Children's home run by Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 1 Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by the local authority. It offers care for up to two children who have experienced early childhood trauma. The manager is suitably qualified and has been registered with Ofsted since May 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2021 Full Good 19/11/2019 Full Good 11/09/2018 Full Good 31/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 3

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improvement to be good

The registered manager and staff have not brought about sustained improvements. Several requirements have been raised at this inspection, three of which are restated from the last inspection. The registered manager confirmed that children’s progress and staff performance when managing children’s behaviours have been variable. The children told the inspector, ‘I do nothing here when I’m not in school.’ Another child said, ‘When I’m not in school, I spend time in my bedroom or sometimes go out shopping.’ One staff member said, ‘Some staff are not consistent with boundaries and the children are aware of this.’

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences at the home are mixed. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Since the previous inspection, one child has moved into the home and two children have moved out. Most children moved in and then moved on in a planned manner. However, one child moved out of the home sooner than anticipated. Staff were unable to keep the child safe because of incidents of them going missing multiple times, despite staff’s efforts. This resulted in an abrupt ending.

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improvement to be good

Some staff do not have an in-depth understanding of the home’s ethos, and the quality of care is inconsistent. For example, staff do not establish clear and consistent boundaries and routine for children. One child told the inspector, ‘I’m up all night watching television and sleep in until the afternoon the next day.’ This means that children do not have a steady continuity of routines and this impacts on their progress and well-being.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not provide children with sufficient care and support with regard to their education. Despite the registered manager escalating concerns about one child’s education, this has not improved learning opportunities for this child. Staff do not always engage children effectively each day in structured learning and education activities. Consequently, children are at times left to their own devices during the day and spend long periods in their bedrooms. One child’s teacher said, ‘Communication is often poor, and the support we receive from the home is limited in terms of supporting [child] in school.’

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improvement to be good

There are occasions when staff do some good work with children in helping them to understand their behaviour and learn different coping strategies, such as how to keep themselves safe around substance misuse. However, this is not consistently applied to all children. For example, staff did not offer one child support and advice about the dangers of smoking and vaping.

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improvement to be good

Staff use praise and rewards well to encourage children to show positive behaviour. However, on occasions, when consequences are used these are sometimes punitive rather than restorative in nature. For example, one child was expected to contribute Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 4 towards the cost of repairs to damage to the car from their pocket money, without limits on the amount they would pay or length of time they had to pay. This does not help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff and the wider community. The registered manager is addressing this.

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improvement to be good

The environment is mainly welcoming and comfortable. Children take pride in their personal spaces and personalise them with different themes. However, there are protruding nails in one wall, the hallway carpet is heavily stained, and the garden fencing requires maintenance work. The registered manager has a plan to address these issues.

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improvement to be good

Front and back doors are fitted with door alarms to alert staff when the children leave and enter the home. This places unnecessary restrictions on children’s ability to move freely in their home and infringes on their privacy. This does not create a homely environment.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that children are supported to attend routine medical appointments. Healthcare plans identify children’s individual needs. Statutory health assessments have been completed and children attend specialist appointments. As a result, children’s health needs are supported.

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improvement to be good

With the support from staff, children get to spend quality time with family members who are important to them. Staff work well to develop positive relationships with family members and friends, so that children can spend safe, enjoyable and memorable time with family and friends. This provides children with a positive sense of identity and belonging.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not fully understand children’s risks, or how they can support children and manage these risks. While most children’s risk assessments are detailed, the approach to risk management has the potential to compromise children’s safety. Not all children’s risk assessments have been reviewed and updated following incidents. This means staff don’t have the most up-to-date important information about potential risks to children.

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improvement to be good

Staff are not professionally curious enough about the safety of children in their care. They are not inquisitive about children’s use of their electronic devices and mobile phones when there are known risks. For example, staff do not ensure that regular checks are undertaken, or fully understand the amount of time children spend on these devices. This increases the risk of children’s vulnerability while online.

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improvement to be good

Overall, staff respond well to incidents when children go missing. However, on occasions, some staff fail to follow children’s risk assessments and take appropriate action. For example, when one child went missing, staff did not always contact the Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 5 police at the required time and failed to contact known associates. This has the potential to increase the risk to vulnerable children.

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improvement to be good

Overall, staff have a good understanding of how to support children with their behaviour. Staff use de-escalation strategies to help children to calm. Restraint is proportionate when there is a serious concern for children’s or staff’s safety. However, restraint records do not always contain the relevant information, such as events leading up to the restraint and the effectiveness of measures used. This means that the registered manager does not have all the information to evaluate the effectiveness of restraints.

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improvement to be good

Staff mainly help children to understand their behaviour and how this may impact on others, and to learn better coping strategies. However, there are examples where staff have not always been consistent in their approach to address poor behaviour of children towards others. Follow-up work is not consistent to help children to develop their understanding of important issues.

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good

The registered manager is making some progress in developing a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. However, there is still an inconsistent approach in leadership and in the effectiveness of monitoring and oversight of the home. This means that the registered manager does not fully understand the quality of care and the shortfalls to make the necessary improvements.

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good

The registered manager does not always effectively use their monitoring and review systems to ensure good management oversight. For example, they do not ensure that children’s risk assessments and the location risk assessment are regularly reviewed and updated. This limits staff capacity to have the relevant information about children and their safety.

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good

The inspector identified that some staff have received specific and enhanced training to update their knowledge and skills. However, this is not the same for all staff. For example, some staff have not received training in ligature, child sexual exploitation, and risk management. This means that there are gaps in staff’s knowledge and skills on how to keep children safe, and this is particularly important for the children living in the home.

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good

Children experience inconsistent staffing which impacts on the quality of care they receive. Staff shortages require the registered manager to use staff from other homes in the organisation to care for children. However, this has meant boundaries and routines have not always been instilled or followed. The registered manager is supporting staff to improve this. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 6 Not all staff have achieved the level 3 qualification in caring for children within the required timescale. The registered manager has already identified this and has a plan to address this shortfall.

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good

Staff feel supported by the registered manager, although supervision is not always regular or reflective. While some staff receive good supervision, not all staff do. This impedes the manager’s ability to monitor staff progress and professional development.

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good

The registered manager has not evaluated the effectiveness of the home’s location risk assessment following a child moving into the home. This is a missed opportunity to demonstrate the registered manager’s oversight of known risks in the home location and surrounding areas which are relevant for that child.

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good

Feedback from professionals demonstrates that partnership working is of variable quality. One child’s professionals spoke positively about good communication and information-sharing. However, other professionals said that communication has not been the best, and they have not been made aware of safeguarding issues.

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good

The registered manager rigorously challenged other professionals to ensure that one child received the support that they needed. For example, the registered manager escalated her concerns about education with professionals and senior management, and advocated on behalf of the child regarding an educational provision. She has been influential in the child’s educational needs receiving a targeted service. Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 7

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose to ensure that children have consistent boundaries and routines. 17 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including 17 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 8 helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring that children are supported in independent learning and to overcome barriers to their development in education.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful. (Regulation 11 (1)(a) (2)(a)(ii)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that they support children to keep safe.

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Requirement Due date

This also refers to staff supporting children to explore their emotions and build positive relationships. 17 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. 17 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 9 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring they understand risk to children and follow their written risk management plans, and that these documents are up to date.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(h)) 17 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 10 This particularly refers to the registered manager ensuring that staff have a consistent approach to managing children’s behaviours.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that they and all staff receive essential training.

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Requirement Due date

It also relates to the registered manager ensuring that they use internal monitoring systems more effectively.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that monitoring or surveillance of children is for the purpose of safeguarding. 17 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a 17 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 11 care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the manager ensuring that all staff have completed the relevant qualification in residential childcare within the relevant timescale.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff receive regular reflective supervision. 17 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (2) (3)(a)(v)(vii)

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager and staff ensuring that records of restraint identify and accurately reflect the incident involving the restraint. 17 March 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home, and include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.1) Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 12  The registered person should ensure that staff provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming and supportive for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraphs 9.38)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff follow missing from care protocols when children go missing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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: 1259118 13

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stoke-on-Trent City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City of Stoke-on-Trent, Swann House, Boothen Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 4SY

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Inspector

Patrick McIntosh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1259118 14 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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