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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 1 SC381089 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 children’s home is run by the local authority and offers care for two children who have experienced early childhood instability that has led to trauma and/or associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2016 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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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/08/2021 Full Good 10/03/2020 Full Outstanding 04/09/2018 Full Good 08/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff play an important role in supporting children who are leaving and moving in to the home. They work well with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned, and prepare children both practically and emotionally. One child old the inspector, ‘They [staff] treat and care for me well and I feel safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home. They were prepared and supported by staff to move to other accommodation. One child went on to make a positive move to live with foster parents in accordance with their care plan. As a result, children have positive experiences that allowed them to feel safe and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical environment of the home has improved and is welcoming, comfortable and nurturing. Overall, children take pride in their personal spaces, where they can relax. Children are encouraged to personalise them to suit their wishes and interests. Children’s photographs are proudly displayed in the home, which creates a more-homely atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children well to maintain important and healthy relationships with family members and friends. They communicate effectively with social workers to review the arrangements for children to spend time with their families. For example, the registered manager advocated on behalf of one child’s wishes to spend more time with their family members. Staff show a good understanding of the importance of children spending meaningful time with their families. As a result, children benefit from this care and understanding, and maintain a sense of belonging and identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most staff have healthy and positive relationships with children and understand them well. These members of staff have a good grasp of the children’s complex behaviours and vulnerabilities and are quick respond to their needs. Staff show tolerance, compassion and kindness, which helps children to begin to develop trusting relationships. One child’s independent reviewing officer told the inspector, ‘Staff have given [child] respect and built a trusting relationship; they [staff] have listened to [child].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely alongside the in-house clinical team to provide staff with specialist knowledge and strategies to better support children with their difficulties and vulnerabilities. For example, staff receive bespoke training on the therapeutic model, which helps them to provide good care to meet children’s emotional needs. This approach is embedded in staff practice to help children make progress. As a result, children have better coping strategies to manage their emotions and reflect on their behaviours and choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are showing a greater awareness and understanding of the importance of children’s identity. They are considerate and promote children’s cultures and Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 4 identities. For example, one child participates in cultural days and evenings, which include them preparing and cooking foods of their own heritage. This enables children to retain a sense of being connected to their identity and cultural upbringing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, children’s health needs are met to a good standard. Staff ensure that children’s health needs are monitored, and individual health assessments are in place. Recommendations from health plans are acted on. Children attend regular appointments with the dentist, general practitioner, optician, and specialist services. However, on one occasion, staff did not offer one child advice and guidance on their health and well-being in relation to alcohol misuse. The registered manager recognises this shortfall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children have very good school attendance and are doing well at school. Staff have realistic and high expectations for children making progress in their learning and education. However, not all children are making good progress with their education and learning. For example, staff have not been able to effectively engage one child each day in structured learning and education activities. Consequently, this child is, at times, left to their own devices during the day. The registered manager has advocated on behalf of the child for further supportive interventions, with the aim of keeping the child in full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to express their wishes and views regarding their care. There are regular individual sessions and house meetings between staff and children. As a result, most children feel that they are listened to by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff do not always regularly review and update children’s records to capture their progress and experience. For example, children’s placement plans do not contain relevant information about the children’s needs. Furthermore, on occasions, staff have failed to log relevant information in children’s daily records. This means that if children want to access their files in the future, information would be limited, misrepresenting their journey. The registered manager has a plan to address these omissions.

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

The registered manager and staff have continued to make sure that they assess risk and impact when new children move in to the home. Staff ensure that all known risks are identified and they consider the impact of the risks in relation to the location of the home. This level of scrutiny has resulted in positive experiences for children who have moved into the home.

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

Staff are quick in their response to the risk of children going missing. This has helped to reduce the risk to children over time. Staff act quickly to the associated risk and know how to follow children’s missing-from-care protocols. They escalate concerns by working in strong partnership with the local authority, local services, and the police to ensure that children return home as soon as possible. Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 5 Children raise concerns or make complaints with the registered manager without fear of any adverse consequences. The registered manager is responsive to children about any concerns and is thorough throughout the complaints process. Information is shared with the relevant agencies and managed in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Children receive feedback following the outcome any investigations.

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

The registered manager and staff ensure that individualised risk assessments are detailed and include guidance about how to manage and reduce children’s risks. Furthermore, the registered manager has an in-depth understanding of risk assessments and behaviour support plans. These are of a very good quality and provide staff with comprehensive strategies to manage risk. This level of scrutiny has resulted in better management and reduction of risk for children in the home.

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

When safeguarding incidents happen, the registered manager is quick to respond and undertakes a thorough review to comprehend what has taken place. Reflecting on staff practice continues to help to develop and improve the management of risk to children.

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

Most staff show professional curiosity and vigilance to keep children safe. For example, staff ensure that they carry out routine checks to monitor children’s usage of their mobile phones when there is a potential risk of exploitation. However, this practice is not consistent with other electrical devices. For example, staff do not implement security measures on one child’s device that stop them from accessing inappropriate websites. Furthermore, staff fail to ensure that regular checks are made. This has the potential to increase the risk to vulnerable children. The registered manager acted during the inspection to ensure that security measures were installed on the child’s electrical device.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has positive relationships with children and staff. Through his enthusiasm, ambition and aspiration, he makes a positive impact on the lives of children and staff. Staff feel empowered by these principles, and children enjoy the relaxed culture full of laughter and humour.. Staff look forward to coming into work. The registered manager listens to staff and encourages them in their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and the registered manager show a genuine commitment to looking after the children in their care. Staff have continued to participate in ongoing reflective discussions about how best to improve their practice to help children to progress. They regularly use the in-house clinical team meetings to develop a more in-depth understanding of children’s difficulties and needs. This helps them to sharpen their practice approaches so that they can improve the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is effective care planning and strong working relationships between the staff and the placing authority. The registered manager appreciates the importance of maintaining secure relationships with partner agencies. Feedback from all professionals is highly complimentary. A teacher and social worker both told the inspector that the registered manager is a strong advocate for children, and staff Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 6 work well collaboratively with other professionals. Furthermore, another child’s social worker said that ‘the support they give is just amazing’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from an environment that encourages learning and development. Discussions in supervision and staff meetings strike a healthy balance between effective challenge and support. All staff receive regular supervision to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities, and to develop their practice to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager uses internal audits to track children’s progress and staff practice. These help to identify strengths and areas for further development. Moreover, the registered manager closely scrutinises patterns of behaviour and evaluates these to improve the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has worked hard to ensure that staff engage with specific training to support children effectively. This has recently included training to improve staff’s understanding of non-epileptic seizures. Furthermore, new starters receive a good-quality induction that includes face-to-face training. This provides staff with additional knowledge and skills in how to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most staff hold the required level 3 diploma qualification for residential childcare. Two members of staff will shortly be undertaking this qualification; however, they are within the required timescale for completion. This provides staff with the essential skills and knowledge for their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has effectively addressed the two requirements made at the last inspection effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to the registered manager and staff ensuring that they understand and follow children’s risk assessments, and that these documents are up to date. 28 April 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where children are excluded or have no school place, staff support educational activity throughout the day. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3) Inspection report for children’s home: SC381089 8  The registered person should ensure that all children’s case records are kept up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children in line with their individual health plans and are offered advice, support and guidance on health and well-being. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)

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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: SC381089 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 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: SC381089 10 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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