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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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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 four children with 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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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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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: 2683113 2

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Outcome 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.

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Findings from the inspection

This visit took place in response to Ofsted being made aware of a serious allegation that has occurred at the setting, which is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, no children have moved out of the home and no children have moved in. There are currently three children living in the home. Children told the inspectors that they like living in the home and that they feel supported.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the importance of education. All children are attending school full time and attend extra-curricular activities and work experience. This enhances children’s learning and supports their progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Children engage in a range of activities. Since the previous inspection, children have enjoyed camping holidays and trips to theme parks. Staff also support children to see family members and facilitate these arrangements flexibly, considering the wishes of the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is welcoming and maintained to a high standard. The communal areas are decorated with pictures of both children and staff having fun together. The children have personalised bedrooms and enjoy looking after their own pets and playing in the garden with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s written risk assessments provide staff with information about children’s vulnerabilities and risks. The manager is responsive to changes in children’s risks and often reviews staffing levels and strategies to ensure that children receive appropriate support.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, there has been one complaint made by a child against another child living in the home. The manager responded to this promptly. The manager ensured that relevant professionals were informed and that both children were spoken to. The children were encouraged to discuss their feelings and were both satisfied with the outcome. This practice promotes children’s well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff provide nurturing support to children when they are having emotional difficulties. Direct work is undertaken by staff with the children to help them to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 3 understand their worries and behaviours. Staff also work with external agencies to support the work they do with children.

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Findings from the inspection

One social worker told an inspector that she was pleased with the care provided in the home and that communication, planning and support from staff are ‘brilliant’.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, there have been no changes to the day-to-day management home. A suitably qualified and experienced manager leads the team.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that members of the core team receive regular supervisions, and that team meetings provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on children’s care. However, the manager has not ensured that agency staff members working in the home have been provided with practice-related supervision. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that there is effective oversight and review of staff practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the previous inspection, managers have provided staff with further training. However, managers have not satisfied themselves that the agency staff working in the home are adequately trained. For example, the manager was not aware of what training and skills the agency staff have. In addition, the agency staff have not been provided with an induction into the home. This fails to ensure that all staff have the required skills to care for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff rotas do not record the details of staff who have worked in the home. The rotas viewed by inspectors indicated that there had not been a sufficient number of staff on duty to support children at night. During the inspection, the manager provided evidence that demonstrated that children were adequately supported. The manager accepted the shortfall in recording who has worked and when and told inspectors that she would change the recording system to demonstrate sufficient staff and adequate planning.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a regular independent visitor to the home. The visitor’s reports do not provide clear information about the children’s experiences or how the conduct of staff promotes children’s well-being. As a result, external monitoring systems do not provide full scrutiny of the care provided to children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/04/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 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

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the home having an up-to-date rota. 10 November 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to managers ensuring that staff have received mandatory training, and in addition that they receive an induction into the home and are made aware of the home’s safeguarding processes. 10 November 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees— 10 November 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 6 receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that all staff working in the home receive practice-related supervision.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered provider ensuring that the independent visitor provides records of how children have been safeguarded effectively and how staff have promoted children’s well-being. 10 November 2023 Assurance 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 Mark Dickinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2683113 8 regulates 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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