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

Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 1 SC008273 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child who has had adverse childhood experiences.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2019 and holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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: 14 December 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2021 Full Good 25/02/2020 Full Good 27/02/2019 Full Good 26/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made good progress in this home, which provides a stable and supportive environment. Staff are enthusiastic about the child’s progress, and this is evident in the ambitions and aspirations they hold for them. Staff have built good relationships with the child because they have spent time getting to know them. They observe behaviour, acknowledge the child’s previous history and implement consistent boundaries. As a result, the child, who initially found it hard to establish trust, has begun to develop skills that have helped them to feel part of the home. This promotes the child’s emotional well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is supported and promoted in the home. Staff have developed strong links with the child’s school to ensure that there is positive communication and a joined- up approach. This provides the child with support and consistency.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has detailed health plans and is registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. The child attends routine health appointments, with good support and encouragement from staff. The child has access to the services they need to promote their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Trained staff store and safely administer the child’s medication.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys regular and positive contact with their family and people who are significant in their life. This sustains the child’s important relationships and keeps them connected to the people who are important to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from making a positive contribution to their home through regular key-work sessions and consultation. The child has joined a local football team and takes part in activities in the wider community. This enables them to socialise with others of a similar age and develop hobbies, skills and interests.

p.3

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

Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding practice and the ways that they can protect the welfare of the child. There is effective working with partner agencies such as placing authorities, schools and police to ensure a strong multi-agency approach to safeguarding the child.

p.3

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

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are kept up to date. The plans are informative and give staff a good understanding of the child’s needs and how risks and behaviours should be managed.

p.3

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

When the child first moved into the home, there were several incidents of challenging behaviour. Staff managed this behaviour effectively, by supporting the child to learn how to deal with difficulties and conflict. All incidents that have occurred have been appropriately and sensitively managed. The child’s well-being Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 4 has been the primary focus for the staff team. Because of these positive interventions, the child is learning to self-regulate some of their behaviours and is now more settled and calmer. They enjoy living at the home and benefit from trusting relationships with the staff team. They have made significant improvements in reducing behaviours such as violence towards staff.

p.3

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

Staff complete regular health and safety checks and follow a range of safety procedures to protect the child from potential hazards. This includes fire drills and emergency evacuations, to ensure that the child knows what to do in case of an emergency.

p.4

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

The child is protected by the organisation’s recruitment practice. This ensures that staff are suitably vetted before they start work in the home. This protects the child from unsuitable individuals working in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced manager. He provides effective leadership to the staff team and uses reviewing and monitoring systems to improve the care and outcomes for the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they are well supported by the manager. They have regular opportunities, through practice-related supervision and team meetings, to reflect on the child’s progress and to look at new ways of supporting them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are all well trained and competent. They have good access to training to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills they need for their work with the child. All staff are qualified or working within regulatory timescales to gain a relevant qualification for their role.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established good working relationships with parents and external professionals, including social workers, school staff and the police. This partnership approach means that the child and staff are benefiting from the full range of support and guidance provided by other professionals in the community. Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 5

p.4

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: SC008273 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7