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Inspection report children's home: SC488943 1 SC488943 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There is a permanent registered manager, who is suitably experienced.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC488943 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Outstanding 21/02/2022 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 19/02/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC488943 3

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outstanding

Staff provide a consistently high quality of care and children are flourishing at this home. Children have excellent experiences, and they are all making significant progress from their starting points. Children now recognise their own progress and exhibit pride at their achievements.

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outstanding

There are four children living at the home. One child has moved on to semi- independent living. The child was well prepared for this move, having developed the skills to live independently and safely care for themself. This child has kept contact with the children and staff at the home, and occasionally enjoys visiting for meals. This opportunity to remain in touch is highly valued by all the children.

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outstanding

The manager has actively sought out innovative ideas to promote development of children’s independence skills. As a result, there are a range of research-based approaches and resources in use. Developing skills for independence is a key focus for all children at the home. This is broken down into achievable targets for children. As a result, children are all making measurable progress with skills in cleaning, laundry, travel, and cooking. Children enjoy a ‘bake off’ competition to show case their skills.

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outstanding

All children go to school and attain excellent attendance levels, this is vast progress for the children. Managers and staff work collaboratively with schools to plan children’s education. Children have bespoke arrangements that meet their specific educational needs. For example, additional tuition to help them prepare for their exams. Staff show a keen interest in children’s school lives, they know about children’s schoolwork and about their friendship groups. Children talk to staff about their day-to-day experiences at school.

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outstanding

Staff understand the challenges that group living can bring for children. They help children to get along and manage any minor disputes. As a result, children do like spending time with each other.

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outstanding

Children enjoy a wide range of activities and events at the home, and going out to places they choose. The home is a very sociable place, the open plan layout of the home lends itself well to this. There are frequent fun karaoke sessions that children and staff all join in with great enthusiasm. Some children show a particular talent for singing and so they attend singing lessons to further pursue this interest. Children say they really enjoy the group activities, for example meals out. A meal out was recently enjoyed alongside children from another home, to celebrate Chinese New Year.

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outstanding

Managers and staff have developed an extensive resource to help children develop their cultural awareness. This has provided a basis for a multitude of innovative Inspection report children's home: SC488943 4 activities and events at the home. For example, children engage in crafts, cooking, poster making, research, competitions, projects, and trips out. Children gain meaningful learning and awareness about chosen topics. The activities and work is skilfully captured and presented in a large scrapbook.

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outstanding

Staff helped one child to spend time sharing their own cultural heritage, with other children. Their culture is also promoted by a weekly opportunity to use their native language. This is through a conversation with a family member and an interpreter. This enables them to maintain their language skills in a safe and supported way.

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outstanding

Consultation with children is at the very centre of the care provided. Staff take a lead in this and use creative ideas to seek children’s wishes, feelings, and views. As staff use interactive approaches children really do engage and enjoy this opportunity. For example, staff have created bespoke board games that prompt discussion about wishes and feelings.

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outstanding

The manager provides a letter to each child in response to their consultation. As a result, children feel heard, and their views and choices are acted upon. For example, one child chose which staff to take them shopping for their prom dress. This was a joyous occasion and photos were taken to support their memories. Children all have a wealth of memorabilia from their experiences, beautifully presented in photo books and memory boxes.

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outstanding

Staff know what the risks for each child are and understand their prior experiences. They know what actions must be taken to keep the children in their care safe. Actions are clearly set out in children’s plans. Reduction in risks for children is a clear indicator that children are making progress at the home. For example, the risk of exploitation for one child has reduced significantly. This greatly improves the child’s long-term outcomes and safety.

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outstanding

Staff implement clear routines for children at the home. Children understand what is expected of them. There are a low number of occasions when children display behaviour that may harm themselves or others. There has only been one occasion when staff have needed to physically intervene to keep a child safe. Staff understand and actively use the therapeutic model of care. This approach successfully helps children manage their emotions and behaviours.

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outstanding

Staff know how to respond in the event of children going missing, and they take swift action in accordance with children’s plans. Children do not often go missing. Children are never missing for long periods, and they usually make their own choice to return to the safety of the home.

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outstanding

Staff help children to learn how to keep themselves safe and understand risk more effectively. Children can now safely spend time with their friends outside of the home. Staff set clear boundaries around this, in terms of keeping in touch and times Inspection report children's home: SC488943 5 to return home. As a result, children’s independence is increasing. For example, children can go slightly further afield and enjoy new activities such as going to a concert independently.

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outstanding

Staff seek advice from the clinical team for research-based approaches to guide their interactions with children. For example, staff learned from the clinician that one child responds to doing crafts whilst discussing important topics. As a result, their engagement with staff has increased.

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outstanding

There is a very well-planned approach to the direct work staff carry out with children, to help them learn about keeping safe. The home has a planner that identifies a topic for each week of the year. Each child also has a plan of topics bespoke to their current need or risk. Direct work is carried out using a range of approaches and resources. Children have trusted relationships with staff, and they seek out their company and advice. As a result, they engage well and learn from the direct work. Examples of topics covered are in relation to online safety, healthy relationships, hygiene and fire safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly effective in leading and inspiring the staff to consistently provide high quality care to children. Staff understand their roles and the standard expected of them. The manager achieves an optimum balance of being highly organised and structured with developing a very relaxed and nurturing culture at the home. The manager leads by example, and staff mirror her enthusiasm and nurturing approach in caring for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have excellent working relationships with other professionals. Information sharing is central to children’s care planning. As a result of the staff sharing successful strategies with a teacher, one school have upskilled their staff team in a specific approach. This is highly beneficial to the child and gives them a greater consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a key focus on staff development. Staff receive training in a wide breadth of topics that equips them well for their roles. This is enhanced by managers delivering monthly workshops, covering topics such as professional boundaries and the voice of the child. The manager has developed a comprehensive work force development plan, taking staff development beyond formal training. This has been shared across the organisation to enhance wider staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers at the home truly listen to children’s views. Children’s feedback shapes the team meeting agenda. Furthermore, children provide feedback as part of staff appraisals. All complaints are taken seriously. As a result, children have an influence in shaping their home and the care they receive. Inspection report children's home: SC488943 6 Management oversight at the home is exemplary. The manager fully analyses all documents and information and draws out specific actions. Tasks are then allocated to staff. This comprehensive action planning provides staff with clear direction and ensures that all tasks or issues are followed through. As a result, children’s care is progressive in working towards their outcomes and aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff delight in children’s achievements. There is a real ethos of striving for continual progress and development for children at the home. No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report children's home: SC488943 7

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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: SC488943 8

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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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Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC488943 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 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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