Children's home run by Smoothstone Care & Education Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 1 Registered provider: Smooth Stone Care and Education Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to six children aged between 11 and 18 years. The children may have multiple and complex needs, such as learning difficulties or associated mental health conditions. The home extends its leaving age to 20 years when this will assist young people in their transition to independence.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children who live at this home typically do so for several years. A strength of the home is the trusting and lasting relationships staff create with children. Four children who currently live in the home have all made good progress. One child has left the home since the last inspection. This ending was well planned and supported sensitively. As a result, the child is now making positive progress in their new home.

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The care of children

Two older children are preparing to move on from the home. Their own feelings and views about these significant events are well considered and recorded. Timely discussions with family members and placing authorities contribute to effective care planning for children. One child has lived at the home for five years and told the inspector, ‘It couldn’t have been better, I will miss them all.’

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The care of children

Improvements have been made in the home to better capture children’s views. Children’s meetings have become more creative, while still considering the individual needs of the children. A weekly takeaway or ‘dessert night’ encourages all children to join in. Staff now capture written records of such discussions effectively, which was a previous shortfall in practice.

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The care of children

Children enjoy a range of activities at home and away. A recent log cabin holiday was thoroughly enjoyed by the children who wished to attend. Activity planners are used to clearly record plans for new experiences for children to enjoy. This supports children to have varied opportunities to help improve their confidence and social development.

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The safety of children

Since the last inspection, improvements have been made to children’s risk assessments. These are now comprehensive and detail known vulnerabilities for each child. This helps to ensure that staff are prepared and supported to respond appropriately to risk.

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The safety of children

A full maintenance audit has been carried out since the last inspection. All issues of concern have been rectified swiftly. A programme of decoration and refurbishment is underway with freshly painted walls and new floor coverings where needed. The main kitchen is soon to receive an uplift as this has become worn and tired. These improvements have helped to promote a homely environment for children.

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The safety of children

Children spend time using electronic devices. Staff offer support and supervision, where necessary, to ensure that children are safe online. A review system is now in Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 3 place to monitor children’s online use via their tablets and mobile phones. This is no longer a shortfall in practice and contributes to good safeguarding practice.

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The safety of children

At the last inspection, several medication errors were identified. These had not all been thoroughly investigated or concluded effectively. There has been another error in relation to a controlled drug during this interim period. Because of this, medication procedures and competencies have been reviewed by leaders. This has resulted in some changes to practice which need longer to become embedded. Managers identify this as a key priority for the home and acknowledge that vulnerable children are at risk of potential harm when any medication error occurs.

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The safety of children

There have been no incidents of children going missing from care. Improvements have been made to the home’s missing-from-care protocols and associated documents. This ensures that staff know what steps to take should this ever occur in the future. As part of this development, links with local community police have strengthened, which is positive.

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The safety of children

As a last resort, there are times when staff restrain children to keep them and others safe. A great deal of work has been carried out to reduce the use of physical intervention, which has been successful. A shortfall identified at the previous inspection was that the records of such incidents did not include all the required information. Staff have received training and supervision regarding this issue and practice has improved. At this inspection, no further concerns were identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Shortfalls in management monitoring systems, identified at the last inspection, have been taken seriously by leaders. Swift and effective action has been taken to address areas of concern. Managers have focused on reviewing children’s plans and assessments to ensure that all their needs are met adequately moving forward. Leaders are confident that the quality of care has improved due to the changes made in a relatively short space of time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff supervision practice in the home has improved. A senior leader responsible for supervising the registered manager has ensured that this takes place at regular intervals and is recorded in a timely manner. The manager and deputy manager have ensured that all staff have received adequate supervision meetings with their manager, and there has been opportunity for reflection, since the last inspection. Staff speak highly of leaders and describe them as ‘open’ and ‘approachable’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff receive bespoke training which is tailored to the specific needs of the children in their care. Previously identified gaps in training have been rectified with the addition of numerous new training opportunities for the team. Staff can readily describe how the training has positively influenced their practice and how they welcome new learning. This supports individualised care for children, who often have complex health and care needs. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 4 Leaders and managers understand the areas that require improvement. They have implemented an action plan to address these and make the required changes. The provider’s energy and motivation to provide good care for children have been recognised at this inspection. As a result, just one statutory requirement remains. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/02/2022 Full Good 06/11/2019 Full Good 07/01/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 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

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them;

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child; and

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to recurring medication errors in the home. Managers must ensure that all medication errors are thoroughly investigated in a timely manner and lessons learned are identified. If the manager is implicated in the error, an independent person with the appropriate experience must carry out the investigation. 31 March 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Smooth Stone Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Datum House, Electra Way, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 6ZF

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1278966 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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Inspector

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