Children's Home run by Core Children Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 1 Registered provider: Core Children Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2022 and holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/04/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into the home. Children’s views about their care are carefully considered by the registered manager, who advocates strongly for them with relevant people. As a result, one child has moved to a home in the same organisation, in line with their wishes. Two staff who are familiar to the child continue to support them in their new home. This enables the child to receive consistent care from staff who know their routines well. One child continues to live in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have an in-depth knowledge of children’s care plans, including their health needs. Children are registered with local health professionals and they receive support from specialist health services as needed. The registered manager has been instrumental in ensuring that one child’s health was assessed. This resulted in a previously undiagnosed health condition being identified. This will help to inform care planning arrangements for the child now and in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make excellent progress with their learning. One child sustained their good attendance in school and passed their GCSE exams. Another child returned to full-time education after a considerable period of being home tutored. When there are barriers to children’s learning, the registered manager works well with professionals who support children to overcome these. As a result, children’s specific needs are understood by teachers and learning is tailored to the needs of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff consult with children about things they enjoy doing. Children are encouraged by staff to try new experiences that promote their physical, social and emotional well-being. For example, one child’s mobility has significantly improved and they now enjoy riding their bike. One child who is interested in the emergency services is supported to visit local fire stations and events where they can talk to emergency service workers and sit in emergency vehicles. The registered manager arranged for the local community police officer to visit the home on the child’s birthday, and the child was able to sit in the police car and sound the siren, which they really enjoyed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from positive relationships with a resilient and consistent staff team who understand and respond well to their needs. One child said they loved living at the home. Staff recognise the progress the children make. The registered manager and staff are forward thinking. They use research to plan discussions with children that support them to develop an understanding of the world around them. This helps children to make informed choices and contributes to keeping children safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The registered manager and staff communicate effectively with children and adapt their communication styles to meet children’s individual needs. Staff are creative in motivating children to contribute to how their care needs are met. For example, one child who previously did not want to discuss their plans, now enjoys attending online meetings to share their thoughts and feelings about how they want to be cared for. Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 4 Children benefit from living in a home that is decorated and furnished to a high standard. Soft furnishings, ornaments and pictures make the home feel warm and inviting.

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

Children’s plans identify their complex behaviours and risks. The registered manager ensures that learning identified from incidents informs children’s plans. This means that staff can identify triggers and implement strategies to de-escalate risky and challenging behaviours and reduce risks to children. Children have excellent routines and understand what is expected of them, which helps them feel safe and secure.

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

Staff are trained in using restraint. This is only used as a last resort to prevent harm to the child or another person or damage to property. Incidents requiring physical intervention have notably reduced. This is attributable to reflective discussions and learning that has taken place. Because of this approach, the child and staff are now able to recognise different emotions and respond in a way that means incidents do not escalate. In addition, the child is able to understand the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others and is making more positive choices.

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

Complaints are taken seriously. Children can raise concerns using a range of different communication methods. For example, one child sent a voice note about their concern. The registered manager provides a child-friendly written response to children which enables children to recognise that their concerns have been taken seriously. She recognises when changes need to be made and explains how this will be achieved. When it is not possible to meet a child’s request, there is a clear explanation and an alternative option provided. This practice contributes to children feeling valued and listened to.

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

It is rare for children to go missing from home. There has been one occasion when a child was not where they were expected to be. Staff responded well and worked with professionals and a person who is important to the child to locate them. The child was collected by staff and returned home to a warm welcome. Arrangements were put in place for the child to speak with an independent person about their experience. Staff had a discussion with the child in which they were curious about the person the child was with. Information gathered was used to inform plans to reduce future incidents.

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

The registered manager ensures that allegations against staff are shared promptly with relevant professionals. Actions identified are implemented and concerns are thoroughly investigated. Records of the outcome of investigations are clearly recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are led by a dedicated and committed registered manager who is child-focused and promotes a culture of high expectations. Her vision for the home is understood by Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 5 staff and focuses on providing children with positive experiences that allow them to flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager’s availability and presence in the home help her to understand children’s experiences. She monitors effectively the quality of care children receive and strives to continually develop the home. This helps to ensure high standards of care are maintained that support children’s progress and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A stable and consistent staff team cares for children. Some staff hold a relevant qualification and other staff are working towards completing this. The registered manager ensures that staff receive training that supports them to carry out their roles and meet the individual needs of children who live in the home. Staff learning is continual, and the manager delivers focused learning workshops during each team meeting.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel well supported. The registered manager ensures that staff have access to a range of support and feedback about their performance. This includes regular supervision, informal conversations and annual appraisals. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on their individual and team contributions to children’s experiences and progress. They help staff to identify learning needs, which will support them to progress.

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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: 2695308 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Glades, Festival Way, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 5SQ

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Inspector

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2695308 7 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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