Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC469761 1 SC469761 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services 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 three children who may have emotional and behaviour difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This home uses a therapeutic model of care and staff work alongside a therapist.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is dual registered with another children’s home in the same organisation.

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This monitoring visit

This home was judged inadequate following a full inspection on 24 and 25 October 2023. Following the inspection, Ofsted issued a notice to restrict accommodation and a compliance notice under section 22a of the Care Standards Act 2000. The notice related to regulation 13 (the leadership and management standard).

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This monitoring visit

The focus of this visit was to monitor the registered provider’s compliance with the notice restricting accommodation and to review the actions taken by the registered provider to meet the compliance notice issued following the last inspection.

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This monitoring visit

The notice to restrict accommodation has been adhered to, and no children have moved into the home since the last full inspection. The provider has taken action to meet the steps in the compliance notice and all requirements from the last full inspection have been met.

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This monitoring visit

Since the last inspection, two children have continued to live at the home. One child said, ‘Life in the home has got much better’ and talked about the one-to-one support being provided by staff. As a result of the staff support, the child is making progress with their independence skills. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC469761 2 Staff are supporting children well. There have been no missing-from-care incidents and staff have not needed to use physical intervention.

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This monitoring visit

Children’s care, behaviour, risk and health plans are personalised. This means that staff receive guidance that is individual to the child. This helps staff to meet the needs of children.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager receives support through supervision. The responsible individual has increased the number of days they visit the home. This means the responsible individual’s oversight of the registered manager has improved.

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This monitoring visit

Management oversight of the home is improved. The registered manager has implemented a new monitoring tool. This is being used to review care practices in the home. It also prompts the manager to review safeguarding incidents, missing- from-care incidents and physical intervention practices. This monitoring tool is in the early stages of implementation. Therefore, it is too early to gain an understanding of its effectiveness.

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This monitoring visit

During team meetings and supervision sessions the registered manager has talked to staff about safeguarding practices and the importance of record-keeping and report-writing. This is improving staff practice.

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This monitoring visit

Staff receive supervision in accordance with the organisation’s internal policy. This means staff receive support to carry out their roles and responsibilities adequately.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager completes weekly medication audits. This helps them ensure that children receive medication in line with their prescription issued by their GP. As a result, the recording, storage and administration of medication are compliant with regulation.

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This monitoring visit

The organisation’s internal policy relating to safer recruitment has been reviewed. This provides guidance to the registered manager to ensure that before staff start work at this home, they undergo the safer recruitment and vetting checks required to care for vulnerable children.

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This monitoring visit

Further training is planned in January 2024, including in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty. This will ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to safeguard children. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC469761 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2023 Full Inadequate 30/11/2022 Full Good 13/07/2021 Full Good 10/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC469761 4

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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: SC469761 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services 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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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Emily Wallis Mandache

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Inspectors

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Sharon Bourne, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: SC469761 6 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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