Children's home run by Stepping Stones Care (Midlands) Limited

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 1 Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care (Midlands) Limited

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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 two children who have experienced trauma and encounter associated difficulties with their emotional well- being.

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Information about this children’s home

Since the last inspection, the provider has recruited an experienced manager who has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged inadequate at the full inspection on 19 and 20 January 2023. Following the inspection, no children lived at the home, and there was no registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

In February 2023, Ofsted imposed a condition on the home’s registration, which meant that the provider had to give Ofsted three months’ notice on their intention to welcome children into the home. The reasons for this were:

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This monitoring visit

 The provider had no manager in place to lead the home.  The provider had no plans to place children in the home for a period of time.  There were insufficient staff to operate the home safely.  Senior managers were focused on bringing about stability and improvement. Managers planned to overhaul and review quality assurance systems before accepting children into this home.

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This monitoring visit

The provider notified Ofsted on 24 March 2023 of their intention to admit children. The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the home’s readiness to open. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 2 A new manager has been appointed to work alongside an experienced, responsible individual. They bring experience and knowledge to the roles and have the capacity to lead and oversee the day-to-day running of the home.

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This monitoring visit

A new staff team has been safely recruited. The staff are undertaking training and an induction programme in readiness for the home’s reopening. Four staff hold the relevant qualification, and other staff will be enrolled on the course.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed and improved monitoring systems to enable them to review the quality of care children are provided with and the progress they are making. Because of this, requirements raised at the last inspection under regulations 13, 14 and 33 are deemed to have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Managers have reviewed the day-to-day structure of the home to match the ethos of the model of care outlined within the home’s statement of purpose. These improvements remain in their infancy and are untested. Because of this, requirements raised at the last inspection under regulations 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 remain in place and will be reviewed during Ofsted’s next visit to the home.

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This monitoring visit

As a result of this visit, Ofsted removed the three-month condition. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/01/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 4

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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, The 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff provide children with routines and boundaries to support their development and progress. 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and 28 July 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 5 the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)(x))

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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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

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(ii)) 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; 28 July 2023 Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 6 help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable; and

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b))

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care (Midlands) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Camomile House, 6 Embassy Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TP

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2671339 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 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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