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

Inspection report for children's home: 2652546 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 is registered to provide care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2652546 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2023 Full Good 31/08/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2652546 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with the staff who care for them. Although there have been some changes in the staff team recently, these have been well managed and have had limited impact on the children living in the home. Children are settled and making progress. One child has moved on since the last inspection. Staff supported them during this difficult period and the move was managed in a positive way. Some of the staff are still in touch with the young person.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and comfortably furnished. The home has plenty of books and games, including electronic games which most of the children enjoy playing. Children’s bedrooms are large and decorated to reflect their interests. The flag of the Black Country is displayed in one child’s room, and they were proud to describe the region’s important industrial history. A large enclosed garden has space for outdoor games and there is an additional games room at the bottom of the garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some of the children enjoy a range of activities such as shopping, camping, trampolining and wild water swimming. Others are less inclined to get involved in activities outside the home but enjoy indoor and outdoor games with staff. Staff are sensitive and encourage children to consider activities they might be interested in at their own pace.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and children who previously have been out of education are supported to attend. One child sat their GCSEs this year despite some disruption in their attendance and another child completed SATs after their school attendance improved considerably.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to re-establish and maintain links with family members and people who are important to them, when it is safe to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. One complaint has been made since the last inspection, which was swiftly resolved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well understood by staff and children receive good support to attend routine appointments and more specialist ones in response to any emerging needs.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home have reduced and are now rare. If they do occur, staff follow the child and report them to police as missing, in line with their individual protocol.

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

Physical intervention is very rarely used. Detailed records of any incident are kept and reviewed by the manager. All relevant people are informed, and staff and children Inspection report for children's home: 2652546 4 involved are spoken to afterwards to help understand what might have been done differently.

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

Medication is safely stored and administered. A recent recording error was promptly identified and resolved.

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

Staff understand the importance of safeguarding and can describe the action they would take in response to any concerns they have about children’s care.

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

Behaviour management plans assist staff to support children to manage their behaviour. They set out clear strategies for staff to intervene if needed. Risk assessments are updated in response to changing circumstances and staff understand the importance of children being allowed to get involved in activities as safely as possible.

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

Key-work sessions are carried out in line with the children’s needs and care plans. Planned and ad hoc sessions are tailored to each child’s age and understanding, and tackle existing and emerging issues. For example, a child was spoken with after they had used a racial slur when they were angry. Good support helps children to learn about the impact of their behaviour on others.

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

Safer recruitment practices reduce the risk of unsuitable staff being employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Careful arrangements have been put in place to in relation to a recent change in manager. The former deputy manager has been working alongside the manager since January to help her develop her knowledge and understanding of the manager’s role. The manager has also enrolled on a relevant level 5 qualification and applied to be registered with Ofsted. The previous registered manager is now the responsible individual for the home and maintains a regular presence there. Staff say the changes have had limited impact on them and that the children have not been affected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working in the home. They describe supportive colleagues and managers, including at senior level, who know them well and are accessible and supportive. Staff absence is mostly covered by the home’s own staff, supported by a small number of the company’s internal bank staff. This promotes continuity of care for the children from adults who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is regular and staff value the opportunity to reflect, which they recognise helps them improve their practice. Staff training is up to date and supports them to meet individual children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an effective range of systems in place to review the home and children’s progress. Monthly audits and a progress tracker are completed regularly. The manager’s review of incident reports identifies areas for improvement and staff say this is done in a supportive way. Inspection report for children's home: 2652546 5 Team meetings are held regularly and are well attended. Role play, quizzes and scenarios are all used to promote staff development and check their knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Family members and external professionals said their children are happy living in the home, and that staff are ‘amazing’ and always keep them informed of what is happening in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made.

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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: 2652546 6

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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, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TP

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Inspector

Janet Fraser, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2652546 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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