Children's Home run by Core Children Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 1 Registered provider: Core Children Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma, and social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since it was registered in August 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager post has been vacant since December 2023. The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have moved into the home since it was registered. At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. One child moved out of the home in a planned move that was in line with their care plan. Managers and staff are committed to providing positive experiences during children’s time at the home which contribute to their life story.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers carefully consider children’s needs before making decisions about them moving into the home. One child with neurodiverse needs experienced a well- planned and individualised transition into the home over a four-week period. This child-centred approach supports children to have positive moves into the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to developing positive and trusting relationships with children. There are nurturing relationships between staff and children. This relationship-based approach contributes to children feeling settled in the home and helps them to make good progress from their starting points. The relationships between staff and children also contribute to creating a warm and nurturing environment which helps children to develop a sense of belonging.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to supporting children to achieve positive educational outcomes. One child was supported by staff to secure a role as a teaching assistant. This helps children to be aspirational about their futures and supports them to make a positive contribution to society. When children are resistant to attending school, staff explore and understand the barriers they face. There is effective liaison with other professionals to overcome barriers so that children feel confident to attend school. As a result, one child’s attendance has improved from 40 per cent to 100 per cent since moving into the home.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to improve their physical and emotional health and well-being. Children have access to local health services and attend routine health appointments. Specialist help is also available in line with children’s individual needs. Staff ensure that children are educated about various aspects of their health and well-being.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s relationships with people who are important to them. This includes arranging family time for children whose family live a considerable distance away, as well as supporting children’s involvement at important family events. This individualised care promotes children’s sense of belonging and identity.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have recently implemented a new online system which has resulted in some difficulties in finding information in children’s records. This disorganised approach limits the regulator’s ability to understand and track children’s progress. Action has now been taken to resolve these issues. Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 3

p.2

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

Overall, managers ensure that there are comprehensive risk management and behaviour support plans in place for children. They ensure that these are regularly reviewed. There are clear strategies in place for staff to follow to reduce risks for children. Additionally, children are supported to understand risks and keep themselves safe. This support, along with the positive relationships children have with staff, contributes to children making safe decisions. As a result, incidents where children are at risk of harm are rare.

p.3

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

On one occasion, information shared by a child with a member of staff was explored but not updated on the child’s risk management plans. This meant that the child’s plan did not reflect their current level of risk, which has the potential to cause inconsistencies in staff’s responses. The child also reported other concerns which were not explored. This does not demonstrate that children’s views are always sought and acted on.

p.3

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

Physical interventions are rare and are used as a last resort. When staff do intervene to manage children’s behaviour and to keep them safe, the manager seeks children’s and staff’s views afterwards. This response ensures that children’s behaviours are managed safely, and any practice issues are identified and addressed promptly.

p.3

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

Staff follow a restorative approach in their response to unwanted behaviours. They use a variety of behaviour management approaches that empower children to understand and develop more positive responses and behaviours when they are in crisis. This approach, alongside reflective discussions and key-work sessions, helps children to manage their behaviours and feelings safely and positively. As a result, the use of consequences is rare.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A qualified and experienced manager leads the staff team. The manager has good knowledge about children’s starting points and what they have accomplished while living at the home. The manager is aspirational for children’s progress and has an ambitious vision to improve the quality of care and upskill the staff team.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a highly motivated and qualified staff team. Members of staff are positive and complimentary about the support they receive from managers and leaders. Staff are provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and supports them to meet children’s individual and diverse needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and staff supervisions take place monthly. Both are used as opportunities for reflection and learning. Senior leaders attend team meetings, where important issues are discussed. Children are at the centre of these discussions, which demonstrates child-centred practice. Supervisions are reflective, focused on staff development and improving the quality of care to children. Children’s safety, welfare and outcomes are considered during supervision sessions. Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 4 New staff receive an effective induction which ensures they are equipped to meet children’s needs. The support and training provided to staff by leaders and managers ensures that children receive good-quality care.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals are extremely positive about the support and care provided to children by staff and managers. One said that they are really pleased with the support staff provide and commented on the progress a child has made because of this support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers use a range of reviewing and monitoring systems to maintain oversight of the home. While this has been effective in ensuring oversight of all incidents, some incidents reviewed by the manager have lacked critical analysis and professional curiosity, to identify gaps in staff practice. This is a missed opportunity to identify and address any practice issues and to improve the quality of care that children receive. Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.5

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider ensuring that when incidents occur, children’s risk management plans are updated to ensure risks are understood and appropriately managed. Additionally, when children raise concerns about their care, the provider must ensure that these are addressed promptly. 30 June 2024

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that when safeguarding incidents are reviewed, shortfalls are identified and addressed promptly to ensure children are safeguarded and their welfare promoted. 30 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 6 The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.5

Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

p.6

Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that children’s records are maintained and kept up to date and are stored and accessible. 30 June 2024

p.6

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: 2730741 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trent House, 234 Victoria Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2LW

p.7

Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2730741 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8