Children's home run by Smooth Stone Care & Education Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 1 Registered provider: Smoothstone Care & Education Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and is registered to care for three children who may have learning disabilities.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since July 2020 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/04/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 3

p.2

outstanding

The home provides long-term care for up to three children. At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. There have been no discharges from the home since the last inspection.

p.3

outstanding

Children have excellent relationships with adults who care deeply about them. Children receive attuned, thoughtful care from staff who are enthusiastic about their well-being and progress. One child’s social worker told the inspector, ‘The child is unrecognisable from when she moved in; the progress is outstanding across the board.’

p.3

outstanding

All children make progress in all areas of their lives. Staff work exceptionally hard to support children with new experiences to build their social resilience. All children are making excellent educational progress in line with their level of development. Bespoke packages of education that are channelled to children’s individual aspirations are motivating them to achieve and reach their potential.

p.3

outstanding

Children’s journeys and experiences are captured by staff in memory books, which are a lovely record for children to keep. Staff praise and acknowledge children on a daily basis. Staff really understand how to build children’s self-esteem and confidence, and this was evident when speaking to children.

p.3

outstanding

Staff are committed to children’s progress and future. They think not only about short-term goals, but about years in the future. For example, staff support children with age-appropriate independence tasks to ensure that they reach their full potential. Staff have high aspirations for all children and do not see disability as a barrier to children having new and exciting experiences.

p.3

outstanding

Children’s views are central to the home and the care that they receive. Staff listen carefully to children’s views in a variety of ways. Children are empowered to express themselves. Managers and staff respond verbally and in writing to children’s suggestions and evidence how they highly value children’s contributions to the running of the home. This reassures children that they are listened to and central to staff practice.

p.3

outstanding

Staff have an exceptional understanding of each individual child. They understand children’s risks and difficulties and have clear strategies in place to help them. This is supported by the positive relationships that staff and children have with one another. As a result, children feel secure, and there are very few serious incidents in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 4 Children are safe and feel safe in the home. Staff are driven to ensure that children’s needs are met. One child told the inspector, ‘I enjoy spending time with the staff. They are good at looking after me and keeping me safe. They always give me hugs, and that makes me feel safe.’

p.3

outstanding

The high level of support provided to each child means that children are safe and feel safe in the home. As a result, children do not go missing from home or place themselves at risk in the community. On the rare occasion that there is a significant incident or safeguarding concern, the team professionally manages this. External agencies are consulted with, and managers have clear oversight of all incidents.

p.4

outstanding

The recruitment processes and procedures for new staff are thorough. However, on occasion, managers have failed to verify the reason staff have left previous posts working with children and vulnerable adults. This has not compromised the safety of children as all other checks have been completed.

p.4

outstanding

The home is safe and well maintained. The location risk assessment provides staff with sufficient measures to safeguard children from risks in the community; however, this is based on old crime data. The location risk assessment would be strengthened by consulting with relevant people regarding up-to-date crime information to inform and act on new emerging risks or reduced risks. This shortfall has not had an impact on the safety of children as staff provide excellent support and supervision when children are out in the community.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and deputy manager have set a positive, creative and ambitious culture in the home. This is replicated within the staff team. Managers are dynamic, knowledgeable and effective in their roles. They set high expectations of the team in maintaining outstanding care to children, which staff achieve.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to a comprehensive range of training. They receive regular supervision and access to team meetings. They are supported to understand the children’s complex needs and reflect on their practice. As a result, staff are attuned and skilled, understand their role and meet the managers’ expectations. Staff who were spoken to were enthusiastic, motivated and child-focused. They enjoy working at the home, and together, the team functions as a large family.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and managers have excellent relationships with partners and key professionals. Social workers and school staff are complimentary about the way staff work with children and the impact they have on children’s lives. This mutual respect means that children have support from a cohesive network that wants the best for them. One social worker told the inspector, ‘The home is a flagship that should teach others how to do residential care. If I could replicate this home for every child in care, we would be in a great place. It is simply outstanding.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 5 Managers’ monitoring of the home is effective. The staff work seamlessly together to make sure that all aspects of the home and records are of a high standard. However, the registered manager has not ensured that the home’s statement of purpose is shared with Ofsted within the required timescale. In addition, the registered

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

manager has failed to seek feedback from relevant professionals when she completes the quality of care review. This shortfall has not impacted on the quality of care provided, which is outstanding. Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 6

p.5

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.6

Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the registered person shares the home’s statement of purpose with Ofsted within the required time frame. 29 May 2023

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when completing the quality of care report, they seek feedback from professionals as part of this process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that they consult with relevant professionals when they conduct the annual review of the premises. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that they complete full Schedule 2 checks as part of safer recruitment to ensure that staff are safe to work with children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.6

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: 2593032 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Smoothstone Care & Education

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Datum House, Electra Way, Crewe CW1 6ZF

p.7

Inspectors

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Rachel Griffiths, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2593032 8 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.

p.7

Inspectors

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 . 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.8

Inspectors

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

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8