Children's home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report children's home: SC407933 1 SC407933 Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited Full inspection 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 company and is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since April 2021 and is suitably qualified.

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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 outstanding

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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: 21 February 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC407933 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2023 Full Good 21/02/2022 Full Good 13/01/2020 Full Good 18/03/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC407933 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home. Since the last inspection one child has moved out and two children have moved in. One child has been living in the home for over a year. Another child has lived in the home for nine months and the other child has recently moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child, who lived at the home for over three years, has recently moved out. The child moved because they were unsettled, which was having a negative impact on other children. The manager ensured that she worked alongside the child’s social worker to support them to find the right home for the child. In addition, staff supported the child’s move and helped them settle into their new home and have remained in touch. This approach ensured that the child had a positive ending to their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into the home have positive experiences. The manager ensures that, where possible, the process is well-planned and child-focused. Children are visited by staff and showed photos of the home. Additionally, for one child, the manager decorated their bedroom with their favourite superheroes prior to moving in to help reduce their anxieties. This nurturing approach ensured that the child was well supported during a difficult time in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have secure and trusting relationships with adults. Staff talk to children with warmth and use creative methods to obtain children’s views. For example, staff often communicate with one child using role play through their teddies. Children are settled and feel well supported. Children say they feel listened to, get on well with staff and enjoy living in the home. One child told the inspector: ‘I like it here. I get on well with staff and trust them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise that education is important. They help children to understand any barriers to learning and have high aspirations for their academic progress. Staff ensure that they have positive relationships with school staff and maintain effective communication and joint working. This contributes to children’s engagement and progress. One child has made significant progress from their starting point.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical health needs are met well. Staff ensure that children are registered with local health services and attend routine health appointments. When children struggle with attending health appointments, staff advocate on their behalf and talk to children about the benefits of maintaining good health. In addition, children have access to weekly therapy sessions. This means that children’s physical and emotional health improves over time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children’s hobbies, interests, and talents. They arrange for them to attend local clubs. One child plays for a local football team and attends gymnastics. Another child attends after school clubs such as netball. Additionally, children enjoy Inspection report children's home: SC407933 4 spending time together on activities and trips to the zoo, cinema and going on holidays. Staff capture these moments with photographs and display them around the home and in children’s life story books.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of promoting children’s identity. They recently held a cultural evening for one child in support of their nationality. They decorated the home, prepared food, and participated in a quiz to recreate positive memories for the child. Furthermore, they have introduced a word of the day in their respective language to help with the child’s learning. This approach allows children to maintain a sense of their identity.

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

Staff understand children’s identified risks and what actions they are expected to take to keep children safe. The risk assessments and behaviour support plans provide clear guidance for staff about how they should respond to known risks and behaviours. In addition, risk assessments and plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that staff remain up to date with the most effective strategies.

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

In addition to the above, the home has an appointed therapist who works alongside the registered manager and staff to develop strategies to support children with their emotions. Regular consultations, learning and reflection take place with the therapist and are used extremely well to further inform the staff’s approach.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant increase in the use of restraints. However, the use of restraints remains proportionate and is used as a last resort to keep children and others safe. Staff use a range of de-escalation strategies to help children manage their big emotions and avoid the use of restraint, where possible. Furthermore, the manager ensures that she regularly evaluates restraint practice and consults with staff and children, meaning they have the opportunity for reflection and learning.

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

There have been occasions when children have been absent or missing from the home. During these occasions, appropriate action is taken by staff, who follow children’s individual protocols and continuously search for them in local or known areas. When children are not located promptly, they work alongside police to ensure their safe return. When children are located, staff are warm and nurturing towards them and organise a discussion about why they went missing with someone independent of the home.

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

New staff have been safely recruited. Recruitment of staff members is robust. This ensures that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home. Inspection report children's home: SC407933 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has strong, supportive relationships with children. She is confident, ambitious, and exceptionally child focused. She spends time with children and advocates for them when needed. She has high expectations for children and speaks fondly of their progress and achievements. She listens and responds to children’s views regarding their experiences and implements change, based on feedback she receives. The ongoing positive impact the manager is recognised by children, professionals, and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Management monitoring and oversight of the home are extremely robust. The manager has developed exceptional monitoring systems which allow her to identify patterns and trends in children’s behaviour. As a result, she can review the quality of care provided to children and make positive changes where needed effectively. This approach ensures that improvements are continually made to enhance children’s lived experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers promote continuity of care for children. The home is fully staffed and has a core staff team, who have worked in the home for several years. Additionally, staff speak positively about working in the home and the incredible support they receive from each other and the manager. The stability and expertise of the staff team contribute to achieving positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, high-quality supervision and annual appraisals. They help staff reflect on their practice and focus on children’s experiences and progress. Furthermore, staff are encouraged to develop and progress in their roles. The manager ensures that all staff have the capability to perform tasks and provides resources to support their practice and ongoing development both individually and in team forums.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff have built excellent joint working relationships with a range of professionals. Professionals speak highly of the support provided to children and the positive impact this is having on children’s lives. One professional said, ‘The team have gone above and beyond to support my child.’ Another professional said, ‘They have completely changed my perspective on residential settings.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff undertake a wide range of training, which is specifically identified to meet the children’s needs. Additional training has been introduced recently to further develop the therapeutic approach already in place. This means that children receive care from highly skilled and effective staff. However, in contrast, some staff have not completed refresher mandatory training within the relevant timescales due to a breakdown in the system. Inspection report children's home: SC407933 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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 children's home: SC407933 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care And Education Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 90 King Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JB

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Inspector

Carl Wilton, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC407933 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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