Children's home run by The Place Young People’s Company

Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company Full inspection 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 may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has the relevant experience for the role and is working towards a level 5 qualification.

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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: 24 January 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: 2729367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home. At the time of this inspection, two children lived in the home. Both children spoke to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff nurture positive, healthy relationships between children. Children express that they enjoy living in the home and get on well with each other. One child said, ‘We get along well. We talk about video games and enjoy playing together.’ The inspector observed warm and friendly interactions between the children. This is a home where a family atmosphere flourishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a variety of activities that enrich their social experiences, such as playing badminton and bowling. Children go on day trips to explore new places and environments. Additionally, both children enjoyed a beach holiday, staying in a lodge. Experiences like these promote relaxation and joy and create positive memories for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are in full-time education and their attendance is excellent. Children make great progress towards their educational goals with support from staff. Effective communication with schools enables staff to be highly attuned and responsive to helping children overcome their educational barriers. These relationships have encouraged children to have a positive attitude towards learning. This support has resulted in one child recently passing their national curriculum tests, achieving one of the highest scores within their year group. One educational professional said, ‘[Name of child] has made outstanding progress from their starting point.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical health and emotional well-being are prioritised. Staff’s high aspirations, coupled with their understanding of children’s health needs, support children in making good progress in their overall health and well-being. For example, the manager and staff have shown their dedication to promoting children’s health by using their own knowledge and professional curiosity. Staff collaborate with the clinician team to advocate for assessments of children’s specific emotional needs, ensuring a tailored approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of promoting children’s relationships with people who are important to them, such as family. Staff are instrumental in supporting children to have family time with their parents and siblings. One parent said, ‘Family time is going really well. Staff support this so well.’ Another parent said, ‘Staff communicate very well with me. My time with [name of child] is good.’ This practice supports children to maintain their identity, alongside developing a sense of belonging, which leads to positive experiences and progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 4

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

Staff provide a nurturing and safe environment for children. Children say that they feel safe. One child said, ‘Staff help me and support me.’ Another child said, ‘Staff protect me and keep me safe.’

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

There have been no episodes of children going missing from the home since the last inspection. This is a testament to the positive and trusting relationships that staff have developed with the children. Staff know how to keep children safe. There are efficient missing-from-home protocols in place. Staff are prepared and understand what action they would need to take if a child went missing from the home.

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

Serious incidents are rare. When safeguarding incidents occur, they are managed well and shared appropriately with relevant professionals, enabling them to respond. These processes ensure the children are kept safe.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviours well. Physical restraint is only used as a last resort after staff have exhausted all de-escalation techniques. The manager has oversight of all incidents and has discussions with staff and children after these incidents. In addition to this, staff help children to reflect on the incident. This gives children the opportunity to discuss how they are feeling.

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

The internal systems for monitoring children’s internet use are effective. The use of parental controls ensures that children only access age-appropriate content. Additionally, staff educate children on potential online risks and what responsible behaviour is. These actions help children to use the internet in a safe way.

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

In the main, children’s care plans and risk assessments provide detailed information on their current risks and give guidance to staff to follow. However, children’s medication plans do not detail the specific actions for staff to take when medication is missed or refused. While this shortfall has not had a detrimental impact on the children, the lack of clarity does not support staff to minimise risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is an experienced and dedicated manager who leads the home with a child-centred approach. The manager has high aspirations for both the children and staff and promotes a culture of positivity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff unanimously describe the manager as supportive and approachable. He advocates strongly for children and ensures that they make progress in their lives. Through his efforts in building trusting relationships, the children feel a sense of security and belonging. One parent said their child ‘views the manager as a father figure’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A full team of staff cares for children in the home. Staff say morale is always high and that all the staff get on well and support each other. One member of staff said, ‘We work Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 5 well together as a team to promote a healthy and secure base for the children. I am lucky to have such a great and supportive team and always feel it’s a homely environment.’ This culture promotes healthy working relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff are supported to undertake their roles effectively. Staff complete a variety of relevant training to meet the specific needs of the children. Consequently, staff have the knowledge and skills to provide good-quality care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. Reflective conversations about the children’s well-being and safety are central to these discussions. The manager understands the importance of staff welfare. This helps to ensure that staff are well prepared and supported to give children the care they need. One member of staff said, ‘The manager is really supportive in supervisions. He is open, and approachable. I know I can contact him at any time.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the strengths of the home and the areas for development. Overall, his monitoring and reviewing systems are generally good; however, they have not consistently identified gaps in recording in the children’s records. In addition to this, the manager’s six-monthly quality of care review report does not provide a plan of action to improve the children’s quality of care. The manager gave assurance that he will immediately put in processes to rectify these shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with external agencies is excellent. The registered manager and staff have developed strong relationships with parents and all external professionals, including social workers. One professional said, ‘The staff are really good, one of the best staff I have worked with; their person-centred approach is just brilliant.’ A parent said, ‘Communication is brilliant. We have built a good working relationship.’ A common thread in the feedback from professionals is how well the manager and staff care for and support the children and that both children are happy and settled in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 6

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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 maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that all children’s records are up to date and that all information recorded is clear and factual. 9 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities, and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”). (Regulation 45 (2)(c) (3)) 9 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 7 This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that there is a clear action plan to make improvements to the quality of children’s care.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s medication plans include clear guidance for staff to follow when children refuse, miss or are administered an overdose of their prescribed medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: 2729367 8

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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

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2729367 9 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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Inspector

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