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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008273 1 SC008273 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child who has had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2023 and holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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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: 24 January 2023

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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: SC008273 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good 14/12/2021 Full Good 25/02/2020 Full Good 27/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008273 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has remained living at the home since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is tidy and homely. The child’s bedroom and the lounge have recently been redecorated. The child was consulted about the changes and picked their bedroom colour scheme. There are photographs of the child throughout the home. This helps the child to feel that they belong.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak highly about the child and their achievements. The child benefits from nurturing care and staff who want the best outcomes for them. A social worker said the home has provided the child with stability. The inspector observed positive, respectful relationships between the child and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted. A teacher said that the child has 100% attendance and is punctual, and that the home communicates well with the school. Staff support and encourage the child to complete homework. The child is supported to achieve their educational targets and is making progress at school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys a range of activities in and out of the home and has fun. This includes playing football, going to the cinema and golf driving range and on a holiday to Blackpool. Staff are creative and think of new activities that the child might enjoy and can choose from. As a result, the child is having experiences they have not had before.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One parent said that the home is ‘fantastic’ and that the staff go ‘above and beyond’ in relation to the care that their child receives. Contact with the child’s family is supported by the home. For example, the staff make video calls to the parent so that they can see their child playing football. As a result, the child maintains relationships with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff collate thoughtful memorabilia of the child’s time in the home. For example, they have created memory books that are regularly updated and highlight the child’s experiences and journey while at the home. This means that the child’s memories are captured. This supports them to experience positive endings when they do move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with local health services and accesses these when needed. The staff seek medical advice from relevant professionals to ensure that the child’s health needs are met when they are unwell or injured.

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

Safeguarding is effective. The manager and staff are proactive in ensuring the child is helped and protected. They know the child extremely well, including their risks, Inspection report for children’s home: SC008273 4 triggers and behaviours, and staff understand the actions they need to take to meet the child’s needs and keep them safe.

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

During this inspection period, there have been no complaints or allegations made by the child, or incidents where the child has gone missing from home.

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

Physical interventions are only used as a last resort. Staff know the child well and implement consistent boundaries. This has meant that the need to use physical intervention has reduced.

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

Staff support the child in expressing their emotions and reflecting on their behaviour. Staff undertake direct-work sessions on topics such as healthy relationships and having a healthy diet. As a result, the child’s emotional well-being has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A new registered manager has started working in the home since the last full inspection. The manager has a clear vision for the home and is child-focused and ambitious. They understand the needs of the child and the strengths of the home. Monitoring systems are effective. Information gathered is used to support staff development and improve the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is now a consistent staff team in place. Staff say they feel supported and enjoy their role. Supervision takes place regularly and provides staff with a safe space to reflect and discuss children’s plans, routines in the home, staff welfare and training and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works in partnership with external professionals. The manager raises concerns when required and ensures that the relevant agencies are involved to support the child when needed. A social worker said that the manager communicates well and shares information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders have not ensured that one member of staff has completed the qualification required to work in the home within the required timescales. The manager has ensured that the staff member is now enrolled on the relevant course. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008273 5

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma").

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(b) (4)(a) (5)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the provider should ensure that staff achieve the appropriate qualification to perform their role within the required timescales. 19 October 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: SC008273 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Jade Bradburn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008273 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 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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