Children's Home run by Stepping Stones Care (Midlands) Limited in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2791916 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 registered with Ofsted in November 2024 and is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager also registered with Ofsted in November 2024. This was the home’s first full inspection since being registered.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. All three children spent time with the inspector during this inspection.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2791916 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A sibling group of three children have moved into the home since it opened. Their move was thoroughly planned. Managers and staff considered all relevant information in relation to the children and their individual needs. This included careful consideration of the complexity and challenges of three children moving in at the same time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of children’s needs. Individualised care plans take into account each child’s social and emotional needs. Staff adhere to these plans to ensure the care they provide for children meets their needs. As a result, the children’s individual needs are being met alongside their needs as a sibling group, and they are all making good progress in different areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand each child’s methods of communication. They have received the necessary training to do this and as a result they are skilled in using appropriate communication aids to communicate with children. This ensures each child is able to consistently share their views and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly attend school. There is effective liaison between staff and education professionals. This helps provide children with the support they need to be successful in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are consistently met. Staff support children to attend their health appointments and encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff also support children to spend time with their family and friends. As a result, they sustain their close relationships with the people who matter most to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a safe, warm, comfortable and homely environment for children. The home is cosy and nicely decorated and furnished. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their wants and individual wishes.

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

Managers and staff know and understand children’s individual vulnerabilities. Plans set out what action staff should take to address any risks. Specialist support is provided to children by the in-house therapist. This is helping one child to explore difficult feelings and increase their self-esteem and confidence.

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

When children need to be held, this is done in a reasonable and proportionate way. Following incidents, children are provided with a debrief session so that they can be helped to clearly understand why this has happened. Staff are also provided with a debrief session. Managers and staff review incidents and use behaviour-pattern analysis to consider patterns and trends. This helps ensure they can consider how effective their practice is and where improvements can be made. Inspection report for children's home: 2791916 3 Staff implement consistent rules and boundaries to help children make positive choices and stay safe. They also use restorative practice and have reflective discussions with children to help them think about their choices. As a result, incidents of concerning behaviour are reducing.

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

When allegations are made against staff, leaders and managers respond effectively. The manager works with partner agencies to ensure relevant information is shared and investigated. Outcomes of investigations are shared with children.

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

The recruitment of new staff to the home is safe. This helps to ensure that those recruited to work in the home are suitable and appropriate to be doing so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates strong leadership of the home. She is confident and advocates firmly for the children in her care. She leads an enthusiastic, motivated and committed staff team who offer children stability and consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The children and staff benefit from the manager’s supportive day-to-day oversight. The manager leads by example and works directly with the children. Due to this proactive approach, staff feel supported and valued and have confidence in the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision takes place regularly. Staff reflect on their practice and the progress children are making. Managers have recognised when children have struggled to build relationships with staff and worked creatively with staff to successfully address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place frequently and are well attended. Managers use resources and research to help staff understand the effects of children’s experiences. Guidance from the in-house therapist is proactively sought and disseminated to all staff. This enables staff to develop their practice and ensures that children are supported effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager strives to improve the quality of care provided to children. She uses a range of highly effective quality assurance systems to ensure that she maintains good oversight of staff’s practice and can closely monitor the children’s progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children's home: 2791916 4

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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: 2791916 5

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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: 2791916 6 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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