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

Inspection report for children's home: 2620992 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 home is operated by a private organisation and 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 manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022. She had a period of leave from July 2023 to May 2024. During this period, two separate interim managers were appointed, who 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 outstanding

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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: 2620992 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 11/10/2022 Full Good 23/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/12/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2620992 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a welcoming home that is furnished and decorated to a high standard. Children’s photos are on the walls, and their bedrooms are personalised. Communal areas, including a spacious lounge, kitchen and dining area, enable the children and staff to spend time together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into the home are well planned. Detailed assessments of risk are completed, with appropriate actions identified to support children when they move into the home. The needs of the children already living at the home are carefully considered, ensuring compatibility of the children’s needs. As a result, children experience positive moves into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on from the home. Staff understand children’s individual needs and anxieties when they move on and provided good support to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is clearly prioritised by staff. They work effectively with education providers to promote children’s engagement with school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points. This is because staff support them in all aspects of their lives. Children make progress with their communication, grow in confidence and develop social relationships. Staff celebrate all children’s achievements, no matter how big or small.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have secure and trusting relationships with staff. This is one of the strengths of the home. Some staff have worked with the children since they moved into the home. This means they understand children’s needs well and contributes to children having stable relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their friends and families. Staff take children and supervise them when they visit their friends and family. This helps children stay well connected with their families and loved ones.

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

Children say that they feel safe. They can identify a trusted person to talk to when they have any worries or concerns. Staff place children’s well-being at the centre of their practice and ensure that they are meeting children’s day-to-day needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2620992 4 The known and potential risks to children are well understood by managers and staff. Risk assessments are clear and detailed and are updated regularly to reflect each child’s dynamic needs.

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

On occasions, staff have needed to use physical intervention to keep children safe. Any interventions are reasonable and proportionate and only used as a last resort, when de- escalation strategies have been ineffective. The registered manager maintains good oversight of incidents and ensures that children are spoken to following any use of physical intervention.

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

The managers and staff know what to do in response to any allegations made. Suitable action is taken to minimise any risks to the children and allow the necessary enquiries to be made. Children are supported to understand the outcome of any investigations.

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

The staff complete training to help them to understand risks to the children. This training includes online safety, child criminal exploitation and substance misuse. The staff all know how to report safeguarding concerns. Staff recently took immediate action when items of concern were found in a child’s room. The manager and staff managed this incident well. They worked collaboratively with the police and other professionals to ensure the safety of the children and ensured that effective safety planning was prioritised.

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

Staff talk to children about their behaviours, to help them reflect and learn about making positive choices. Staff use various resources to help children think about risks of being out in the community and keeping safe. They have discussions on sensitive issues such as appropriate relationships, substance use and exploitation risks. Helping children have a better understanding of risks they face better equips them to stay safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aspirational for children. She leads by example and actively supports staff in their care and safeguarding of children. The manager has excellent insight into the strengths of the team, as well as areas for development. Staff say they have excellent support from the manager and are given opportunities to reflect and learn. While the home was managed well during the manager’s absence, staff say they have benefited from her return and the greater consistency this has provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are supported by regular comprehensive supervision sessions and team meetings that are child-focused and reflective. Staff complete a wide variety of training to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge to meet the children’s current and emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager knows the children in her care extremely well. There are systems in place to monitor children’s progress and risks. This helps the manager to identify how staff can best support children and identify any areas to improve the quality of care children receive. Inspection report for children's home: 2620992 5 The manager has created a culture where staff feel supported by one another and are able to speak openly about challenges. The manager is proactive in ensuring staff have the right training to meet children’s individual needs. Staff also have regular support and supervision from the home’s therapist, which supports the team’s development and helps them think about children’s needs from different perspectives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has built and maintains highly effective working relationships with external professionals and partner agencies. Social workers are promptly informed of incidents, with relevant information shared appropriately. Good-quality partnership working has helped children make progress in different areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professional and family feedback has been extraordinarily positive about the manager and staff team. One social worker said, ‘[Name of child] has come on leaps and bounds since living at the home.’ A family member said, ‘It is a weight off our shoulders knowing that [name of child] is being cared for in a loving and caring environment.’ Professionals consistently praise the manager for her effective communication and her proactive and innovative approach to ensuring that the needs of the children are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection.

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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: 2620992 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: Stepping Stones Care, Camomile House, 6 Embassy Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 1TP

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Inspector

Kate Savage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2620992 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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