Children's Home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 1 SC420876 Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care And Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A small private provider runs this four-bedded children’s home. The home provides care for children who have social and emotional difficulties and who may also have a learning disability. The company has its own therapeutic team.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and registered with Ofsted.

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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: SC420876 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2022 Full Good 11/02/2019 Full Outstanding 21/09/2017 Full Outstanding 28/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 3

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improvement to be good

Four children currently live in the home. Since the last inspection, one child has left, and two children have moved in.

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improvement to be good

At this inspection, shortfalls were found in relation to the use of restraint, which impacts on children’s overall experiences.

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improvement to be good

Children are making good progress with their education. All children attend school full time. One child told the inspector, ‘I love going to school, and I love learning.’ Staff work closely with children’s schools and support children to complete their homework. This approach helps children to make educational progress.

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improvement to be good

Children interests, hobbies and talents are encouraged and supported by staff. All children attend activities and clubs of their choice. For example, one child showed an interest in drama and acting, and staff followed up on this and secured a place at a local drama club, which the child now attends. Staff regularly capture these memories and achievements. When children leave, they take these experiences and mementoes with them. This means that children are given opportunities that allow them to develop socially and feel a sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

Children’s physical health needs are being met. Children attend all routine health appointments and have a healthy, balanced diet. Children also have access to weekly sessions with the therapist, who provides help and support for their emotions. Sessions remain available to children, whether they decide to attend or not. The therapist also works with staff and the manager, providing advice and support.

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improvement to be good

The home is well maintained to a high standard, and it is comfortable for children. Children have their own bedroom, which is personalised to their own taste. Children and staff enjoy mealtimes together and use this time to reflect on each other’s day.

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improvement to be good

A significant shortfall has been identified during the inspection, which has impacted on children’s overall experiences. There have been several occasions where children have been restrained on the floor by three members of staff. Some of these restraints lasted for long periods of time. Restraint techniques that are used are not proportionate to the children’s age, size and level of risk being displayed. Managers have not identified this as a concern, despite this being a potential risk to children and a traumatising experience. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 4 Children informed the inspector that they have good relationships with staff; however, staff have not considered the impact of the use of restraint on children. Children’s views have not been sought regarding the use of restraint techniques. This means that restraint methods have not been reviewed effectively to inform and guide practice.

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improvement to be good

Children have not made allegations against staff. On one occasion, a child suffered a minor injury following a restraint. It was unknown how this injury occurred; however, leaders and managers responded appropriately. Information was shared with external safeguarding agencies, and further advice was sought.

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improvement to be good

Children do not go missing from the home. Staff understand the missing-from-home protocols and have received training to ensure they know how to respond if a child does go missing from home. Protocols are also available to staff in the home records.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are rarely used. When they are used, managers take a proportionate approach and keep them under review. Consequences are withdrawn in line with children’s positive progress. This means children are given the opportunity to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others.

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improvement to be good

Monitoring systems are in place to ensure that children have a positive experience online. Additionally, children are regularly educated on the dangers posed to them on the internet. Resources are obtained by staff and the manager to support this work. This provides children with the knowledge to identify online dangers and keep themselves safe.

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good

The registered manager is very experienced and is supported by a suitably experienced and qualified staff team.

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good

Leaders and managers have not developed monitoring systems for the use of restraint. No multi-disciplinary review, which includes children or staff, to review practice has taken place to show how the use of restraint could be altered or reduced. This means that no learning has been achieved to support the overall experience for children.

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good

Door alarms are used to monitor children’s movements during the night as a blanket approach to minimising risk. Children’s known risks are not fully considered when reviewing the use of door alarms. This impacts on children’s rights and further impacts on their overall experiences.

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good

Staff receive a wide range of training. Training is also delivered in line with the needs of the children who are living in the home. The registered manager secures training from various sources, including online and face to face. This ensures that staff develop the skills to enable them to meet children’s changing needs. In addition, team meetings take place regularly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 5 The home has a stable staff team. Staff rarely leave, and a core group of staff has worked in the home for several years. This means that the registered manager has been able to develop a consistent staff team that provides routine and structure for children.

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good

Staff speak positively about working in the home and feel supported by the manager. Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals, and they are encouraged to complete the required qualification and progress into more senior roles within the company. Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 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

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)) 19 April 2023

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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)) 19 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 7

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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: SC420876 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care And Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 90 King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JB

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC420876 9 regulates and inspects 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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