Children's Home run by Searchlight Care Services Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 1 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 operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for one child who has had adverse childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post, who registered with Ofsted in August 2023. The manager is experienced and has an appropriate management qualification.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. The child was spoken to as part of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/05/2024 Full Good 29/01/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 3

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improvement to be good

There has been ineffective communication between the home and the local authority in relation to the child’s care planning. Key decisions have been made without a coordinated multi-agency approach or sufficient consideration of the child’s individual needs. The registered manager has not provided the necessary oversight or professional challenge to ensure that the child’s voice is consistently heard and that their best interests are prioritised.

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improvement to be good

Although key-work sessions are held regularly, they have lacked focus in preparing the child for their planned move to foster care. The child’s mixed feelings about this transition have not been explored in sufficient depth. This has contributed to a decline in the child’s emotional stability and has hindered their overall progress in the home over the past six months.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the same child has remained living at the home. They have lived there for over two years and have developed strong, trusting relationships with staff. During the inspection, interactions between the child, staff and the registered manager were observed to be warm and nurturing. These positive relationships have helped the child to develop a sense of belonging.

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improvement to be good

The child is supported to take part in a range of activities that reflect their interests. They have engaged in swimming, gymnastics and, more recently, joined a local Cubs group. Staff continue to seek out new opportunities for the child, who has also enjoyed trips to the seaside, theme parks and trampoline parks. A memory book has been created to capture and celebrate these positive experiences.

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improvement to be good

The child attends school regularly and is making steady progress, particularly in reading and mathematics. The registered manager maintains effective communication with the school to ensure that the child’s educational needs are met. The child’s headteacher reported that communication with the registered manager is good.

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improvement to be good

The child’s health needs are understood and met. Staff ensure that all required health appointments are attended, supporting the child’s physical and emotional well-being.

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improvement to be good

Improvements have been made to the home environment since the last inspection. A new patio area has been developed to provide space for outdoor play. The home is warm and welcoming, with soft furnishings and photographs that contribute to a homely atmosphere. The child’s bedroom reflects their personal interests and includes football- themed decorations, which they are proud of. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 4

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improvement to be good

There has been a high number of physical interventions, with multiple holds occurring during some incidents. Some interventions have taken place in the child’s bedroom, including on their bed, which is not in line with best practice. On one occasion, three members of staff carried out a hold that did not align with the child’s behaviour management plan or the home’s training. On another occasion, the child was held for an extended period, raising concerns about the proportionality and effectiveness of the intervention.

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improvement to be good

The registered manager’s oversight following these incidents has not been consistently effective. Records do not always demonstrate that interventions were proportionate or in accordance with the child’s behaviour management plan. This lack of scrutiny limits the registered manager’s ability to ensure that practice is safe, appropriate and reflective of the child’s needs.

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improvement to be good

Overall, safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the child reports feeling safe in the home. They have developed trusting relationships with staff and are able to identify adults they can speak to if they have any worries or concerns. The child told the inspector that they like living in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staff know the child well and demonstrate a clear understanding of their individual risks and vulnerabilities. They provide support that enables the child to take safe, age- appropriate risks in line with their stage of development. This includes promoting the child’s independence both within the home and in the wider community.

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improvement to be good

There have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home. However, staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities should such an incident occur, and appropriate procedures are in place.

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improvement to be good

Allegations are managed effectively. The registered manager follows safeguarding procedures, including making referrals to the local authority designated officer (LADO) and the local authority when required. Where necessary, internal investigations are completed to ensure that the child’s welfare remains the priority.

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improvement to be good

The home environment is safe and well maintained. The registered manager ensures that regular health and safety checks are completed by staff.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment practices are in place, ensuring that only suitable adults are employed to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A suitably experienced registered manager is in post. She is passionate about her role and demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving positive outcomes for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 5 There is a responsible individual in post, supported by an operations manager, who is currently undertaking aspects of the responsible individual’s role, particularly in providing guidance to staff and supervising the registered manager. However, roles and responsibilities are not clearly defined. As a result, the responsible individual does not have full oversight of the home, which limits their ability to provide effective leadership and accountability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Monitoring systems are in place but are not yet embedded or fully effective. This limits the registered manager’s ability to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the quality of care provided and the progress the child is making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a sufficient number of staff in place to meet the child’s needs. However, recent staffing changes have led to periods of instability. At times, agency staff and staff from other homes have been required to cover shifts, which has resulted in some disruption to the child’s routines and relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff report that they enjoy working in the home and feel well supported by the registered manager. They receive regular supervision and attend team meetings, which contribute to the development of their practice and professional skills. The registered manager ensures that staff complete mandatory training, and additional training is provided when necessary to respond to the child’s emerging needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Professionals spoken to during the inspection were positive about the home and the care provided to the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 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 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. (Regulation 12 (1)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the child’s behaviour management plans are followed, especially around the use of physical interventions. 14 November 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—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that monitoring systems are continually reviewed to ensure that they remain effective to help children reach their full potential. 14 November 2025

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— 14 November 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 7 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they challenge and advocate on the child’s behalf.

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Requirement Due date

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home, or the homes, in respect of which the responsible individual is nominated. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 14 November 2025

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2490939 8

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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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Denver Underwood

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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2490939 9 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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