Children's Home run by The Place Young People’s Company in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who may have emotional or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is qualified and suitably experienced for the role.

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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 good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have formed positive relationships with staff. Children said that they enjoy living in the home. The inspector observed staff to be kind and nurturing. These positive relationships support children’s progress and provide them with the stability they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are making progress with their education. When children struggle with their learning, staff advocate for the children to ensure that they attend the right education setting and receive additional support. Positive communication with the school ensures that children feel supported and that barriers to learning are overcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of different activities. For example, one child enjoys going fishing with staff and another attends a weekly youth group. Furthermore, staff organise garden parties, which provide children with the opportunity to play with their friends in their home. The fun that children have is captured by staff within personalised memory boxes, which provide children with memorabilia, such as photos, of their time spent at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to remain in good health. They ensure that children are registered with local health services and access medical treatment when required. In addition, managers recognise when children may need external support, and some children are supported to attend weekly therapy sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with people who are important to them, and staff are supportive to ensure that is a positive experience for children. Family members told the inspectors that staff keep them informed about their children. This practice means that children are able to maintain a sense of belonging within their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and well presented. Children were proud to show the inspectors their bedrooms, which have been personalised to reflect their interests. Children enjoy using the home’s communal spaces to bake and play with crafts and games. Furthermore, children have the opportunity to have pets at the home. This is a home that children feel comfortable in.

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

The manager and staff demonstrate a clear understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and the potential risks. Children’s written plans provide staff with clear guidance and strategies to follow. Furthermore, the manager has provided staff with ‘grab bags’, which provide resources that may assist them when responding in an Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 4 emergency should a child go missing. This helps ensure that children are protected from harm.

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

The use of physical interventions is proportionate and rare. When physical interventions do occur, the staff have a debrief and the children’s views are sought. The registered manager reviews records and has identified areas for improvement with record-keeping. The manager has arranged for additional training to take place and has completed an upskilling session with staff. This will be further reviewed at the next inspection.

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

There have been two allegations made by children about staff practice. The manager works with relevant professionals and has ensured that children’s views are considered. However, on one occasion, the responding manager failed to notify the local authority designated office (LADO) in a timely manner. In addition, Ofsted was not notified about the allegation, which limits quality assurance. The manager recognised this shortfall at inspection and identified what action she would take to prevent a further occurrence.

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

Children’s views and wishes are sought by the staff. Regular meetings with children provide an opportunity for children to influence their day-to-day care and raise concerns.

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

Staff recognise triggers to children’s behaviours and work to help them understand their emotions and discuss their feelings. As a result, children develop strategies to help them respond to difficult situations differently. For example, when one child is feeling upset, she will now use her journal to write down her feelings, or cook with staff. This practice has enabled children to understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and other people.

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

The staff use door alarms and motion sensors to monitor children’s movements. The manager has not updated the home’s statement of purpose to reflect the use of these systems. In addition, the manager has not updated the children’s individual risk assessments to reflect the need for monitoring. As a result, there is the possibility that the surveillance is used unnecessarily.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team. She is child focused and passionate about children receiving the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the running of the home, and monitoring systems support the home’s development. The manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and takes effective action when improvement is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are positive about working in the home. The manager creates an open and inclusive culture and promotes good teamwork. One worker said, ‘This is the best Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 5 job I have ever had. I go home feeling that I have made a difference to the children’s lives.’ As a result, staff feel invested and valued as team members.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective supervision and training that equip them to deliver good care. Furthermore, staff told inspectors that the induction they receive when joining the home is comprehensive. This support helps them staff further develop their skills and gives them opportunities to review and improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established strong connections with partner agencies. Professionals are unanimously positive about the communication with the staff team and about the care provided for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been delays in receiving children’s written plans from their placing authorities. The registered manager requested these, but had not escalated her concerns when the plans were not received. Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 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 maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the need for a child’s up-to-date care plan and education plan to be in place. 28 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if —

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Requirement Due date

there is allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted and the LADO of allegations about any staff working in the home. 28 May 2023

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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: 2683113 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Lymevale Court, Lyme Drive, Parklands, Stoke- on-Trent ST4 6NW

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Inspectors

Sophie Hills, Social Care Inspector Vicky Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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