Children's Home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC371723 1 SC371723 Registered provider: Educare Adolescent Services Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have social and emotional difficulties. The home has been without a registered manager for over a year.

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Information about this children’s home

Ofsted is aware of the challenges that Covid-19 is currently posing to those we inspect. 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 children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC371723 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been without a registered manager for over a year; despite some efforts to recruit a suitable candidate, these have not been effective. Management oversight has been provided by a manager from a sister home within the company. However, this is no longer sustainable. The lack of a registered manager impacts on the ability of the organisation to deliver a service at this home effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has failed to meet one of the requirements raised at the last inspection. The manager has not ensured that an independent person completes a debriefing with young people following the use of restraint. This compromises the young person’s right to independent scrutiny of the use of physical restraint. As a result, this requirement has been raised again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Education outcomes for young people are variable. For example, when young people are on a reduced timetable, staff do not provide them with structured and planned activities to support their learning. This impacts on their educational progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have not received an annual appraisal. This leaves staff without valuable feedback about their performance, development and training needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are happy in the home and have made some good relationships with staff and each other. Young people also benefit from seeing family and friends. As a result, bonds between young people and their families are strengthening.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are helped to stay safe. Staff have good levels of understanding of young people’s individual risk. As a result, young people do not go missing from care or engage in antisocial behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met five of the six requirements raised at the last inspection. Young people are provided with healthy diets and take regular exercise. As a result, young people’s physical well-being is improving. Young people engage with staff to share their views, wishes and feelings. Staff explore topics such as sexual health, bullying and peer relationships that enable young people to gain knowledge and understanding about key issues that affect them and to express their thoughts and wishes. This develops young people’s confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that regular monitoring of the quality of care is undertaken regularly. As a result, she can focus on improving areas where there are shortfalls. Staff know how to respond to allegations. The manager ensures that safeguarding is a set agenda item at each team meeting. This keeps staff practice and awareness of how to manage concerns and allegations up to date. Inspection report children’s home: SC371723 3 The manager ensures that any significant incidents are shared with the regulator in a timely manner. Records are written in a way that young people can understand them. Inspection report children’s home: SC371723 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/07/2018 Full Inadequate 06/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC371723 5

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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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27(1)(a)) 30/05/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33(3)(c)) 30/04/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)— within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(c)) 30/04/20

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Recommendations

 Ensure that where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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 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: SC371723 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Educare Adolescent Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Venture House, 12 Prospect Business Park, Longford Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0LG

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC371723 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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