Children's Home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report children's home: 1249117 1 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Limited 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 operated by a private company. It offers care and accommodation for one child who has 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 current manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2018 and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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 February 2020

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 1249117 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/02/2020 Full Good 29/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 1249117 3

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outstanding

The progress and experience of children living in this home are outstanding. The child has lived here for a number of years. She feels happy, secure, and safe because she has developed a deep and trusting relationship with staff. The child receives wonderful care from a consistent group of highly motivated and skilled staff. Staff work extremely well together and are well organised, active, sensitive and insightful. Because of this the child has made significant progress in all areas.

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outstanding

Staff make sure that the child has detailed care plans. These plans clearly show that the staff have an in-depth knowledge about the child, her previous experiences, and her current needs.

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outstanding

The child benefits from having detailed individual healthcare plans. These provide clear information about her individual health needs and how they are met. The child can access a full range of health services available to her and is supported to attend all relevant health and development checks, including statutory health assessments. Regular access to therapeutic support enables the child to begin to address past experiences and current concerns about her emotional health. Therapists also provide training and support to staff, enabling them to implement new and creative ideas in their daily care of the child. This collaborative approach helps the child to develop her own coping mechanisms and a greater understanding of her own emotions.

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outstanding

Strong partnership working with schools means that the child has made excellent progress in her education, particularly from her starting point. For example, the child had been unable to access full-time education for two years. However, the manager and staff have enthusiastically advocated on behalf of the child and she now attends a mainstream school. She has embraced the opportunities available to her and looks forward to the future, including attending university. One teacher reported, ‘[name of child] has made leaps and bounds in school and that is because staff and I have worked together on making sure she receives the best education, so she can succeed. Staff attend all parents’ evenings and relevant meetings and respond positively to any issues.’

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outstanding

The child influences how often she sees and speaks to her family. This ensures that she feels that her views are valued and provides her with a degree of control. It also ensures that she stays in touch with the people most important to her.

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outstanding

The child is working on a new independence package. Staff help the child to progress towards adulthood with appropriate skills, including budgeting, cooking and managing her personal time. The child will learn how to plan ahead, develop resilience, and to make the right choices in managing her life. Staff also support the child to take measured risks. For example, the child has a part-time job as part of Inspection report children's home: 1249117 4 her plan to move towards greater independence. A social worker told the inspector, ‘She has made great progress in several areas including education and independence, which I believe is an ongoing piece of work.’

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outstanding

Key work is undertaken with the child to address her individual needs. As a result, the child makes excellent progress. For example, the child has learned to express her feelings and consequently, she has taken responsibility for when she spends time with her family.

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outstanding

Staff encourage and promote the child’s unique talents. These include piano playing and art. The home is well maintained, and the child has personalised her bedroom which features a wonderful large forest mural that she has painted. This helps her to feel valued and comfortable in her home.

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outstanding

The child is safe and said that she feels safe. As a result of the close and nurturing relationships that the child has with staff, she feels able to share her worries and concerns. Staff are confident and skilled when managing allegations or disclosures and ensure that the appropriate agencies are notified. Consequently, the child feels supported and is protected.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that there are comprehensive risk assessments and risk management plans in place. These are regularly reviewed and include individually tailored strategies that help to keep the child safe. These records demonstrate that the staff have a clear understanding of the risks to the child and have implemented effective strategies to reduce and manage the risks that she may face. A social worker told the inspector, ‘I have no concerns around [name of child]’s safety. The staff know her so well and are able to safeguard her effectively.’

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outstanding

Staff training and research-based practice have helped staff understand risks that the child may face from potential sexual exploitation and online grooming. The child listens to advice and guidance from staff who are knowledgeable and well-informed about these issues and consequently, becomes safer.

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outstanding

Staff set clear and consistent boundaries. Staff and the child work together to devise plans which identify triggers that make her feel angry or upset. This results in techniques that she can use if she begins to feel like this. These plans also provide clear guidance for staff on how they should support the child. As a result, the child feels more empowered to manage her own feelings.

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outstanding

Suitable restrictions are in place to prevent the child from accessing inappropriate content on the internet. The home has recently purchased a laptop and a mobile phone for the child to use. This does allow access to additional websites, but this is done under staff supervision. Websites are vetted before the child accesses them, and the child has completed sessions with the staff on how to improve her understanding of internet risks and how to keep safe. Inspection report children's home: 1249117 5 The health and safety practices in the home ensure that the child’s safety and well- being are paramount. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks, including fire drills, to ensure that the premises are safe and the child can respond in an emergency.

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outstanding

The safety and well-being of the child are enhanced by the selection and recruitment process. This ensures that only staff who are suitable to work with the child are appointed. Visitors to the home are checked and supervised, when necessary, to safeguard the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An extremely dedicated and proactive manager leads the home. She has high aspirations and is ambitious for the child. The manager and staff are all focused on providing the best service for the child, and this approach is at the centre of all that they do. Staff go above and beyond in ensuring that the service that they provide meets the needs of the child in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the strengths and weakness of the home. She acts quickly to address any shortfalls or areas for development. The monitoring and review of plans are excellent. The home can evidence change in the child’s outcomes through a variety of systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention is excellent, and morale is high. Staff told the inspector that they are very well supported by the manager. They have regular reflective supervision that enables them to discuss the care of the child as well as their own professional development. Staff have a broad range of training opportunities, including essential courses such as safeguarding and first aid. In addition, they undertake a range of courses relevant to the child’s needs. All staff have received training in a specific therapeutic model that suits the child. Staff clearly demonstrated how they used training and research to inform their practice with the child. This includes carrying out the therapeutic model and implementing a staged process of independence for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most staff hold the required level 3 diploma in residential childcare or equivalent qualification. One member of staff is currently working to achieve this, and plans are in place to ensure that they complete this in the required timescale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and her staff have developed excellent relationships with a variety of partner agencies, including parents, social workers, and police and education services. The manager escalates concerns appropriately and is an enthusiastic advocate for the child, holding partner agencies to account so that the child receives the very best care. The manager works collaboratively with other professionals to ensure that the child receives a strong, focused multi-agency response to meet her specific needs. An education professional told the inspector, ‘I have great communication with all the staff.’ Inspection report children's home: 1249117 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: 1249117 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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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

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 1249117 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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