Children's home run by Absolute Children’s Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544217 1 Registered provider: Absolute Children’s Services Ltd

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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 provider and can provide care for up to five children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was undertaken to review a restriction notice issued by Ofsted in response to three safeguarding concerns at the home. The monitoring visit also reviewed actions taken by the provider in response to the concerns.

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This monitoring visit

Two of the three concerns have now been resolved. However, the inspector was aware during this monitoring visit that a third concern was still being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the concern were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the visit.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home and moved to other children’s homes. One child remains in the home and is currently settled. The child has benefited from being the only child in placement, is more engaged with staff and is participating in appropriate activities. The child has started to develop some independence skills and now enjoys cooking. The child achieves good school attendance and is making progress. The staff have good working relationships with the school and communication is effective. This ensures that the child is provided with consistency.

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This monitoring visit

Care planning and risk assessment have improved. These documents contain more relevant detail and are less generic, ensuring that the specific needs of the child are Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544217 2 captured. However, some information is not consistently recorded across different documents, which could be confusing for staff.

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This monitoring visit

When incidents have occurred, these have generally been well managed. The manager has had oversight of incidents and has also completed debriefs with staff and children. However, some de-escalation techniques that are being used have not always been effective and the manager has reviewed this with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have completed updated safeguarding training and have received some additional support and guidance from the home’s therapist. The manager has been following up training courses directly with staff to ensure that they have a good understanding of what has been taught.

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This monitoring visit

Staff have regular supervision. Team meetings are now held on a weekly basis and provide a good opportunity for staff to discuss care arrangements and review policies. Staff have implemented new routines into the home. They report that this has made it easier for them to complete important tasks.

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This monitoring visit

The management oversight of the home has improved. Policies have been reviewed and updated. Information is more accessible to staff and easier for them to understand.

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This monitoring visit

Statutory requirements set at previous inspections were not reviewed as part of this visit. They have been reset and will be considered at the next inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/08/2021 Full Inadequate 06/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544217 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to staff implementing and following risk assessments and ensuring that these are regularly reviewed and updated. 1 February 2022

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; 1 February 2022 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544217 4 ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of the care provided in the home;

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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)(a)(c)(f)(h))

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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: 2544217 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Absolute Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 98 Grove Street, Leek, Staffordshire ST13 8DU

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2544217 6 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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