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

Inspection report children's home: SC412385 1 SC412385 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private provider operates this home. The home provides care for up to three children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC412385 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2020 Full Outstanding 06/11/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC412385 3

p.2

outstanding

Staff and managers provide exceptional, individualised care to the children. Managers and staff implement a child-friendly approach through all aspects of their practice. Children’s views and opinions are integral to the planning of their care, and children’s risk assessments and care plans are consistently written in a child-friendly way.

p.3

outstanding

Children experience extremely positive moves into and out of the home. Staff and managers ensure that children are welcomed into the home in a well-planned and thoughtful way. One child was able to visit the home before their move and was provided with a personalised children’s guide. On arrival, the child was provided with a personalised mug and their favourite meal was cooked for them. This helped them to settle quickly in their new home.

p.3

outstanding

When a child leaves the home, staff and managers go above and beyond to ensure that that the move on is successful. Staff encourage children to be actively involved in their transition planning. Staff provide regular key-work sessions to prepare the child for the move. Once the child has moved, staff and managers continue to visit the child over a period of two weeks to help them settle into their new home. On one occasion, a child moved out shortly before Christmas. Staff invited them back to the home on Christmas Day morning to spend time there and to exchange gifts. This is excellent practice that not only provides extremely positive endings for children but demonstrates that children experience genuine, caring relationships with staff that continue after they leave.

p.3

outstanding

Children are able to make valuable memories. Two children went on a four-day holiday, and another child went on an overnight stay. Managers and staff encourage the children to be involved in activities such as football, swimming, riding and theme park trips. Staff and managers arranged a prom for a child who left school, and photographs are displayed in the home. This provides children with enjoyment and positive experiences.

p.3

outstanding

Managers and staff go the extra mile to provide children with information that allows them to understand their experiences. Staff complete scrapbooks for all the children, and these are in place from the day they move in until the day they move out. Staff also keep a diary for all the children. The entries are written to the child and include what they have been up to and what has happened that day. Staff are creative with their entries and use personalised comments full of humour and praise. Through this, children are provided with positive memories to take away and also have access to important information about their experiences to inform their life-story.

p.3

outstanding

Children maintain and improve their relationships with important people in their lives. Staff ensure that any arrangements for children to see their family prioritise Inspection report children's home: SC412385 4 the child. Meetings are arranged to fit around children’s routines. For one child, staff purchased a keyring that splits in to two, so one part can be given to an important person in their life. This allows the child to feel connected to the family member even when they are not with them. This supportive and proactive approach allows children to maintain relationships, which supports them in developing their identity.

p.3

outstanding

Children are progressing educationally and are flourishing. One child achieved exam results that allowed them to start their college course in September 2021. This child has also started a part-time job. This demonstrates exceptional progress. Another child was in a school setting that was not meeting their needs. In response, the manager strongly advocated on behalf of the child which resulted in the child attending a school that was better suited to them. This demonstrates that staff and managers are strong advocate for children and are committed to children achieving positive educational outcomes.

p.4

outstanding

Managers and staff have a comprehensive understanding of children’s needs. Risk assessments provide clear guidance and are individualised. Managers meticulously review these at least monthly and after significant events. This ensures that managers’ and staff’s approaches to safeguarding children are effective and accurate.

p.4

outstanding

A joint approach is taken to manage risk. There is regular communication between the manager and professionals involved in the care of the children. The manager maintains excellent communication with a therapist, and these discussions inform risk assessments and approaches taken with one child. This child’s risk assessments are dynamic and are adapted in response to concerns. Consequently, children are provided with specialist support and care that is tailored to meet their individual needs and risks.

p.4

outstanding

When allegations are made, the manager is meticulous in her response. The manager consistently prioritises the safety and well-being of children. When investigations are conducted, these are thorough and the impact on the child is considered. For example, when a child raised concerns about an agency member of staff, the manager responded to the wishes of the child and no longer used that member of staff. A restorative approach is used to repair relationships between children and staff, following an incident. This efficient and effective response helps children to feel safe and listened to.

p.4

outstanding

Children’s relationships with one another can be challenging at times. To support children in developing and maintaining relationship with their peers, a restorative approach is used. Staff complete key-work sessions to help children think about and develop their relationships with others. When incidents occur, staff take action to reduce the risk of this being repeated. As a result, children learn to form and sustain rewarding relationships with others which is positive for their social development. Inspection report children's home: SC412385 5 The manager is dedicated in supporting the team to make sure physical interventions are used as a last resort. She uses her expertise as a physical intervention trainer to support staff and ensure that children are safe. Following a physical intervention, the manager scrutinises the records to consider if there are any lessons to be learnt. Staff consistently use playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and

p.4

outstanding

empathy to avoid the use of physical interventions. For one child, there has been a significant decrease in the use of physical interventions over the last 12 months.

p.5

outstanding

Children are supported to understand risks. Staff hold regular conversations with children through key-work sessions that are linked to the child’s care plan. These sessions are creative and child centred. Some key-work sessions are written like letters to the child, explaining what has been discussed. Managers and staff take an innovative approach to sessions that considers the age and needs of the child. For example, to support a child in developing their understanding about the impact of bullying, an experiment using rice was used. This provided a visual, ongoing project to highlight the different between being kind to someone and bullying someone. This imaginative practice supports children to develop their understanding and learn how to keep themselves and others safe.

p.5

outstanding

Safer recruitment procedures are implemented by the manager. However, for one staff member recruited during the pandemic, evidence that their photographic identity had been verified was not provided. This could negatively impact on the vetting of staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A passionate, inspirational, forward-thinking manager leads the team. Children are at the heart of all the decisions made, and the manager has high expectations of what children can achieve. This has a significant positive impact on the outcomes for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel supported by management, and professionals are extremely positive about the management team. The manager has high expectations of staff at the home and ensures that a high level of scrutiny takes place. This comes from the manager placing the children at the centre of everything they do. When incidents take place, the manager is proactive in implementing changes to further develop the care provided to the children. This ensures that the team go above and beyond for the children they work with.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular and thorough supervision. The manager devised a supervision format that encourages a reflective approach and integrates the model used by the home. This is an excellent document that focuses on children and incorporates a theoretical model into the discussion. Through the use of this document, the manager has supported staff in understanding and applying the home’s model. This provides a consistent approach to children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are a number of comprehensive monitoring and reviewing system in place. These enable the manager to have oversight of the home. They offer a thorough Inspection report children's home: SC412385 6 level of scrutiny, and the manager creates actions after completing these. These methods involve considering the quality of care provided and where improvements can be made. When the manager wants to know more, they complete an ‘I am curious’ investigation to delve deeper and to determine if there are lessons to be learnt. This approach demonstrates a culture that promotes and drives continuous improvement.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring of children’s progress is constantly evaluated. Staff complete progress summaries for all of the children on a weekly, monthly, and six-monthly basis to consider the progress of the children. These are subsequently analysed by the manager to ascertain if there are any themes or patterns. The manager uses her findings from her analysis to further improve and develop the care provided to maximise children’s ability to reach their potential.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A trauma-informed approach to caring is incorporated into staff’s day-to-day practice. Managers proactively seek to reflect and learn from practice to ensure that children receive a high standard of care. They actively seek out further knowledge to support their ability to provide appropriate care to children. As a result, children receive an exceptional level of support that is underpinned by the home’s model of care.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager integrates a number of theoretical approaches in practice. In response to these, changes have been made to the practice and procedures in place at the home. The managers understand the impact of shame and guilt and are proactive in promoting practice that helps children overcome this. For example, de-brief sessions are replaced with ‘re-attunement’ sessions in attempts to minimise the shame and guilt a child may feel after an incident. They have also considered alternative approaches to saying sorry, such a making the other person a drink. A playful, accepting, curious and empathetic approach is integrated throughout documents and practice. Reflective practice is also central to the manager’s approach. These approaches are embedded within staff’s practice and have directly improved the experiences and progress of the children. Inspection report children's home: SC412385 7

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.7

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: SC412385 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Lymevale Court, Lyme Drive, Parklands, Stoke- on-Trent ST4 6NW

p.8

Inspector

Melanie Griffin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC412385 9 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.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9