Children's home run by Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited in Stoke-on-Trent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 1 SC463188 Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. The inspector spoke to two of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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inadequate

How well children and young people are helped and protected inadequate

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inadequate

The effectiveness of leaders and managers inadequate

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inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and/or the care and experiences of children and young people are poor and they are not making progress.

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inadequate

Date of last inspection: 10 October 2024

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inadequate

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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inadequate

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2024 Full Good 19/12/2023 Full Good 14/03/2023 Full Good 26/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children’s experiences of living at the home are mixed. The children spoken to said that they are happy. However, not all children have had this experience. Ineffective management oversight, poor staff practice and staff not following safeguarding procedures has meant that children have been placed at significant harm. These failings in safeguarding practice have had an impact on the overall judgement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

One child’s care has not always been provided in line with their agreed plans. The level of supervision and restriction on the child’s liberty and movements was significant even though there was not a court order in place. Additionally, since the last inspection, three children have left the home prematurely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Care planning arrangements and matching for children moving into the home are poor. Children have been moved into the home without all relevant information and documentation in place. Furthermore, leaders and managers agreed to accept a child into the home despite being aware that a child with similar behaviours and risks had previously left the home due to concerns that their behaviours were having a negative influence on another child living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are encouraged to spend time with the people who are important to them. This helps them to maintain a sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

The children confirmed that they are supported to engage in activities of their choice. One child spoke positively about their recent holiday to Wales. Another child shared their plans on the day of the visit, which included going to the cinema to watch a film that they wanted to see.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: inadequate

Children are consistently supported and encouraged to engage in education. One child who had not attended school for several months prior to moving into the home has started to attend school regularly.

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

When incidents occur, staff do not demonstrate that they have the relevant skills and experience to keep children safe. During a significant incident involving one child’s family, rather than taking immediate action to protect the child, staff contacted the placing local authority’s out-of-hours service to establish whether there were any risks associated with the child’s family members for staff. If this information had been sought when the child first moved to the home, a risk assessment and plan for staff to follow could have been established. Instead, this delayed response from staff potentially placed the child at risk.

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

There is an inconsistent response when children go missing from home. Staff generally search for children to support their swift return. However, on one occasion, staff were unaware that a child had left the home during the night and had travelled a significant Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 4 distance. When the child’s parent notified them, staff did not travel to collect the child until the following afternoon. This contradicted the advice and guidance from both the placing authority and the police and compromised the child’s safety and welfare.

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

A high number of physical interventions have been recorded for one child over a short period of time. Records suggest that restrictive practice contributed to a child’s distress resulting in them being held. In addition, records do not demonstrate that these incidents have been subject to appropriate scrutiny by the registered manager. Failure to do this, does not ensure that the physical interventions are necessary and proportionate.

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

Despite the child reporting on several occasions that they had been hurt during physical interventions, they were not offered an independent advocate, and the registered manager did not carry out a review of the physical holds. This was a missed opportunity to ensure that the child’s voice was heard and that staff practice is safe.

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

Allegations are poorly managed. Although leaders and managers notify relevant external professionals when safeguarding concerns arise, there are delays in informing Ofsted. This limits the regulator’s ability to maintain effective oversight. Additionally, on one occasion, the local authority designated officer (LADO) was advised that following a discussion with the registered manager, the child no longer wanted to pursue their complaint. However, there are no clear records to evidence that this discussion took place.

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

Leaders and managers do not ensure that there are detailed risk management plans in place that provide staff with detailed strategies on how to respond to children’s individual risks. Consequently, staff responses to safeguarding children are not always effective.

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

Behaviour management strategies are not consistently positive. On occasion, the approaches used for one child have been restrictive, punitive and disproportionate. This does not help to foster positive relationships between the child and staff.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that safer recruitment checks are completed to reduce the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

The home is managed by a registered manager who is suitably qualified and experienced. Despite this, there are significant shortfalls in management oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Leaders and managers do not demonstrate curiosity about staff practice and conduct. The registered manager does not challenge shortfalls in staff practice evidenced by safeguarding incidents. This means that children are repeatedly being exposed to harmful situations, and their safety is compromised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff have access to a comprehensive training programme to enable them to carry out their role effectively. Despite this, there is no evidence that the registered manager has Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 5 considered targeted training and additional support for staff following safeguarding incidents. This limits opportunities to improve practice and prevent similar incidents occurring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Children’s case records are not consistently kept up to date and do not accurately reflect their experience of living at the home. Records relating to allegations made by one child lack essential details, including the nature of the allegation and documented discussions with the child and staff involved. This does not provide a clear account of children’s lived experiences at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

When allegations of abuse are made against staff, the registered manager does not ensure that the staff members are removed from directly caring for the child while investigations are ongoing. Failure to do this compromises children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are not effective procedures in place to notify the regulator of significant incidents when the registered manager is absent from the home. This means that there is a delay in external oversight when serious incidents occur.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

There are systems in place to support staff, including team meetings and supervision sessions, which provide opportunities for group discussions and individual reflection. However, the registered manager does not make effective use of these forums to address and reflect on shortfalls in staff practice. As a result, opportunities to promote learning and improve practice are missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Staff say that they feel supported by the registered manager and have confidence in her leadership. They confirm that they receive regular support through formal and informal supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: inadequate

Following a case review on the 28 August 2025, compliance notices were issued under regulation 12 (the protection of children standard), regulation13 (the leadership and management standard) and regulation 14 (the care planning standard). Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that risk management plans are available that accurately reflect children’s risks and guide staff on how to respond effectively to these.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that allegations are investigated thoroughly. Furthermore, when an allegation of abuse has been made against a staff member, that member of staff should not be allowed to care directly for the child while the investigation is taking place.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that information about allegations is shared accurately with external safeguarding partners such as the LADO. 23 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 7 *The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

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 work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)).

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that there are procedures in place that allow for reporting of significant incidents to Ofsted without delay.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that safeguarding incidents are thoroughly evaluated and scrutinised. Where shortfalls in practice are identified there should be a process of reflection and learning with staff.

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that where shortfalls in staff practice are identified, additional training is considered. 23 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

*The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended 23 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 8 that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing—

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Requirement Due date

injury to any person (including the child);

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Requirement Due date

serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or

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Requirement Due date

a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate.

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Requirement Due date

These Regulations do not prevent a child from being deprived of liberty where that deprivation is authorised in accordance with a court order. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2) (3)).

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that, in the absence of a court order, children are allowed to move freely in and around the home. 23 October 2025

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; 23 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 9 is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)).

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Requirement Due date

Leaders and managers must ensure that supervision of children is appropriate and not intrusive.

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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

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; 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. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e)). 23 October 2025

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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;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; 23 October 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 10 understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iv)(ix)(xi))

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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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: SC463188 11

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prestige Adolescent Care and Education Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 90 King Street, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire ST5 1JB

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Inspector

Chibuzo Otache, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC463188 12 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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