Children's home run by Stepping Stones Care (Midlands) Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671339 1 Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care (Midlands 1) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who have experienced trauma and who encounter associated difficulties with their emotional well-being.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 21 November 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. Inspectors have 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: 2671339 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

At the time of the inspection, three children lived at the home. Children have positive relationships with staff, and children said that they receive a lot of support and ‘love living at the home’.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and the manager have worked hard to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. The manager has supported staff to understand the importance of consistent routines and boundaries. This has enabled children to settle, know what is expected of them and make progress in different aspects of their lives.

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Findings from the inspection

All children now access an education provision. When children experience difficulties with their learning, the manager and staff work collaboratively with teachers to try and understand the barriers that children might be facing and put in place the required support. This is helping children to become more invested with their learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and the manager support the children to spend quality time with their close friends and family. This helps children to maintain their important relationships and support networks.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy a range of activities in the home and in the local community. For example, the children and staff cook meals together, watch television and go to the cinema, trampolining and on shopping trips.

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Findings from the inspection

Professionals are positive about the care provided to children. They said that the manager and staff keep children safe and report any incident of concern without delay. Children rarely go missing from the home, and when they do, staff follow children’s guidance to help locate the children and return them safely home.

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Findings from the inspection

Physical restraint is sometimes needed to keep children safe. Children and staff are provided with reassurance and have the opportunity to talk about what happened with someone who was not involved in the restraint incident. This provides the opportunity for reflection and learning. However, some incident records do not contain a clear description of what led to restraint being necessary.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is led by a very experienced manager. She role models therapeutic parenting, which supports staff to offer children good-quality care, on which they thrive.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff have completed mandatory and specialist training to enable them to meet children’s individual needs. The manager ensures that staff receive regular reflective supervision that supports their professional development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671339 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/01/2023 Full Inadequate Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671339 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, they should ensure that records of physical restraints contain full details of behaviours that children were displaying before the use of restraint. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671339 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stepping Stones Care (Midlands 1) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Camomile House, 6 Embassy Drive, Birmingham B15 1TP

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Inspector

Rumbi Mangoma, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2671339 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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