Children's home run by The Place Young People’s Company

Inspection report for children’s home: 2722943 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company own and operates this home. The home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living at the home. Both children spoke with the inspector about their experiences of living at the home.

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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: 2722943 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2024 Full Good 24/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2722943 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last full inspection, five children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in. Children report feeling safe and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager understands the importance of carefully matching new children with children already living at the home. However, the lack of a thorough assessment by the manager when one child moved in contributed to the child’s negative behaviours affecting the progress that other children were making. This resulted in the child’s placement ending in an unplanned way and having further disruption in their life

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have clear health plans and are registered with the relevant primary healthcare services. They have access to specialist and therapeutic input provided by the organisation. There are good links with specialist services, such as substance misuse services. This means that children receive specialist input that is tailored to meet their individual needs. Medication is stored and administered safely by trained and competent staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education arrangements are in place for children. These are tailored to their needs and consider their previous educational circumstances. Staff work in partnership with education providers and other relevant professionals to ensure that children have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are fully involved in day-to-day decisions. Children have regular one to one sessions and daily communication with staff. This helps to ensure that children have ownership of decisions made in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a good range of leisure activities in the local community, which strengthens their sense of belonging. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported by staff, which increases children’s self esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff maintain regular communication with children’s social workers and family members. They support and facilitate children’s visits to family members. This promotes children’s sense of identity and enables them to retain positive links with the people who are important to them.

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are thoroughly assessed, regularly reviewed and well documented. Personalised risk assessments provide staff with the guidance they need to promote children’s safety and well-being. This support helps staff to have a better understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and promotes their emotional well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722943 4 Staff understand children’s individual triggers and behaviours very well. They take prompt action to support them to manage their emotions in a constructive manner. A strength of the home is the consistency of the staff in their implementation of behaviour management strategies.

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

When physical restraint is used, it is proportionate and appropriate. Management oversight of incidents is thorough. De ‑ escalation techniques identified in children’s plans are used effectively. Following incidents, children’s needs and risks are reviewed, promoting a reflective and child ‑ centred approach that has contributed to a reduction in incidents.

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

Swift action is taken by staff when children go missing from the home. Partnership working with the police and safeguarding agencies helps to ensure that children are safe. Staff go looking for children and, in line with protocols, share information with the police at an early stage. Children are provided with an independent person to speak to on their return home. This helps to add detail to existing information, which, if appropriately considered, may help to protect them from going missing again.

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

Staff are vetted and assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures promote children’s safety by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for children. The manager advocates effectively for children’s needs and ensures they have appropriate support. For example, when she had concerns about the timescale for a child moving out of the home, she escalated this promptly with the professionals involved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff report that they feel supported by the new manager. Staff receive regular supervision and have access to monthly team meetings and reflective practice sessions which provides the opportunity for staff to reflect on children’s needs and practice issues. Newly recruited staff are provided with a thorough induction and probation process that helps them to understand their roles and the children they care for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a comprehensive range of training available to staff and most staff have completed key training for their roles. This means that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to care safely for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established effective working relationships with external professionals, including the police, education professionals and placing authorities. This partnership approach means that children are benefiting from the full range of support and guidance provided by other professionals to promote their safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722943 5

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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 care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children’s moves in and out of the home are well planned. 20 April 2026

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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: 2722943 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Lymevale Court, Lyme Drive, Parklands, Stoke-on- Trent ST4 6NW

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Inspectors

Dave Carrigan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2722943 7 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

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