Children's home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 1 SC434520 Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who may experience behavioural, social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a Level 5 qualification and was registered with Ofsted in September 2011.

p.1

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.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 20 January 2020

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/01/2020 Full Outstanding 04/03/2019 Full Outstanding 31/08/2017 Full Outstanding 28/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences of moving into and out of the home. There are four children currently living at the home. Following a child’s recent move into the home, she told her social worker that the other children are kind, and she likes it better than foster care. She also said that the best thing about living in the home is her pink bedroom.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have warm and affectionate relationships with each other and staff. A child said, ‘Relationships are great.’ A social worker also said, ‘[name of child] has really good relationships with staff; he engages well with them.’ As a result, children live in harmony because they trust and respect each other.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s social, emotional and physical health needs are met. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘ T he child has done really well with his placement. This is noticeable in his appearance and the way he looks.’ Children receive help and support from a therapist. The therapist said, ‘The care staff talk and email if they have any concerns. They invite me to the meetings. Staff are very nurturing. Children feel safe and cared about.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff talk about topics that are important to children. Children have good-quality key-working sessions and house meetings to express their views. However, not all children have access to an identified advocate of their choice. This limits the opportunities for their voices to be heard.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff go above and beyond to help children access education and improve their educational outcomes. For example, when a child was struggling to access education, the staff worked collaboratively with his school to form a bespoke plan. He now enjoys going to school.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children access a range of activities of their choice. For example, they enjoy pony riding, Brownies, Scouts, piano and gymnastics club. This helps children to develop socially. As a result, children invest in and take an interest in their hobbies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children treasure spending time with family and friends. Staff are instrumental in ensuring that children stay in touch with people who are important to them. A social worker spoke about how impressed she is with the support staff provide to children and their families during supervised visits. As a result, relationships between children and their loved ones develop and strengthen.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm, welcoming and comfortable. There is plenty of communal space for children to spend time together or alone. Children respect and care for the home they live in. As a result, children thrive. Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 4

p.3

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

Children say that they feel safe living at the home. Children do not engage in risk- taking behaviour such as drug and alcohol abuse. However, on occasions, children do go missing from home. Staff are vigilant in working closely with the police to ensure that children are returned home safely. Return home interviews establish triggers and reasons for running away. As a result, episodes of missing from home are being reduced.

p.4

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

Clear risk management plans identify the triggers to behaviours and outline the actions staff need to take to support children. The use of physical intervention is decreasing because of the work being undertaken with the therapist, staff and the children. A social worker said, ‘Sometimes [name of child] has to be restrained, but this has reduced now. He has a psychologist at school and at home to show staff strategies to manage his behaviour. It is brilliant. They show nothing but commitment; he is safe.’

p.4

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

Children follow rules and boundaries implemented by staff. Staff promote positive behaviour and offer praise and rewards. This recognition by staff increases confidence and motivates children to behave in a socially acceptable manner. As a result, children understand what is expected of them.

p.4

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

Three staff have been safely recruited. The robust vetting of staff ensures that only suitable candidates have access to children. As a result, children are protected from harm.

p.4

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

On one occasion, staff did not notify relevant agencies of a bruise on a child’s arm that may have been a result of a physical intervention. This lack of curiosity and the delay in following safeguarding procedures had the potential to hinder any action required to keep the child safe from harm. The registered manager has taken steps to learn from this incident and make improvements to staff practice. This was an isolated incident and is not indicative of staff’s approach to safeguarding.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager. He is supported by two deputy managers. The management team is passionate, dedicated and motivated in helping children to be the best they can.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy their job and speak well of the management team. They are provided with good-quality training. A staff member said, ‘I feel supported throughout. I love making a difference. Every day is different, and the home I work in is brilliant.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff undertake reflective practice and learn from their mistakes. For example, following an incident where bruising on a child was not reported quickly enough, staff have refreshed their reporting and recording knowledge. As a result, information is now shared quickly with those requiring it. A social worker said, ‘Communication has now improved. They are very good now in Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 5 reporting incidents straight away. I have no concerns about [name of child]’s safety in their care.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Newly recruited staff are provided with a thorough induction that helps them understand the ethos and values of the home. All staff receive good-quality supervision. However, two staff members and the registered manager have not received their annual appraisals. This means the registered manager and staff do not receive feedback about their performance, and they miss opportunities to plan their development for the future.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the service and regularly reviews the quality of care. He knows the progress children are making because he spends quality time with children and staff. As a result, the registered manager keeps up to date with how staff are delivering good quality care and the impact this has on children’s outcomes.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person completes his visits regularly. However, one visit was not completed during the month of November 2021. Furthermore, on two occasions, there was a delay of two months in reports being shared with Ofsted. This delay in sharing information hinders any action required to be taken by the registered manager or Ofsted.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On one occasion, a staff member recorded incorrect information on a child’s accident record. The registered manager’s review of the record had not found the shortfall before the inspection. However, this was quickly rectified during the inspection.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works positively with professionals, and they speak well of the effective communication and information-sharing between them. As a result, children make significant improvement because of the effective partnership working. A social worker said, ‘They have shown an extraordinary commitment, and I don’t think we would have got [name of child] to this point if he had been placed anywhere else.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.6

Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(v)(vi)(vii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager reports any unexplained bruising to the appropriate services. 22 April 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

p.6

Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered manager and staff are appraised annually. 22 April 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month. (Regulation 44 (1)) 22 April 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support and, where possible, this should be provided by a person that the child chooses. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered provider should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third- party information. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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 for children's home: SC434520 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 90 King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JB

p.8

Inspector

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC434520 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