Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008607 Inspector Sarah Oldham Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Care Today (Children's Services) Ltd Registered person address Care Today Children's Services, Lansdowne House 85 Buxton Road STOCKPORT Cheshire SK2 6LR Responsible individual Vivien Anne Snape Registered manager Gary Wood Date of last inspection 15/01/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 08/08/2014

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Previous inspection satisfactory progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people overall make good progress during their time living at the home. They enjoy good outcomes in relation to their health and they are supported to make positive progress with their education. Staff encourage young people to lead heathy lifestyles by encouraging attendance at health care appointments, promoting healthy eating and supporting active lifestyle choices. Young people are enabled to take part in community based activities to enable them to develop good links within the local community they live in. Education is supported well, enabling some young people who have not engaged in education for sometime to access and increase their attendance thereby increasing their opportunity to gain qualifications to improve their overall life opportunities.

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Overall effectiveness

Positive relationships exist between young people and staff. Young people say that staff listen to them and help them feel safe as well as providing them with on-going support. The staff also develop good working relationships with placing social workers and parents to enable young people to be supported consistently to help to achieve good outcomes.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people say that staff help them to understand how to keep safe. Staff follow clear procedures to reduce the risk of young people going missing from home and to maintain the safety and well-being of the young people. Where shortfalls are 3 of 10 identified in practice, the manager and staff take prompt action to address them. Although the Registered Manager is responsible for two other homes, he visits the home on a regular basis throughout each week to speak to young people, supervise staff and review paperwork to enable him to have a good understanding of day-to- day events and progress young people are making. The manager and staff are committed to providing care and support to young people that will enable them to achieve good outcomes. As a result of this inspection, two recommendations have been made. These are in relation to reviewing the staffing structure if a further placements to be made at the home and gaining the views of young people in

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 24/05/2013 Full good 10/01/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 17/07/2012 Full good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that the overall number, both as a staff group and on individual shifts fulfil the home's Statement of Purpose and meet the individual needs of all children resident in the home (NMS 17.1)  ensure that all staff have their performance individually and formally appraise least annually and this appraisal takes into account any views of children the service is providing for (NMS 19.6) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make good progress from their initial starting point in the relatively short time that they have been living at the home. They are developing positive relationships with the staff team and this is enabling them to feel safe and well cared for. One young person said, 'I like it here, I get on well with the staff and they are helping me to do lots of different things.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from good levels of support to maintain healthy lifestyles. This includes attending routine health care appointments, assistance with planning and preparing healthy meals as well as support and information about substance misuse and smoking cessation. Where additional specialist health care support is required, staff liaise with health care professionals to support young people to access appropriate health care resources. As a result of this, young people benefit from leading healthy lifestyles and are enabled, in accordance with their age and understanding, to take on responsibilities for their own health care.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

From their initial starting point, young people are beginning to make progress with their education. They are supported by staff who have a good understanding of the value of education and work with young people to encourage and support school attendance. During school holidays, staff continue to help young people plan and prepare for future education. This includes helping them access information and advice regarding further education courses. Where young people have been out of educational placements for a period of time, clear plans are in place to enable them to recommence education in a planned and supportive manner.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have clear contact plans in place to ensure that they retain positive links with family members and friends. Staff support these arrangements both practically as well as providing emotional support to young people. These arrangements reflect any restrictions that may be in place to safeguard young people and these are clearly understood and followed by staff.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop life skills which are appropriate for their age. This includes budgeting, shopping, cooking and taking responsibility for their laundry. In addition, the home has a specific resource to enable young people to learn additional independence skills and to gain some additional qualifications, for example, first aid and food hygiene. These measures help young people to have a good foundation to build on when moving onto independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people's views are taken into account with regards to how the home functions. They have individual support through regular one-to-one discussions as well as having regular involvement in house meetings. For example, they plan the menu, discuss activities that they wish to take part in and contribute their views to the décor 6 of 10 and furnishings within the home. They also discuss holidays, plan celebrations, including those celebrating their individual heritage and background. These contributions enable them to develop their social and communication skills whilst sharing and respecting cultural heritage.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from living in a home where staff act as positive role models. They encourage and support young people to develop their individual interests and build on their skills. They are cared for by a regular staff team which provides them with continuity of care, enabling them to form positive relationships.

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Quality of care good

Young people have individual care plans that detail their needs and how these will be met. These plans are developed in conjunction with placing authority plans and in consultation with young people and, where appropriate parents. These plans are kept under review to ensure that they reflect the current needs of the young people. They have opportunity to discuss their care and support through regular discussions with staff. One young person said, 'I can speak to the staff and they listen to me to help me to do lots of things.' When it is not always possible to act upon the wishes and views of young people, staff ensure that this is discussed and explained to the young people at an appropriate level to their age and understanding. As a result of this, young people receive good support from staff to meet their individual needs.

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Quality of care good

Young people are encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles. They have their medical needs supported through good access to health care professionals, including doctors, dentists and opticians. Where additional health care needs are identified, staff support young people to access these. Information about the harmful effects of substance and alcohol misuse is provided, including smoking cessation. However, some young people continue to smoke but are very clear that this is not allowed or supported within the home.

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Quality of care good

Education is encouraged and supported by staff. Some young people admitted to the home have previously not attended education for some time. Staff work with education and placing authorities to support appropriate access to education for all young people and, taking into account their initial starting points, there has been an improvement in educational attendance for the vast majority of young people who have recently lived at the home or are currently living there. This means that they have the opportunity to gain qualifications for their future. Further education is encouraged and young people have support to access college and vocational training to develop additional skills.

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Quality of care good

Young people have access to a range of activities. These include going to local gyms to improve their health and fitness as well as developing new friendships, going to the cinema and attending community resources including the library. One young person said, 'I am really enjoying going to the gym and it is helping me to get to 7 of 10 know the area better because I have recently moved here.'

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Quality of care good

The home provides a welcoming, warm and homely environment for young people. Maintenance and repairs are undertaken as required to ensure that the home remains in good order. It is situated within a residential area, near to shops and community resources enabling young people to have good access to a range of community facilities. Young people are encouraged to choose the colour scheme for their own bedrooms and to personalise them to reflect their individuality and interests. The Registered Manager has commenced a location report to enable placing authority social workers, young people and parents to have an understanding of the local area and the suitability of the placement of the home in relation to schools and facilities.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are supported to remain safe. Staff are aware of, and follow a range of detailed safeguarding policies and procedures to promote the safety and well-being of young people. All staff undertake safeguarding training which covers a range of issues including missing from care procedures and issues relating to child sexual exploitation. All young people have individual risk assessments in place to further underpin their safety.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

In the event of a young person missing from home, staff follow the individual risk assessments and missing from home protocols. They try to make contact with the young people through telephone contact, search local areas and known places that the young person may go to. The home has also developed positive links with the local missing from home police officer and community officers. One social worker said, 'although (name) had a history of missing from home prior to moving into this home, staff made positive attempts to encourage and support (name) from doing this. When (name) was missing from the home, staff made every attempt to remain in contact and would pick (name) up to ensure his safe return to the home.' Staff ensure that missing from home reports are completed to enable them to establish patterns that may evolve, to ensure the well-being of the young person on returning to the home and to provide young people with the opportunity to speak with

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people's behaviour is effectively supported. All staff have training in behaviour management strategies to de-escalate potential volatile situations and offer encouragement and support for young people to manage their behaviours appropriately. The use of sanction to address behaviours is discussed with young people as well as positive rewards. Records maintained identify that sanctions are fair and young people are offered the opportunity to make comments about these. The manager also reviews all sanctions to assess that they are appropriate and the overall effectiveness of them. 8 of 10 Recruitment and selection processes are robust. Staff recruited to work within the home are appointed following the organisations procedures. Application forms, interview, references in written form and verbally confirmed, plus clear enhanced disclosure checks are completed prior to commencement of employment. Since the

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Keeping children and young people safe good

last inspection there have been no new staff employed at the home. All visitors to the home have their identity confirmed prior to entering the home. These measures ensure the home takes appropriate action to help prevent unsuitable people who may pose a risk to young people from working or entering the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people live in a home that is physically safe. A range of risk assessments as well as regular maintenance and health and safety checks are completed. Young people and staff know the procedure to follow to evacuate the home in the event of a fire. Regular fire drills, in which young people and staff take part in, underpin this knowledge.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2007, when the home opened. He is suitably qualified, with NVQ 3 and 4 Caring for Children and Young People, and the Registered Managers award. He is also registered to manage another two homes within the organisation, and therefore is not in full time day-to-day charge of the home. A senior care worker who holds a level 3 qualification in Caring for Children and Young People supports the manager within his role. The staffing level at the home meets the number of young people in placement at the current time. The organisation are in the process of recruiting additional staff with a view to the home increasing staffing levels prior to additional placements of young people being made.

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Leadership and management good

The homes' Statement of Purpose identifies the aims and objectives of the home and how the home supports young people. The Registered Manager provides effective guidance and leadership to the staff to support young people placed at the home. He is aware of the homes strengths and areas for ongoing improvement and development. This includes increasing the staff team to enable additional placements to be made. He undertakes regular monitoring of the home, including reviewing documentation. Monthly checks are undertaken and link with the independent visitors monthly reports. The manager also completes a monitoring report every three months and provides a copy to the regulator. This demonstrates progress that young people are making and any areas for on-going development. Where shortfalls in recording are identified, the manager ensures that these are addressed in a timely manner. The manager undertakes consultation with young people, placing authorities

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Leadership and management good

and parents and this contributes to the overall development of the service.

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Leadership and management good

Staff at the home have appropriate qualifications, experience and knowledge in working with children and young people. They have access to on-going training and development through in-house training and e-learning. This helps to ensure that their knowledge and practice remains current. They receive regular individual supervision 9 of 10 from the manager as well as having team meetings to discuss how the home supports young people and future development. All staff have annual appraisals. However, the views of young people do not currently contribute to these to demonstrate formally how they feel that they are supported by individual staff members. The Registered Manager receives regular supervision from the organisations responsible individual. These records are maintained at the organisations head office.

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Leadership and management good

At the previous inspection a recommendation was made in relation to how the views of children and young people, placing social workers and parents are gathered and evaluated in the managers' three monthly reports. The manager has commenced a system for addressing this through surveys and consultation and has recorded this in the latest report. The Registered Manager follows up recommendations made to improve the service provided for young people.

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Leadership and management good

Individual care case files for young people are stored securely, maintain confidentiality and reflect the individual needs and outcomes for young people. This contributes to an overall understanding of the young person's placement and progress they are making. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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