Children's Home run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 1 SC028905

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Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority managed home provides care for up to four children who have experienced childhood instability which has resulted in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager in post. The previous registered manager left the role on 25 January 2025. An interim manager was appointed on 14 February to oversee the management of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this home on 3 September 2024 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspectors were aware, during this inspection, that serious child protection allegations were being investigated by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate allegations of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the allegations were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors’ judgements.

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Inspection dates: 26 and 27 February 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection dates: 26 and 27 February 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

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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. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 2 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: SC028905 3

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Findings 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 inspection, there was one child living in the home. They have been living in the home for seven months. They were spoken with as part of this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have ensured that there is a high number of staff in place to meet the child’s complex needs and keep them safe. Managers and staff work closely with a large team of multidisciplinary professionals to plan the child’s care. This wraparound care has supported the child to continue to make significant progress in all areas of their life. As a result, there have been fewer incidents and the number of staff needed to care for the child has reduced. The child is enjoying more time in the community and with family.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have helped the child to become safer, and the high level of adaptations and restrictions in the home that were previously necessary has started to reduce. The child now has more access to the home environment, such as the lounge and kitchen. In addition, staff have supported the child to personalise their bedroom more. They now have their personal items in their room. This has made the home feel more comfortable, welcoming and homely.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have supported the child to have positive experiences. The child is now enjoying more access to the community. They have been to the zoo, a farm, ice skating and out for meals and have enjoyed time with their family over the festive period. This means that the child has opportunities to have fun, build relationships and improve their social interaction with others.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff ensure that the child’s physical and emotional needs are met. They support the child to attend all their routine health appointments and to have access to psychological support through local childhood mental health services and specially commissioned psychological services. This has helped staff to gain a better understanding of the child’s needs and how to meet them effectively, as well as improving opportunities for reflective learning and providing staff training in therapeutic care.

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Findings from the inspection

The child has positive relationships with most staff. They said that they feel listened to, and that there were staff they could talk to if they had worries or concerns. However, as there continues to be a high level of staffing involved, the child sometimes does not get the chance to say goodbye when staff leave or do not return to the home. At times, this has led to an increase in the child’s behaviours. In addition, this can exacerbate the child’s feelings of rejection and does not promote positive endings for the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 4 Leaders and managers respond appropriately when there are safeguarding concerns, complaints or allegations against staff. They normally share information with other safeguarding professionals quickly, and they take appropriate action to safeguard the child and staff. However, there has been one occasion where there was a slight delay in informing the local authority designated officer of a concern.

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Findings from the inspection

This can result in actions to protect the child not being taken in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents requiring staff to physically intervene are reducing in frequency, length of time and intensity. Staff only use physical intervention as a last resort to keep the child or staff safe. However, there continue to be shortfalls in the records of physical intervention. For example, it is not always clear which staff have held the child or what the length of time of the holds was. In addition, staff are not always spoken with after incidents. These omissions can impact on the quality of the manager’s review of incidents. A requirement around this was raised at the last inspection and has been re-raised at this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers regularly review the child’s written plans, safety plan and risk assessments. However, while they have spoken to staff about strategies to mitigate ligature risks, they have not ensured that the safety plan or risk assessment reflects all the actions that staff need to take. This may mean that staff do not have all the information they need to manage risk and to keep the child safe. A requirement around this was raised at the last inspection and has been re-raised at this inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

When safety plans are in place, there have been occasions when staff have failed to follow them consistently. For example, staff have not ensured that daily room checks are always completed. This inconsistent practice has potential to compromise the child’s safety.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the monitoring visit in September 2024, there have been changes in the leadership and management of the home. One of the deputy managers has recently taken on the manager’s role on an interim basis while a new registered manager is being sought.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are working hard to make improvements in the care provided and to address the shortfalls found in previous inspections. Oversight is improving, and feedback from professionals and staff has been complimentary about the changes that have been implemented by the new manager. The manager has a good awareness of the strengths and areas of development of the home. They know the child, and the progress they have made, well. The manager is resolute and committed to continuing to develop the home and improve the quality of care for the child.

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Findings from the inspection

As a high level of staffing is required to keep the child safe, much of the care is provided by agency staff. Managers have ensured that all agency staff are trained to meet the child’s specific care needs. However, there has been a delay in accessing training in professional boundaries and managers have not assured themselves that Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 5 their training is aligned to that of the home’s permanent staff. This can lead to inconsistent practice, does not promote effective teamwork and does not provide assurances that all staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities in keeping the child safe.

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Findings from the inspection

There have been two occasions when managers have not reported safeguarding concerns to Ofsted. This means the regulator may not have all the relevant information to understand what is happening in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

As a result of this inspection, parts of three out of the four requirements raised at the last inspection have been re-raised, and two new requirements have been raised. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 6

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/01/2023 Full Good 15/02/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 7

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that all children’s written plans and risk assessments contain all identified strategies to enable consistent practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, managers must ensure that:  managers inform appropriate professionals of safeguarding concerns without delay;  staff consistently follow the child’s written plans, to mitigate risk and keep the child safe. 25 April 2025

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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— 25 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 8 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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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)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that monitoring systems are effective in identifying shortfalls in practice.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, managers must ensure that:  more progress is made on repeated requirements raised; and  all staff, including agency staff, have the training to enable them to meet children’s needs. Furthermore, that they have assured themselves that agency staff training is aligned with permanent staff training to promote consistency in the care provided to the child.

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 25 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 9 within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3) (a)(vii) (b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that all records of restraint are consistently recorded in accordance with regulation 35. The manager must ensure that staff are spoken with following any physical intervention.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, managers must ensure that children are supported to say goodbye to staff who leave, to ensure the child is able to have a positive ending to relationships. 25 April 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 25 April 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 10 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter; and

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Staffordshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Staffordshire Place, Stafford, Staffordshire ST16 2DH

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Inspector

Sonia Sullivan, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC028905 12 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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