Children's home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 1 SC362170 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since July 2019. He holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/05/2021 Full Good 28/10/2019 Interim Not judged 19/03/2019 Full Good 22/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has returned home to the care of their parents. Staff supported the child to make this positive transition out of the home. One new child has been welcomed into the home and has settled in well.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Placement plans set out clearly what staff must do to meet the needs of the child effectively. All staff are aware of the detail of plans. This helps to ensure that the child is treated consistently and that staff understand set objectives and how these should be met.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager advocated strongly for the child to receive suitable education and, as a result, she is due to start at a new school in the next term. The child is extremely pleased about this and is looking forward to attending her new school. In the meantime, an interim timetable has been put in place, with staff providing support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with primary healthcare services and appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe management of medicines to promote the child’s safety and well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrangements are in place that support the child to maintain positive relationships with her family and friends. Staff work closely with the child and her family to ensure that time spent together is safe and a positive experience.

p.3

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

The child feels safe in the home and with the staff who look after her. This is because staff who work at the home are knowledgeable and clear about their roles and responsibilities. Staff work in partnership with each other as well as other professionals to consistently share necessary information that promotes the child’s welfare and safety.

p.3

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

Staff complete detailed individual risk assessments that support them in their understanding of how to keep the child safe. Risks are clearly identified and assessments are updated to reflect new information or changes in the child’s circumstances.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of the child’s behaviours and emotional responses. Staff are able to de-escalate most challenging situations and because of this the number of incidents of physical intervention is reducing. Records of these incidents are detailed. Children are given the opportunity to express their feelings and staff are provided with the opportunity to reflect on their practice.

p.3

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

Regular health and safety checks and routine servicing of equipment are carried out so that the home is kept safe for the child, staff and visitors. All staff are trained in Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 4 fire safety procedures and they ensure that the child takes part in fire evacuation drills, so that she understands how to leave the home safely in an emergency.

p.3

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

The child is protected by the organisation’s recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the child by preventing unsuitable adults from working with her.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a committed and enthusiastic manager who is supported by a capable and qualified deputy manager. The staff are well supported and have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular training to make sure that they have the skills and competencies necessary to meet the diverse needs of the child they look after. There are systems in place to make sure that training is regularly updated or refreshed. New staff undergo a thorough induction programme, and most staff are either qualified or still within the period allowed by regulation to obtain their qualification.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff receive regular supervision. This means that they are being provided with regular opportunities to receive feedback on their practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has formed positive relationships with a range of agencies, including the placing social workers and education departments. This helps the manager to have a coordinated approach so that the child’s needs are met.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not been submitting the independent person’s reports to Ofsted. This does not provide Ofsted with a current view of the home’s operation and arrangements. Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.5

Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.5

Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

p.5

Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

p.5

Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that regulation 44 reports are submitted to Ofsted. 18 January 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 6

p.5

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: SC362170 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Marcus House, Parkhall Road, Longton, Stoke-on- Trent ST3 5XA

p.7

Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC362170 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8