Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 1 SC028905 Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council Full 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 local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to four children who have experienced childhood instability which has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours. The home also offers children care on an emergency basis until an alternative placement is found.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a level 5 qualification.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 21 March 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2019 Full Good 16/11/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 04/07/2018 Full Good 26/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are currently living at the home. The staff demonstrate good knowledge of the children. They understand children’s lived experiences and behaviours, which leads to an empathetic approach to the care that the children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have built up trusted relationships with staff. Staff know the children well and understand their starting points. During the inspection, the inspector observed humorous interactions between staff and the children. As a result of this, children feel that they can talk about how they are feeling. One child told the inspector, ‘If I am worried about something, I can talk to staff.’ This encourages positive relationships between the children and the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in several activities both inside and outside of the home. Activities such as trampolining, walking, trips to the cinema and playing board games are enjoyed by the children. The children also benefit from having a large external space where they enjoy playing football.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to attend all required health appointments. This ensures that children receive the help and support that they need to address their health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access an educational provision. The staff support children to participate in their education and have effective links with teachers. Children are making progress with participating in education daily.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend safe and positive time with those who are important to them. Families are welcomed to the home to spend valuable time with their children. This helps children to maintain family relationships and develop improved support networks for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals comment positively on the care children receive. Staff communicate effectively with the important people involved in children’s lives. One social worker said, ‘The staff have been so kind and caring and have really invested in him.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained. The manager and staff have developed the communal rooms into areas where children can explore their interests and relax. Children enjoy spending time in the games room. This area has been particularly beneficial at times when there have been increased COVID-19 restrictions. However, the children’s bedrooms lack a personalised touch, with one child describing his room as being ‘bland’. Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 4

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff work hard to keep children safe. They have a good understanding of the children’s risks and behaviours. Clear and detailed behaviour management plans provide staff with support and guidance on how to keep children safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been an increase in the number of physical interventions with children. Physical intervention is used appropriately, when necessary, to avoid harm to the child or others around them. When physical intervention does occur, all records are reviewed by the manager. The staff have a debrief with a manager or senior staff member and the children’s views are sought. This helps them to understand the incident and prevent future occurrences. The staff use a restorative approach to help the children to understand why a restraint has been necessary.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff respond quickly when children go missing. This is because staff understand what they need to do in such situations. Staff undertake thorough searches for the children, using their knowledge of the likely places that the children will have gone to. The staff work closely with other agencies and family members to locate children and ensure that they are safe. The staff support children to understand risks in their lives and help them to develop strategies to keep themselves safe. This helps to inform the planning for any further incidents.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Key-work sessions with the children take place on a regular basis. The staff support children to understand risks in their lives and help them to develop strategies to keep themselves safe. This helps children to make good decisions, form trusting relationships with staff and manage risks in their lives.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

When complaints or allegations are made about the staff, detailed investigations take place. The manager prioritises the children’s safety and ensures that the investigations follow safeguarding procedures and involve all the relevant professionals and agencies.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff use rewards and sanctions to encourage children to make positive choices. Children respond well to this practice and enjoy receiving rewards for their good behaviour. This helps children to feel valued and to want to make positive choices.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager does not clearly record their rationale and assessment for why it is appropriate for children to move into the home, with specific reference to the competing needs of the existing children and the new child. Despite this, there is no indication that the planning for children moving into the home has in any way compromised children’s safety.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The registered manager has not ensured that the fire safety risk assessment has been updated within the agreed timescales. Steps were taken during the inspection to address this. The risks to children are mitigated as children understand what to do in the event of a fire, and staff undertake regular fire safety checks. Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is appropriately qualified and experienced. She is supported by an equally skilled and experienced deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable staff team. Many staff have worked in the home for over 10 years. This is because staff retention is high as staff enjoy working at the home and feel supported by the management team. This provides children with a level of stability which supports their positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision. These sessions are beneficial and support staff in developing their skills further. Monthly team meetings enable them to reflect on their practice. They share good practice examples to enhance their knowledge and skills. For example, training workshops are incorporated in team meetings, which supports staff to further develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a varied training programme which is tailored to help staff meet the individual needs of the children. Most staff hold a level 3 qualification and those who do not are working towards it. This equips staff with the level of knowledge and skills needed for the role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are positive about the home and the support provided to children. A social worker told the inspector, ‘The communication from the home is great, the home provides regular updates.’ Another social worker informed the inspector that she was impressed with the support and care her child received.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has knowledge of the home’s strengths and the areas for improvement, which she uses to review the quality of care. The manager works with staff to make positive changes and she addresses any practice issues. Children receive a good standard of care from staff who are well supported. Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 6

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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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the fire risk assessment is reviewed annually. 28 March 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. Children’s homes will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The statement of purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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: SC028905 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wedgwood Buildings, Tipping Street, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 2DH

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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC028905 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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