequently, staff support young people to improve their behaviour and discuss any worries.

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outstanding

The manager makes sure that young people live in a home that provides the highest levels of physical safety and security. Health and safety checks are regularly carried out. Records show that young people and staff regularly practise evacuation of the building, so that they know how to respond in an emergency. The home has established systems and structures in place for maintaining safe practices and fulfilling health and safety obligations.

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outstanding

The recruitment systems which are in place ensure the careful selection and vetting of suitable staff. This helps to prevent unsuitable adults from working with young people. Visitors are appropriately checked for identification prior to them entering the home. This protects young people from unsafe people who may wish to cause them harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed effectively by an extremely committed and experienced manager. He is supported by a deputy. They are passionate about improving the lives of the young people at the home, and have high aspirations for them. They inspire the staff to be equally passionate and committed to the young people who they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The training and development of staff are given high priority, and ensure that all staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to support young people effectively and promote positive outcomes. The appraisal and supervision process that is used Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 5 to manage staff performance ensures that they understand their roles, have clear objectives and are provided with training to support young people’s progress and achievements. Most staff are qualified to level 3 or higher and those who have not attained this qualification are on course to do so within regulatory timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has implemented excellent monitoring systems, which include regular audits, seeking feedback from young people and acting on their wishes and feelings. This drives continual improvement in the home and helps young people to feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and his staff have developed excellent relationships with a variety of partners, including parents, social workers, education services and the police. These relationships ensure that young people have the optimum support to develop well in all areas of their lives. A teacher reported, ‘I would like to comment on the great working relationship that we have with all the staff in the home. We have daily contact with a staff member and we work in collaboration to support the young person’s needs both academically and emotionally.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager challenges others when the service is not of a standard the manager or staff expect. The manager is an excellent advocate for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

In response to the one requirement made at the last inspection. The quality of care review now contains the views of young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 6

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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: SC381089 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Swann House, Boothen Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 4SY

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC381089 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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