Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report for children’s home: SC412385 1 SC412385 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who have experienced childhood instability which has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours. The home is currently operating as a solo home for one child.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

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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 outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC412385 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2021 Full Outstanding 03/03/2020 Full Outstanding 06/11/2018 Full Good 20/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC412385 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress and benefits from effective, high-quality support from staff. They are supported with well-planned, personalised care that meets their needs effectively. The child has good-quality relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A stable and experienced staff team is employed to meet the needs of the child. Two children have moved to other homes in the organisation and staff have relocated with them to support their transitions. Both children’s moves have been positive experiences for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child knows how to make a complaint and their complaints are treated seriously. Staff listen to the views of children and act on their reasonable requests. They provide the child with positive activities and encourage social situations, which is important now that the child lives by themself.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a physically safe, homely and comfortable environment. Their bedroom is furnished and personalised in accordance with their tastes and wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are good arrangements to meet the specific health needs of the child. They are registered with all appropriate health services, and they access these services when they need them. However, a health condition detailed in the child’s care plan had not been identified or followed up by the registered manager. This shortfall was addressed during the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has attended three different schools in 18 months, and they had a period of seven months without a school placement. The manager and staff have worked hard to support the child to engage with education and to identify a suitable education provision. The child is now attending a school. Staff encourage the child’s learning and are working closely with the child’s school to support them.

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

The child told the inspector that they feel safe living at the home. The child understands their risks and have been involved in reviewing their own support plans.

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

Staff know the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Individual risk assessments and behaviour support plans are detailed and are regularly reviewed and updated after any incidents.

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. This shows that they feel settled and safe in their environment and are well supported by the staff working at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412385 4 Consequences are fair and documented as restorative records to help children learn from mistakes. Children receive praise for their positive behaviours and when they have done something well.

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

Staff challenge unwanted behaviours and reinforce boundaries. Staff support each other during incidents and make detailed records. They speak with the child after each incident, which helps them to reflect on their behaviours and learn to manage their feelings and responses differently.

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

There have been several safeguarding allegations since the last inspection. These have been managed well. The manager works closely with the placing authority and safeguarding professionals to ensure that the child feels listened to. A social worker said that she is informed if there are any significant incidents or safeguarding concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The experienced, qualified management team is inspirational, confident and ambitious for the child. Staff have a very positive view of the leadership team. One member of staff describes the registered manager as a ‘strong leader’ and says that she is teaching the staff how to be the best that they can be.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager clearly understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She sets high standards for staff and expects them to focus on changing the child’s life for the better. The management team provides effective support to staff and ensures that training and professional development are key to the staff team’s growth. As a result, staff understand their roles and responsibilities fully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the child well and understands their established and evolving care needs. The home has become a solo provision purely for the current child at the request of the child’s placing authority.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has challenged external agencies in the best interests of the child. Professionals have a consistently positive view of the home and leadership team. The child’s social worker describes the registered manager’s communication as ‘exceptional’ and explains that they use this home as a standard to compare other homes to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager adopts a research-informed approach to team meetings and supervision sessions to ensure that staff are receiving relevant coaching to support meaningful changes and progression to the child’s individual life experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC412385 5

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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 for children’s home: SC412385 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unity Residential Care Services Limited, 2 Lymevale Court, Lyme Drive, Parklands, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6NW

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Inspector

Mark Dickinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC412385 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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