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

Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 1 SC008273 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

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2023 and holds a leadership and management qualification at level 5.

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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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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: SC008273 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2024 Full Good 12/09/2023 Full Good 24/01/2023 Full Good 14/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has redecorated parts of the home, and the addition of soft furnishings has helped to create a homely environment. The child’s bedroom is decorated to reflect their individual interests, particularly their passion for football. As a result, the child feels a strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has lived in the home for over 4 years and is settled. They have made progress across all areas of their development, supported by the strong, consistent and caring relationships they have with staff. Staff have a clear understanding of the child’s needs and are committed to providing continuity of care. During the inspection, warm and relaxed interactions between the child and staff were observed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child attends school in line with their needs. They are making good progress and meeting all their attainment targets. A deputy headteacher stated, ‘[Name of child] is fantastic and works hard to reach all their goals.’ Staff understand the importance of education and actively support the child by attending all school meetings and maintaining regular communication. The school reports having an effective professional relationship with the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and respond well to the child’s health needs. The child attends all routine health appointments and is encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Staff support the child to engage in activities outside the home, such as football and youth club, which promotes their physical and emotional wellbeing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to maintain relationships with those who are important to them. They listen to the child’s views and advocate on their behalf, including supporting increased family time with their sibling. Staff have also responded sensitively when the child has chosen not to attend family time with certain relatives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively promote the child’s independence. The child is encouraged to spend time with friends in the local community, and direct work has been undertaken to help them understand how to keep safe. The child enjoys spending time with their friends and is a committed football supporter who regularly attends home matches of their favourite team. Staff recently arranged a matchday experience, which the child is very excited about. This demonstrates the staff’s commitment to promoting positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are actively sought and considered in relation to their care and the day ‑ to ‑ day running of the home. As a result, the child feels listened to by staff and the registered manager. Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 4

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

Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and consistently promote the child’s safety. They know the child well and are confident in recognising and responding promptly and appropriately to any concerns. The child spoke positively about staff and identified trusted adults they could speak to if they had any worries.

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

Allegations in the home are rare. When concerns do arise, the registered manager responds appropriately to safeguard the child’s welfare. Referrals to external agencies are made when required, ensuring effective oversight and additional safeguarding assurance.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been some low ‑ level concerns relating to bullying. Staff have responded appropriately by helping the child understand the risks associated with bullying and its potential impact. Regular direct work supports the child to develop strategies to manage these risks, and they have been able to apply their learning in the school environment.

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

The child enjoys using their games console, and staff provide regular safety guidance. Appropriate safeguards are in place to promote safe online use. The child also has access to a mobile phone with agreed boundaries to support safe use, and routine checks of the device provide additional safeguards.

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

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

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

Incidents in the home are generally low, reflecting the positive and trusting relationships the child has developed with staff. When the child becomes upset, staff use appropriate de ‑ escalation strategies. As a result, the use of physical intervention is low and only ever implemented as a last resort. Debriefs are completed with the child and staff following incidents, ensuring that the child feels listened to and enabling staff reflection and learning.

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

Although physical intervention is rarely used in the home, there have been occasions when locked doors and window restrictors in downstairs areas have been used to manage the child’s behaviour. These measures are not routinely risk assessed to ensure they remain proportionate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and appropriately qualified. She demonstrates a clear commitment to promoting the child’s welfare and development. The manager is supported by a deputy who shares her values and ethos, providing clear leadership and continuity in the home. Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 5 The home benefits from a stable and committed staff team. Staff report that they enjoy working in the home and feel valued and well supported by the registered manager. One member of staff described the registered manager as ‘incredibly supportive’ and highlighted her key role in creating a supportive and inclusive working environment. Supervision and team meetings take place regularly, offering staff the opportunity to reflect on the child’s progress and on their own practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff have joined the home since the last inspection. They have received a detailed induction that includes shadowing experienced team members. Staff spoke positively about the support provided by managers throughout the induction process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. Monitoring systems are in place and support effective oversight and continuous improvement. These systems help to ensure consistency and continuity of care for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training that equips them with the knowledge and skills required to meet children’s individual needs. This includes specialist training in areas such as domestic abuse. Most staff hold the required qualifications for their roles. Those who do not are being appropriately supported and are working towards achieving the qualification within the required timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak positively about the home and the care provided to the child. They report good communication with the registered manager and staff team. One social worker said, ‘The stability, routine and consistent care provided by staff have contributed significantly to their child’s progress.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

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. Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 6

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Statutory requirement

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

satisfy the requirements in paragraph (5)(a) to (c); and

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Requirement Due date

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)(a)(b)) 11 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that locking external doors is only used as a security precaution when it forms part of the home’s normal routine. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.62)

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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: SC008273 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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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Denver Underwood

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Inspector

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC008273 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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