Children's home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report children’s home: SC411074 1 SC411074 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one child who has social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. The current manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2017. She holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Inspection date: 16 March 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC411074 2

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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.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child continues to live at this home and is making good progress. The child is regularly attending school and is achieving academic success. Staff manage the child’s vulnerabilities well by bringing in strategies that help keep him safe. As a result of these measures, there has been a decrease in the number of times that staff have needed to use physical restraint.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met three of the four requirements raised at the last inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager now has greater oversight of most records. For example, restraint records now contain all the information required by regulation. However, the oversight of the use of sanctions requires some improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good partnership working with the youth offending team is now in place. This partnership working is helping the child to have a better understanding of the potential implications of some of his behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although improvements have been made to ensure that staff are safely recruited, shortfalls remain. For example, not enough checks are carried out to ascertain the reason why a person left their previous employment when they have worked with children and/or vulnerable adults. Inspection report children’s home: SC411074 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2019 Full Good 05/12/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC411074 4

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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.

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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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This is in relation to the oversight of monitoring the effectiveness of sanctions. 01/06/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation (32) (1)(3)(d)) 01/06/2020

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Information about this inspection

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we regulate. During this visit, the inspectors took into consideration the impact of any measures being taken to slow the spread of Coronavirus by the home. This has included the effect these have had on staffing arrangements.

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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.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC411074 5 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: SC411074 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Marcus House, Parkhall Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent ST3 5XA

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Inspector

Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC411074 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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