Children's home run by Albrighton Care Ltd in Cannock Chase

Inspection report for children’s home: SC484830 1 SC484830 Registered provider: Albrighton Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for two children with learning disabilities. The home is privately owned.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a permanent registered manager who is suitably experienced and 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 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: 22 November 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: SC484830 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2022 Full Good 01/03/2022 Full Good 02/07/2019 Full Good 03/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC484830 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home with both moving into semi-independent accommodation. Two children have been welcomed into the home and have settled in well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive care from committed staff who understand their individual needs and support these well. Because of this, children make good progress from their starting points in different aspects of their development, including their independence, education, behaviour and self-regulation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and wellbeing needs are met well. They attend routine and specialist health appointments. This ensures that children receive suitable support and intervention to meet their physical and emotional health needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe administration and management of medicines to promote the safety and well-being of children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend educational settings according to their needs and abilities. Staff work in partnership with schools and other relevant professionals to make sure that children have every opportunity to increase their academic ability and to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrangements are in place that support children to maintain positive relationships with their family and friends. Staff work closely with children and their families to ensure that time spent together is safe and a positive experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During weekly meetings, key work sessions and everyday discussions, children have many opportunities to have their say. Staff consult with children, and children influence day-to-day decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop life skills in readiness for adulthood. They are provided with opportunities to develop new skills, such as cooking, personal care and budgeting, with good support and encouragement from staff. This helps children to learn the necessary skills that will enable them to move successfully into adulthood.

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

Staff understand the risks for each child and follow the guidance set out in risk assessments to help them manage and reduce these risks. Review and development of safety plans are ongoing to keep pace with each child’s changing circumstances and needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484830 4 Staff manage safeguarding concerns effectively and in a timely manner. Staff work directly with children to help them to understand potential risks. This includes supporting them to make positive choices in relation to their personal safety.

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

There have been no incidents of physical restraint or of children going missing from the home since the last inspection.

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

Children live in a physically safe environment. Regular environmental safety checks are undertaken, and children regularly practice fire drills, so that they know what they need to do in the event of an emergency.

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

Children are protected by the organisation’s thorough recruitment practices. Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These measures promote children’s safety by helping to prevent unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has an appropriately qualified registered manager in place. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2020 and holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a range of training courses to help them to develop their knowledge, skills and professional practice. New staff receive an induction programme, and they are subsequently enrolled on their qualification in residential childcare. As a result, staff are trained to meet the needs of the children in their care and gain the required qualification within timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend monthly team meetings and have regular practice-related supervision to support their performance and to review the children’s progress and experiences. Staff feel valued and are motivated towards delivering care that makes positive improvements to children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable staff group caring for children, with no changes in staffing since the last inspection. The manager ensures that there are sufficient staff to safely provide care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for children. The manager and staff have established good working relationships with other professionals, such as, teachers and social workers. Effective communication ensures that information is shared quickly, which helps to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC484830 5

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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: SC484830 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Albrighton Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Heritage Park, Hayes Way, Cannock WS11 7LT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kerry Hutchinson

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Inspector

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC484830 7 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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