Children's Home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 1 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child, who has lived through adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager has been in post since September 2023. They have the relevant experience and qualifications for the role. They are in the process of applying to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 4 December 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The same child continues to live in the home. They now attend a school that can meet their complex needs. Their attendance has significantly improved, and they are making progress with their learning. Staff encourage learning at home by using naturally occurring situations and planning activities that they enjoy. For example, the child regularly bakes. Staff use this activity to help the child to learn about weight and measurements.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has formed a positive relationship with the manager and some staff. They seek reassurance from staff about people with whom they are unfamiliar. They like to show staff affection by initiating hugs. Staff respond well to the child’s emotional needs. This contributes to the child feeling safe and secure.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff have a good understanding of arrangements for the child to keep in touch with people who are important to them. They are working with professionals to review arrangements to ensure that these are positive experiences for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The child is registered with local health services and their health needs are understood by the manager and staff. Staff ensure that the child is supported to attend routine health checks. When a health need is identified, the manager and staff work well with health care specialists and follow their guidance. As a result, the child’s health condition has improved.

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Findings from the inspection

There are clear plans to support staff to identify, reduce and manage risk and behaviours which the child has previously presented. Staff apply a therapeutic approach when communicating with children. This helps the child to regulate their emotions. Effective routines also help the child to understand what is expected of them. As a result, there has been a reduction in incidents of behaviours of concern.

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Findings from the inspection

Incentive systems encourage the child to make progress in areas with which they struggle. Occasionally, consequences are given to the child to reduce behaviours that are viewed to be socially unacceptable. These are not always well considered. For example, staff removed the child’s television for a twenty-four hour period after they displayed verbal abuse towards staff. This does not help the child to reflect on how their behaviours impact on others and has the potential to escalate unacceptable behaviours further.

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Findings from the inspection

On occasions, staff use restraint to manage a child’s behaviour. Staff keep clear records of these incidents. On one occasion, the manager identified, through their monitoring systems, that staff had used a mechanical restraint that was not agreed Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 3 within the child’s plan. Suitable action was taken to reduce the risk of this occurring in the future.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff feel supported. The manager ensures that supervision and team meetings are held regularly. These provide staff with the opportunity to reflect and contribute to arrangements for caring for the child. Staff feel that their ideas are valued by the manager.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is suitably furnished and decorated. Plans are in place for the existing patio doors leading to the garden to be replaced with doors that have a locking system that will allow the child to exit in the event of an emergency. There has been a new emergency lighting system installed and there are arrangements for the internal doors to be replaced with fire-rated doors. Due to the poor maintenance of the garden, the child is not able to make full use of the outside space.

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Findings from the inspection

One staff member has joined the team. Recruitment checks are currently undertaken by another manager within the company and the responsible individual. While most safe recruitment checks have been completed, dates of previous employment recorded in references do not correspond with the employment history. This means their full education and employment history is not currently understood. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/12/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2023 Full Outstanding 30/11/2021 Full Outstanding 04/02/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 5

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that new staff’s previous employment dates are fully understood, to ensure that any gaps in education or employment can clarified. 8 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

No measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) may be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19 (1)) 8 May 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. The home must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; however in doing so, it should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. Specifically, managers should ensure that fire doors meet requirements and the garden is maintained to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 6 a good standard, (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Marcus House, Parkhall Road, Longton, Stoke-on- Trent ST3 5XA

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Inspector

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1249117 8 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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