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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 1 Registered provider: The Place Young Peoples Company Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. One child has moved out of the home since the last inspection. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since September 2023. An experienced acting manager is in post. She is a manager for another home in the organisation.

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Inspection date: 6 December 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 6 December 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector 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: 1250039 2

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Outcome of 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

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff. Children like spending time with staff. For example, they go ice skating or watch a football match. However, activity choices and plans are not well recorded. It is therefore unclear how often children are provided with these opportunities.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on. For example, one child has turned the snug into a computer room. Another child received their requested bathroom décor. Although children are consulted, it is unclear how often this is taking place. Regular feedback from children is not consistently sought or recorded.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are supported to develop their independence skills. However, work carried out with children is not well recorded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have conversations with children about difficult topics. Staff help children to regulate their emotions. Children are further supported by other professionals, such as a psychotherapist. This helps to promote children’s mental and psychological well- being.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the risks that children are exposed to. They communicate well with relevant professionals, such as social workers, to ensure that children’s plans promote their safety and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from the home, the staff respond effectively. Staff go looking for children and follow the correct policies and procedures. There has been a reduction in the number of times that children go missing from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Allegations against staff are appropriately managed. Safeguards are put in place and investigations are guided by the local authority designated officer. Managers notify Ofsted in the appropriate time frames. This ensures that children are safeguarded effectively.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager is passionate and dedicated. She is proactive in making improvements to the service. She has strong leadership skills, which have helped to stabilise the staff team. Team morale is good, and staff like working at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive training to meet children’s specific needs. As a result, staff feel supported and confident in their role. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 3 Children know how to complain and are confident that complaints will be taken seriously. Complaints are promptly investigated and effectively resolved. Children receive a written response from the manager, and appropriate actions are taken.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager does not have robust oversight and monitoring systems in place. While much progress has been made, these developments need time to be embedded into practice.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, one recommendation and five requirements were raised. The manager has been able to evidence that three of the requirements have been met. The manager has made progress towards meeting the outstanding requirements and recommendation, and there is a plan in place to meet these. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/08/2022 Full Good 21/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 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, 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 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.

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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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) (2)(a)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all records are reviewed and monitored by the manager and clear actions are identified and acted on.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 6 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 6 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1) (2)(b)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children are helped to develop appropriate independence skills.

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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

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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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; and

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Requirement Due date

make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff support children take part in a range of activities to develop their social skills. Staff should also be creative in encouraging children to engage in fun activities and have structure to their day.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 6 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should adhere to the Quality Standards. The responsibilities and accountabilities in this standard fall on the registered person. In practice, just as with the other standards, those responsible for the day-to-day running of homes, play a key role in enabling the registered person to fulfil the requirements of this standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.2)

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Recommendations

This recommendation was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young Peoples 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1250039 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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