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

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2538287 1

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Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Monitoring visit 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 up to two children 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 currently covering the home is a registered manager of another children’s home operated by the local authority.

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This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected in November 2020. Since the last visit, the child living at the home has given birth to a daughter. The local authority has temporarily amended the home’s statement of purpose to say that the home provides care for two children aged 0 to 18 years. This change has enabled the child who had already been living at the home to bring her new-born daughter home with her.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Ofsted did not carry out a physical visit to the home. Inspectors gathered evidence in several different ways, including talking by video call to the manager, the responsible individual and staff. Managers were also asked to provide documents electronically for the inspectors to review.

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This monitoring visit

The change made to the statement of purpose are still in their infancy. However, the initial response of the staff has been positive in enabling mother and baby to thrive. The staff are playing a central role in helping the mother to establish her daily routines as a new parent and to give her tailored support to enable her to safely care for her baby.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have ensured that detailed risk assessments have been put in place to help to guide staff on how to safeguard both children. Staff carry out sensitive Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2538287 2 individual work with the mother to help her to make safe decisions that consider her own welfare and that of her young child.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have received a range of training to develop their skills and knowledge in the provision of early years care. Some of this training has been extended to the mother to help her prepare for her new responsibilities. This is helping her to understand the practicalities of parenting.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has identified additional training for the staff to improve their knowledge in areas such as early child development and attachment.

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This monitoring visit

Although a lot of consideration has been given to training, the same cannot be said for the environment. For example, there has not been enough thought given to the mother’s bedroom and the extra space needed for her baby. This has led to the bedroom becoming cluttered. This oversight poses an environmental risk to both children.

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This monitoring visit

The local authority is aware that the home is not suitably equipped and the staff are not trained in providing any form of parenting capacity assessments. Consequently, the roles of the staff are centred around offering care and support to both mother and baby.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the change in the home’s statement of purpose the recommendation raised at the last inspection has not been reassessed. This will be considered at the next full inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2538287 3

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d)) 27 March 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping in relation to reading and acknowledging risk assessments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2538287 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Tracey Coglan Greig, Social Care Inspector Emma McCabe, Early Years Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2538287 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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