Children's home run by Monarch Intervention Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 1 Registered provider: Monarch Intervention Services Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company, and it is registered to provide care for up to three children. The children may have complex emotional and social needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024 and is suitably experienced and qualified.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During this inspection period, one child has moved out to a semi-independent provision and one child moved into the home. The moves were well planned and successful. Children are settled and making progress in areas that are specific to their different needs. There are currently three children living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the unique needs of each child and ensure that those with diverse requirements and personalities receive appropriate care, which is planned to reflect these differences. They promote opportunities for children to spend time together, supporting a positive shared home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming. There are photos of the children in the communal areas. Children personalise their own spaces according to their tastes and interests. One child said, ‘This home is a home.’ Children are comfortable and relaxed in their environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s healthcare needs are clearly identified within individual healthcare plans. Staff receive comprehensive training to enable them to meet children’s complex needs. This includes training in the safe administration and recording of medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who have suitable educational placements attend regularly. When children are not in school or college, staff members actively advocate for appropriate educational opportunities. They collaborate closely with educational professionals to enhance the learning experiences of the children. One child is facing challenges in engaging with education. Staff have arranged for home tuition and have assisted in identifying an educational program that aligns with their interests. This support is aiming to build the child’s confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to learn skills for adulthood. Staff understand the skills and capabilities of individual children and adapt their plans in line with their needs. As a result, children gain confidence in their skills and are prepared for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences when they move out of the home. Staff ensure that children have celebrations to mark the next stage of their life and ensure that they have good memories of a positive ending. Staff stay connected with children when they move out to ensure that they are supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children’s relationships with people who are important to them. Staff know the children’s friends and the adults who care about them. Staff build strong relationships with the children’s families and support the relationships between them and their children. A father said ‘I have not got anything bad to say, they are brilliant. They do everything.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 4

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

Children feel safe. They can identify trusted staff in the home they can talk to about any concerns they have.

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

Staff rarely impose formal consequences for children. When possible, staff manage behaviour through their relationships and by educating the children. When formal consequences are used, they are restorative, fair, and directly linked to the behaviour. Managers have good oversight of consequences to ensure that they are proportionate and fair. Staff seek the children’s views on their consequences to ensure that they understand and agree them, this promotes positive behaviour in the home.

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

Staff understand the risks to children and how to prevent and manage them. Risk assessments are clear, regularly updated, and contain strategies for staff to follow. Staff share risk assessments with children so that they know their own risks and how to keep themselves safe. Risks for children reduce significantly over the time they live in the home.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. When they do, staff make thorough efforts to locate them. When children return, staff explore the missing-from-home episode with them and adapt practice to reduce future risk. Staff liaise effectively with parents and with external professionals to ensure that children are supported to be safe.

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

Staff support children to take risks appropriate to their age and level of understanding. They help children to make plans to keep themselves safe in the community. Staff teach children skills for independence, such as using public transport. Children are developing life skills at an appropriate pace. One child said, ‘I would never have got to where I am if it wasn’t for this place.’ Children are safer because of living in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has excellent relationships with the children. Children seek the manager out to speak about their day and identify them as a person they trust. The manager ensures that she is involved in key moments for the children, such as being present when children are moving out.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the individual needs of children and the progress they are making. They have good oversight of the home and use this to ensure that the children’s plans are supporting their individual needs. She changes processes in the home, such as children’s plans for independence, to ensure that children are making the best possible progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a range of mandatory and specialist training to meet the complex needs of the children in their care. This ensures that staff continue to improve their knowledge and skills for their role. Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 5 The manager and staff have positive relationships with external professionals involved in the care of the children. Professionals report that the managers are communicative and professional. Managers advocate strongly for children to ensure that their needs are met. One social worker said, ‘The home is proactive and always prioritises my young person’s needs and provides tailored support. They keep me updated and are always willing to help.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager develops staff for future roles by enrolling them on further qualifications. Staff are prepared for more senior roles in the home by the time they undertake them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of the home. The manager carries out regular reviews of the quality of care, which are evaluative and reflective. The manager uses the information gathered in the reviews to improve the service. An independent person visits the home regularly. The manager responds promptly to the recommendations made by the visitor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been incidents where safeguarding concerns have not been shared with Ofsted. This has limited the regulator’s ability to fully oversee how effectively children are being supported and safeguarded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 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 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,

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Requirement Due date

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 — is instigated; or

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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

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that significant incidents are notified to Ofsted. 11 April 2025

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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: 2671457 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Monarch Intervention Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Glades Festival Way, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 5SQ

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Inspectors

Cathy Wilkins, Social Care Inspector Mathew Morris-Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2671457 8 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 looked-after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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