Children's Home run by The Place Young People’s Company in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 1241261 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. No children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection. One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a new manager in post who registered with Ofsted in October 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 27 February 2024

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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: 1241261 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Good 04/01/2023 Full Good 07/03/2022 Full Good 04/02/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1241261 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives personalised and bespoke care. Staff know the child well and have a good understanding of their needs. Staff spend time with the child, such as playing chess and cooking together. As a result, the child enjoys positive relationships with staff and likes living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to do well in education. Staff are creative in engaging the child in home learning. The manager appropriately escalates concerns with external agencies, ensuring the child’s educational needs are met. As a result, the child is making good progress considering their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s complex mental and emotional health needs are well met. The child and staff receive specialist support from professionals, such as psychotherapists, psychologists and psychiatrists. Appropriate health assessments are undertaken to help identify and meet the child’s specific needs. Staff support the child to live a healthier lifestyle through diet, exercise and improved sleep. As a result, the child’s overall health improves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views and wishes are sought daily. The child feels able to regularly share their thoughts and feelings. Staff respond well to the child’s requests and provide explanations when they cannot be fulfilled. The child therefore feels heard and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to pursue their hobbies and interests, such as learning to play the piano, going for bike rides and cooking. They are also supported to interact with their peers. For example, the child is hosting a festive party where children from other homes within the company are invited. This helps to improve the child’s confidence and self- esteem, and promotes a sense of identity.

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

Staff know the risks the child can be exposed to. Safety plans are reviewed regularly in collaboration with social workers and therapists. They tell staff how to respond and provide effective strategies in line with court-directed orders. This is an effective approach to safeguarding.

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

Staff help the child to understand prominent risks, such as online safety and the use of drugs and alcohol. Staff have regular conversations with the child to help them make safer choices. Levels of supervision and restrictions are reviewed weekly, and the child is engaging in agreed plans. As a result, the child is appropriately safeguarded while learning how to keep themself safe.

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

Staff are well trained in supporting the child when they are in distress. For example, staff are skilled at responding to behaviours that are difficult to manage, such as verbal and physical aggression. They use appropriate and consistent boundaries with empathy and Inspection report for children's home: 1241261 4 understanding. These effective strategies have prevented the need to physically hold the child.

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

The child knows how to complain. Concerns are taken seriously, and appropriate actions are taken. The child receives a written response from the manager. Staff know how to report concerns about an adult or manager in the home and feel confident in doing so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is committed to providing the best outcomes for the child. She sets high expectation for staff, and they value her leadership and guidance. Issues of poor practice are appropriately addressed, and staff are supported to improve and develop. Staff enjoy working at the home and work well as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive appropriate training in relation to children’s needs, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance. Staff are further supported with monthly consultations from a clinical psychologist, providing a space for reflection and staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight and monitoring systems in place. She knows what is happening in the home daily. Internal and external audits help to identify strengths and weaknesses in the home. Any shortfalls are quickly identified and appropriately addressed. However, feedback is not effectively sought from external stakeholders. This prevents the manager from undertaking a comprehensive review of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive supervision sessions from the manager. This provides an opportunity for reflective practice discussions, helping to support staff well-being and improve their practice. However, the frequency of supervision for some staff has been insufficient and remains an area for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal investigations undertaken by senior managers have lacked sufficient detail and have been of poor quality. This is recognised by the provider and there is a plan in place to address this shortfall. However, time is needed to embed the changes into practice. Inspection report for children's home: 1241261 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(f)(g)(ii)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring internal investigations are comprehensive, thorough and of good quality. 31 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. 31 December 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 1241261 6 Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to supervision of staff taking place in line with the home’s policy of monthly supervision and every two weeks during induction.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 56, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 1241261 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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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

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1241261 8 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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Inspector

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