Children's home run by The Place Young People’s Company

Inspection report for children's home: 2484055 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties. Since the last inspection, three children have moved into the home.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the registered manager was not working at the home. An interim manager is currently overseeing the home, with daily support from the responsible individual.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 7 December 2022

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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: 2484055 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2022 Full Good 17/12/2019 Full Good 17/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2484055 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well presented and maintained. There is a family environment in which children and staff enjoy cooking and eating together. Children’s relationships with each other are nurtured. This helps to create a calm and harmonious atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do well in education. One child has started at college and is making good progress. Staff have supported other children to return to school after a period of being out of education. When children are unable to attend school, staff are creative in their approach to home learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well supported by staff. Children are helped by relevant professionals such as a psychotherapist and play therapist. Staff are also supported by these professionals to meet children’s psychological and emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. Staff take children’s wishes and feelings seriously. Complaints are responded to promptly and children receive responses in writing. Children feel heard and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy regular activities. For example, some children go to the gym and football training and some have swimming lessons. Another child is supported to attend important events across the UK which help with their identity.

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

Staff manage risk well. Staff know the risks children are exposed to and how to respond. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated after every incident.

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

Children like living at the home and feel safe. Children enjoy meaningful relationships with the staff. They trust staff and feel able to confide in them. As a result, children feel a sense of belonging and do not go missing from the home.

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

Staff know how to whistle-blow. When practice concerns are reported by staff, the provider acts on these and responds appropriately. This helps to maintain good standards of care and to safeguard children.

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

Staff are skilled at de-escalating incidents. They help children to self-regulate when their emotions are heightened. Staff have regular one-to-one discussions with the children. They help children to understand their feelings and emotions. Children learn to recognise and name these, aiding their development of self-regulation.

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

Staff are skilled at dealing with behaviours that are difficult to manage. Therefore, the number of restraints used by staff is low. When restraint is used, it is used as a Inspection report for children's home: 2484055 4 last resort. However, some restraints used by staff have not been approved techniques.

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good

An interim manager has been in post since September 2023. She is passionate and dedicated and is a strong leader. She is proactive in her approach to developing the home.

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good

Not all staff have had regular supervision since the last inspection. For example, one member of staff did not receive supervision during their first few months at the home. While the interim manager has implemented regular supervisions, this needs time to be embedded in practice.

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good

The registered manager does not always communicate effectively with other professionals, such as social workers. Communication with professionals has improved recently, since the interim manager has been in post.

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good

Monitoring and oversight of the home are poor. The manager’s monthly audits are not being carried out. As a result, there are significant gaps in the recording of information and action taken. For example, there was a two-month delay in reporting an incident to Ofsted. While the interim manager is making good progress in this area, it will take time to correct the shortfalls and embed effective monitoring systems.

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good

Regular team meetings take place, which include important topics such as safeguarding and reflective discussions. Staff also receive monthly group supervisions with psychologists to support with children’s specific needs. These create opportunities for the team to bond and develop their practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2484055 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 ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to supervision of staff taking place regularly.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any [other] incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to an incident that Ofsted should have been notified about without delay. 31 January 2024

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h)) 31 January 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2484055 6 This specifically refers to ensuring robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place and are used regularly and recorded.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when considering whether restraint is warranted, staff take into account the method of restraint which would be appropriate in the specific circumstances. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)

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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: 2484055 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company Limited

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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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Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2484055 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 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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Inspector

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