Children's home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 1 SC411074

p.1

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for one child with social and/or emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private company.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post who took up their position in December 2022. Ofsted is currently processing her application for registration.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2022

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

p.2

The care of children

No children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. The child who previously lived in the home has moved to a different placement that is more appropriate to his needs.

p.2

The care of children

Since the last child left the placement, no further children have been admitted to the home. This is to allow for the recruitment of further staff and to complete the redecoration and refurbishment of the home.

p.2

The care of children

The child registered with all primary healthcare services. He attended his routine health appointments with good support and encouragement from staff. The child has had access to the services he needs to promote his physical, emotional and psychological well-being.

p.2

The care of children

The child attended an educational setting that was appropriate to his needs and abilities. Staff worked positively and proactively with education providers to promote the child’s learning and educational achievement. Staff provided direct support to the child in their educational setting when necessary.

p.2

The care of children

Staff supported the child to spend quality time with close friends and family. He formed good support networks, which allowed him to maintain links to significant people in his life.

p.2

The care of children

The child engaged in key-work sessions and children’s meetings. He expressed his wishes and feelings about what he enjoyed and about the day-to-day running of the home. The child knew how to make a complaint and was confident that he could talk to staff about any worries he may have.

p.2

The safety of children

The child benefited from effective support, help and protection. Staff had a good understanding of his specific needs and vulnerabilities and took appropriate action to address them.

p.2

The safety of children

Personalised risk assessments helped to inform staff about the issues pertinent to the child and ensured that staff were aware of and understood the most appropriate strategies to support him.

p.2

The safety of children

The child did not go missing from home. However, staff remained vigilant to the Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 3 possibility of such incidents occurring. Staff worked with the police and other key professionals to ensure that a coordinated approach is in place should it be needed.

p.2

The safety of children

The manager ensured that the child lived in a home that provided physical safety and security. Since the last inspection, large parts of the home have been refurbished and modernised. However, the garden area of the home is looking unkempt and untidy. This is an unsightly environment for any child placed at the home.

p.3

The safety of children

Fire safety and health and safety checks are regularly carried out. Records show that the child and staff regularly practised evacuation of the building, so they knew how to respond in the event of an emergency.

p.3

The safety of children

The manager ensures that the child is protected by the organisation’s robust recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote the safety of the child by preventing unsuitable adults from working with him.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been a change of manager since the last inspection. The new manager is suitably experienced and qualified and demonstrates a clear commitment to improving outcomes for children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager understands that there are challenges with staffing levels. The manager and leaders are prioritising the recruitment of additional permanent staff as a matter of urgency. The manager and leaders have decided not to admit children until they are more confident in the staffing levels and the abilities and skills of staff to meet children’s needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Monitoring visits from someone independent of the home take place every month. The monitoring system provides a review of the home’s practice relating to compliance with regulations and the quality standards. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/10/2021 Full Good 16/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/07/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the garden environment is made tidy. 7 May 2023 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC411074 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7