Children's Home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 1 Registered provider: Searchlight 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 company. It is registered to provide care for one child who has had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2018 and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 30 November 2021

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/11/2021 Full Outstanding 04/02/2020 Full Good 29/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 3

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outstanding

The progress and experiences of the child are exceptional. The child has lived at the home for over four years. This high level of stability has created a real sense of belonging.

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outstanding

The child is now making outstanding progress because of living at this home. She benefits from caring, intuitive staff, and has developed positive relationships with them. She receives consistent care from the small staff team, and she trusts all the staff. Staff’s understanding of the child’s needs is exceptional, and they are clearly committed to supporting her to be the best person she can be.

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outstanding

Staff give priority to the child’s physical, emotional and mental health. She is appropriately registered with health services. The manager has established effective links with the child’s therapist to understand the impact of the trauma the child has experienced and how this affects the way that she responds. The manager has embedded this way of thinking into the team by sourcing appropriate training that complements the work the therapist is completing. This has ensured that the child receives the best possible care from those around her.

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outstanding

The progress the child has made in education is remarkable. The child’s approach to education is commendable considering she was out of education for over 12 months. An educational professional reported, ‘[name] is currently working at A grade for Art and Design, A grade for Graphic Design and A* for Maths, which is absolutely brilliant.’ Staff acknowledge and celebrate every academic success. This helps the child to feel proud of her achievements and have genuine aspirations for the future.

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outstanding

The staff record regular key-work sessions with the child. There are detailed records about the work completed on matters such as staying safe, education, and learning life skills. Records do provide the reader with an insight into how staff offer support and the progress made by the child. The quality of key working has resulted in outstanding progress for the child.

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outstanding

The child has been helped and supported to develop social skills and to establish friendships and networks in the local community. The child is encouraged to have the same opportunities as her peers. The child spends time with friends from school and has a positive peer group at college.

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outstanding

The physical environment of the home is homely and comfortable. There are lots of photographs of the child proudly displayed throughout the home, which show her having fun during activities and enjoying her school prom.

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outstanding

The child is enabled to maintain positive relationships with those who are important to her. Staff ensure that the child continues to benefit from having regular and safe Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 4 time with her family. More recently, the child has enjoyed having family time in the home supported by staff. This arrangement ensured that the child and her mother were able to spend quality time together in a relaxed and calm environment.

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outstanding

Staff understand that the transition from care to independent living can be challenging and represents a major life change for children. To support this transition, an effective independent living programme is in place that is tailored to the child’s needs.

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outstanding

Staff are highly influential in making a positive difference to the child’s safety and welfare. In the period since the previous inspection, there have been no safeguarding incidents. The child has not gone missing and there have been no concerns around risky behaviours. This has been achieved because the staff team is skilled and meticulous and has a detailed understanding of her needs.

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outstanding

The culture of the home is one of encouraging positive behaviour, kindness and respect. The child is always listened to, valued and taken seriously. Consequently, she feels extremely safe, cared for, and has a strong sense of belonging. The staff’s exceptional safeguarding practice ensures that the child is protected from bullying, aggression, abuse and exploitation.

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outstanding

The health and safety practices in the home ensure that the child’s safety and well- being are paramount. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks, including fire drills, to ensure that the premises are safe, and that the child can respond in an emergency.

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outstanding

The safety and well-being of the child are enhanced by the selection and recruitment process. This ensures that only staff who are suitable to work with children are appointed. Visitors to the home are checked and supervised when necessary to safeguard the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed effectively by an extremely committed and experienced manager. She is inspirational and ambitious for children and ensures that this personal and professional ethos is cascaded throughout the entire staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home benefits from a small staff team of skilled professionals. This helps to provide consistent care for the child. The child has developed trusting relationships with a nurturing staff team. Staff understand the child well and are strongly committed to helping her reach her full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The training and development of staff are given high priority and ensure that all staff have the necessary skills and knowledge to support the child effectively and Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 5 promote positive outcomes. The appraisal and supervision process that is used to manage staff performance ensures that staff understand their roles, have clear objectives and are provided with training to support the child’s progress and achievements. All staff have their level 3 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff handovers are detailed and thorough and promote a consistent approach to working with the child. It is evident that staff know the child well. Staff use the handover time to plan the day efficiently to ensure that staff are available to support the child when required. During handovers, staff also discuss any other issues relating directly to the home to ensure that health and safety requirements are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are taking part in regular learning from carefully selected research to help them to fully understand the child’s individualised needs. For example, training from the child’s appointed clinical psychologist has allowed staff the space to consider their practice and receive expert guidance in how to manage the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and her staff have developed excellent relationships with a variety of partner agencies, including parents, social workers, police and education services. These relationships ensure that agencies consistently meet the child’s social, emotional, educational and health needs. The manager has had to make appropriate challenge due to services not being of a standard that the manager or staff expect. This demonstrates that the manager is an excellent advocate for the child. An education professional told the inspector, ‘All the staff are very proactive and actively support [name] and her education. The staff are easy to contact either by phone or email and will always respond in a timely manner.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 6

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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: 1249117 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 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 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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