Children's home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC362170 1 SC362170 Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties due to experiencing trauma.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a suitably qualified and experienced manager. She registered with Ofsted in May 2024 and is registered to manage two homes.

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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: 29 November 2022

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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: SC362170 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Good 11/05/2021 Full Good 28/10/2019 Interim Not judged 19/03/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC362170 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has experienced a planned move into the home. They are the only child living in the home. Staff provide individualised care and celebrate and accept the child’s unique characteristics and identity. As a result, the child’s self-esteem is increasing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is registered with local health services and staff support them to attend routine health checks. The manager advocates for the child’s emotional health and well-being. On one occasion, the manager challenged an external health service who withdraw their offer to support the child prematurely. The offer of support has since been extended.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted and supported well by staff. When there are barriers to the child accessing full-time education, the manager works well with professionals to identify suitable schools that take account of the child’s assessed learning needs. To extend the child’s formal learning opportunities, staff work closely with the child’s tutor and arrange educational activities that complement the subject they are studying and other elements of the national curriculum.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff receive regular clinical guidance from an external therapeutic service commissioned by the organisation. This supports staff to understand the child’s early experiences and respond therapeutically to the child’s needs. For example, staff have consulted with the child about their food requests, and together, they have designed and implemented a food challenge to give the child opportunities to try a range of food.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has developed positive relationships with the adults caring for them. They feel able to speak about any worries or concerns with any of the staff. The manager ensures that there are suitable arrangements in place to support the child to keep in touch with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views and wishes are listened to and fully considered. The manager and staff think creatively to reduce potential risks and act on the child’s wishes when this is possible. This is helping the child to learn, take responsibility and gain independence.

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

The manager and staff understand the child’s risks and behaviours. These are clearly detailed in their plans and provide helpful information for staff to identify warning signs, triggers and effective strategies to reduce and manage risk. Staff follow the guidance set out in the child’s plans and they respond effectively to incidents that happen. The child feels safe and risks have reduced.

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

Behaviours are managed well by staff, who respond using strategies that are informed by the child. For example, when dysregulated, the child likes to have time on their own. Staff are supportive of this and recognise how this helps the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC362170 4 The child is encouraged by staff to reflect on behaviours when they are emotionally able to engage in these conversations. This good support enables the child to consider how they can help themselves and how others can help them in the future. This practice helps the child to maintain relationships based on mutual respect and to develop skills to support them to manage their emotions.

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

Staff regularly recognise the child’s positive achievements and contributions. This means that the child is now accepting of praise and rewards. Natural consequences are used to reinforce behaviours that are not considered to be acceptable. This approach helps the child to understand how their behaviour has an impact on themselves and others.

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

Permitted restrictions are used cautiously by staff. For example, staff do not apply all restrictions set out in the child’s deprivation of liberty order all of the time. For example, the child is allowed to access the internet for education purposes and on other occasions under supervision of staff. This allows the child to benefit from the positive experiences the internet can have while keeping them safe.

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

There have been no occasions when the child is not where they are expected to be. Staff have a good understanding of what to do should the child go missing from home.

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

Staff undertake relevant training courses to develop their knowledge and practice in keeping the child safe. They have a good understanding of reporting concerns and implementing the whistle-blowing policy, if needed.

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

On some occasions, safer recruitment systems are not used effectively. For example, in respect of one staff member, the dates of previous employment supplied in their employment history did not match the dates provided on a reference. On another occasion, a check on the Disclosure and Barring Update Service was completed, but there was no check of the initial certificate. Managers are in the process of acting on this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated and child centred. She understands the home’s strengths. Overall, she undertakes effective monitoring and identifies areas for the service to develop. For example, the manager has identified several courses for staff to enable them to further develop their knowledge and practice of therapeutic parenting and trauma-informed practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a reflective culture in the home which incorporates managers, staff and the child. It is used to inform effective care planning and good practice. Staff attend regular team meetings and supervision sessions and have their performance appraised. This promotes staff development. Inspection report for children’s home: SC362170 5 Staff feel supported by the manager. They understand her vison for the home and are motivated to develop therapeutic practice, so the child continues to have positive experiences while living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Good working relationships with relevant professionals help the child to make good progress. The manager will appropriately challenge decisions that she feels are not in the best interest of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: SC362170 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: SC362170 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Searchlight Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Marcus House, Parkhall Road, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 5XA

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Inspector

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC362170 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 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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