Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC426318 1 SC426318

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Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in April 2024. A new manager has been recruited; she has submitted her application to be registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of this assurance inspection. The child was present during the inspection and spoke to the inspector.

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Inspection date: 6 January 2025

Date of last inspection: 21 October 2024

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Inspection date: 6 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 6 January 2025

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. The inspector has 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: SC426318 2

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Outcome 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 this inspection, one child was living in the home. The child told the inspector they value their positive relationship with the staff, enjoy their bedroom and love the activities they get to do. Since the last inspection, no children have moved into or out of the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff meet the child’s health and emotional needs by providing care and support. Since the last inspection, staff have purchased indoor and outdoor sensory toys, which help the child and promote relaxation, reduce anxiety and encourage positive engagement in activities. The child spoke excitedly about the sensory activities they attend weekly, happily commenting, ‘I love it.’ This sentiment was echoed by the child’s parent, who said that these activities provide the child with positive experiences.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond quickly when the child has gone missing from the home. Staff immediately search for them and work in partnership with the local police until the child is found. When the child returns, staff spend time talking to them, providing opportunities for the child to share their worries and discuss the reasons for going missing. Using their professional curiosity, staff work to understand the child’s risks and implement the right support to minimise further incidents of missing from home. This approach has been highly effective, resulting in a significant reduction in missing-from- home incidents. The child has had no missing-from-home incidents in the last seven weeks.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one complaint, which the manager dealt with promptly and effectively. The information was quickly shared with external professionals to prevent delays, and this ensured that the child was protected from harm. The manager informed the child of the outcome. These actions help the child to feel safe and confident in raising concerns.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff complete a wide range of training and workshops, including supporting children with attachment and emotions, incident management and reporting and recording. Staff have the knowledge and skills to improve the quality of care for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

The responsible individual visits the home regularly, spending time with the child, engaging with staff and supporting the manager. Staff have highlighted that, since the previous inspection, the senior leadership team’s support has been a significant strength. This ongoing support fosters a healthy working environment and strengthens the positive relationship between the leadership team and staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has made small improvements to the home’s monitoring systems, but they remain insufficient in identifying shortfalls. For instance, the manager updated the home’s statement of purpose but did not send it to Ofsted. Similarly, the independent Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC426318 3 visitor’s recent reports were not submitted to Ofsted, limiting the regulator’s oversight of the home. The manager acknowledged these issues and assured that she would address and rectify these shortfalls immediately. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC426318 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/10/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/10/2023 Full Good 11/01/2023 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC426318 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 registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person’s report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (4)(a)(b) (5) (7)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the independent visitor’s reports are sent to Ofsted within timescales. 6 February 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that their internal monitoring systems are effective. This also relates to ensuring any changes or updates to the home’s statement of purpose are submitted to Ofsted within the required timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC426318 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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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 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC426318 7 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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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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