Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Unique reference number SC025745 Inspector Sharon Lloyd Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person The Together Trust Registered person address The Together Trust Centre Schools Hill CHEADLE Cheshire SK8 1JE Responsible individual Jill Marie Bernadette Sheldrake Registered manager Sarah Corinna Hopwood Date of last inspection 03/01/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 17/10/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection None.

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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This inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness.

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This inspection

The home has continued to provide high quality short breaks for children and young people who have autistic spectrum conditions. In January 2014 the home achieved the highest ever score for a children's home in the National Autistic Society's Autism Accreditation award scheme, achieving their seal of approval as a high quality provider of services for children and young people with autism. Children and young people enjoy their short breaks and professionals value the service provided. For example, one said, 'The staff have very good relationships with children and families. They understand the needs of children with challenging behaviour and severe learning disabilities.' A parent said, 'Our son loves going and has a great relationship with all the staff there.'

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This inspection

The home is well led and managed by a qualified, experienced and competent manager who is ably assisted by a dynamic deputy manager, appointed since the last inspection. The registered manager has over 10 years’ experience of working with children and young people who have emotional and behavioural problems. She was assistant manager at the home for three years before being registered as the manager in 2012. She has good knowledge, skills and qualifications relating to the management of a children's home and the care of children with autism spectrum conditions. This enables her to competently lead the staff team.

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This inspection

Quality assurance systems are on-going and strong. The manager effectively monitors the operation of the home, reviews patterns and trends and uses this information to review and improve packages of care for particular children and young people so that the home can better meet their needs. An independent visitor 3 of 7 carries out a monthly review and detailed evaluation of the quality of service and outcomes for children and young people. His reports detail any shortfalls in practice and the manager routinely addresses these, thereby ensuring continuous improvement in the service provided.

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This inspection

The organisation is committed to staff training and development and staff engage on a rolling programme of training that meets their needs. A high number of staff have completed specialist training in supporting children and young people with autism. This gives them the knowledge and skills to understand and respond appropriately to the children and young people who have short breaks at the home. New staff are appropriately engaged in induction training and all have completed the mandatory training programme. Parents recognise the skills of the staff team. For example, comments include, 'They are totally meeting his needs' and 'The staff are excellent. They show a good awareness of autistic spectrum conditions and are skilled in behaviour management.'

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This inspection

Staff know how to use alternative communication systems and do so in accordance with children and young people's needs. Further training in is provided so that new and established staff continue to develop their skills in effective communication with children and young people who are hard to reach. The home uses social stories with photographs to record children and young people's experiences and these demonstrate how children and young people develop new skills and enjoy their time at the home.

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This inspection

Staff are fully involved in the development of the home. They show commitment to improving the service and have taken on key roles that are beginning to have a positive impact on outcomes for children and young people. For example, the appointment of a transition worker has greatly enhanced the way the home supports young people and parents in preparation for a move to adult services. There is good evidence of young people benefitting enormously from this work.

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This inspection

The home has an improved focus on outcomes for children and young people. It is developing more person-centred practice which is driving improved outcomes. This is evident in the individualised placement plans that are agreed with parents and regularly reviewed and updated. A social worker commented, 'It is clear that staff know children well. They have personalised care plans and take great care regarding health and medication matters and consider risk management thoroughly.'

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This inspection

As children and young people achieve agreed goals, further targets are introduced and this ensures the home continuously works to help children and young people develop life skills. Feedback from parents is positive. For example, one said, 'My son is very happy to stay there'. Another said, 'We have confidence that he will have a fantastic stay each time he visits and he looks forward to going. His restricted diet is well-catered for…I can't thank the staff enough…they are amazing!'

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This inspection

A number of children and young people with particularly challenging needs are 4 of 7 making improved progress following careful review of their needs. The home provides each of these children and young people with a small team of regular carers who routinely work them. The staff know the children and young people extremely well and provide individually tailored support that meets their needs.

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This inspection

A temporary rise in the number of critical incidents earlier in the year has been effectively reviewed and evaluated. Action taken has led to improved consistency and behaviour management of the children and young people involved. As a result, children and young people are better supported and staff are very well informed about their care needs. The incidence of restraint and serious incidents has significantly reduced and is low. There have been no children and young people missing from care.

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This inspection

Central to the home's practice are good safeguarding procedures which protect children and young people very well. The home responds promptly and appropriately to allegations or concerns raised by children and young people. It works collaboratively with safeguarding agencies, medical professionals and parents to ensure that any concerns about children and young people's safety are appropriately shared with the relevant professionals and addressed. One young person's social worker said communication between the home and placing authority is 'very good' and described efficient and pro-active systems for sharing information.

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This inspection

Attempts to gather the views of parents and social workers about the quality of the service have not always been successful and the home has begun to do this via ‘phone calls. This is proving to be a more effective way of enabling parents to contribute to service development. Six parents responded to the Ofsted parents' survey and all spoke positively about the home. For example, a parent said, 'Our son loves going and has a great relationship with all the staff there.'

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This inspection

Parents receive good information about the home, including the complaints process. No complaints have been made about the home but parents are confident that the home would respond appropriately to any complaints. For example, one parent said, 'I have never had cause to complain but feel sure complaints would be dealt with in the same manner as when I make recommendations.'

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This inspection

All parents were consulted about the temporary closure of the home for refurbishment and as a result, children and young people have continued to receive a service that meets their needs. The home has supported parents and young people to obtain advocacy services where they have been in dispute with placing authorities. Parents value this support. They report that staff listen to their points of view and one said, 'They are very supportive to me when I need support or advice'.

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This inspection

The home temporarily closed on 6 October 2014. Plans to extend the premises and update the home are well underway and the manager anticipates that the home will be ready for use again in February 2015. The planned renovations will meet the needs of the children and young people who attend for short breaks. For example, 5 of 7 some bedrooms will be fitted with safety features. Colour, texture and light have been considered with a view to enhancing the environment for children and young people with autism spectrum conditions.

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This inspection

The transfer of the home and staff team to alternative premises has been carefully planned and well managed ensuring a smooth and successful transition for children and young people. Staff provide transport where necessary. This ensures children and young people continue to have their short breaks. A few children and young people have transferred temporarily to another respite centre within the organisation. A small team of staff have gone with them so that they receive consistent care from staff they know and are familiar to them. 6 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This children's home is owned and managed by a charitable organisation. It provides a short-breaks service for up to five young people at any one time with learning disabilities, including autistic spectrum disorders. At present 39 children and young people use the service.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2014 Interim good progress 29/10/2013 Full good 06/02/2013 Interim good progress 29/05/2012 Full good Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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