Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stoke-on-Trent

Unique reference number SC008269 Inspector Michelle Spruce 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 Carol Beadman Date of last inspection 24/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 20/11/2014

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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 outstanding Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management outstanding

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Overall effectiveness

This good service provides excellent quality of care for young people. The manager and staff team remain stable, passionate and committed to delivering high quality care to young people regardless of the difficulties they face. They provide a nurturing environment that represents a culture built on trust, respect and honesty.

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Overall effectiveness

Effective well planned care improves outcomes for young people. Bespoke care planning effectively enables them to receive a care package that meets their individual needs. Staff know and understand the young people and relationships are strong. Young people are confident at sharing their views about the care they receive and about the home they live in. Regular opportunities are provided that enable their voice to be heard. They influence decisions about their lives and the home they live in.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe and know staff protect and keep them safe from harm. There have been no complaints about the home or staff working there.

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Overall effectiveness

The leadership and management are highly effective. The key strengths lie within the staff who work in close partnership with each other and external professionals. The team are long standing in their service providing young people with the continuity of care they require to establish confidence and trust in people who care 3 of 10 for them.

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Overall effectiveness

There is a development plan in place identifies how the service will continue to operate. The manager is efficient in monitoring the plan. This evaluates how the home will continue to operate while identifying any weakness to improve. There was an area identified during the inspection that needed improvement and one recommendation was made. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service is owned by a private company.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 10/01/2014 Full good 27/11/2012 Interim good progress 11/07/2012 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 there staff are equipped with the skills required to meet the needs of the children and the purpose of the setting. In relation to fire safety. (NMS 18.1) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are more confident about who they are since they moved into the home. The manager said, ‘He is more outgoing and confident in his abilities'. As a result, young people have a better self-view and image.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people maintain good emotional, psychological and physical health. They attend routine health appointments such as the dentist and opticians. This ensures they receive any treatment necessary. They access local services to support their mental health. This means young people’s emotional needs are met while providing a continuity of care. A staff member said, ‘He has had therapeutic input and one to one sessions; but chose not to go; the option will remain open to re-visit at his leisure’. Young people benefit from a nutritious menu that represents their likes and choices. This helps them remain fit and well and gives them a chance to explore a variety of food from different cultures. Physical activities that young people engage in also keep them fit. For example, roller skating, bike riding and skate boarding.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Some young people have made significant progress in achieving 100% school attendance. Regardless of the difficulties young people face they try hard to engage and improve their attendance and achievements. Hard effort and commitment for some young people has resulted in them receiving trophies and certificates acknowledging their achievements. For example, a young person was awarded ‘student of the year’ and ‘sportsman of the year’. This means you people are successful and are rewarded for their efforts.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are helpful and considerate to those they live with and their neighbours. They make a positive contribution to the home and community. For example, they help with the gardening and are polite and respectful. This helps to form good relationships and gives young people a sense of belonging. A staff member said, ‘Young people help to cut the neighbours hedges and grass’. There has been no behaviour that impacts negatively on community relationships.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people make informed choices about who they wish to have contact with. For example, young people tell staff, social workers and their Independent Reviewing Officer when they feel contact with their family or friends is not in their best interest. This helps young people to take control of who remains in their lives.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged to improve their life skills to prepare them for leaving home. For example, the staff help young people to complete a book called, Ready for Adult Life, at a pace that is tailored to their age and understanding. This covers topics such as how to manage money, cooking, relationships, paying bills, and interview skills. This goes with the young people when they move on. This develops their 6 of 10 awareness of adult life and skills them to cope when they move on.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people thrive and enjoy being in the company of staff and each other. Staff have excellent relationships with young people that are maintained through mutual trust and respect. The positive relationships influence the atmosphere within the home. This provides a relaxed and welcoming environment. For example, young people often choose to stay in with staff and relax rather than going out. They have strong bonds and trust in staff. As a result, young people open up and share their feelings more openly, engage more and form strong attachments.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people’s confidence has grown considerably. Staff promote the voice of young people and gives them opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. Young people attend their reviews, young people’s meetings and have one to one discussions with key workers. As a result, young people have made informed choices about their care. For example, where they want to live and what they want for their future. This enables them to take control in shaping their future.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people know how to complain and are provided with complaints forms to raise their concerns. Positive relationships with staff help young people to feel confident in talking to them before issues become a complaint. Advocates are also used to support the voice of young people. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are well informed about how to care for the individual needs of young people. Placement plans are clear and highly personalised. They provide up-to-date information gathered through reviews, key work meetings and one to one sessions with young people, staff and social workers. This helps staff to continue to provide high quality and consistent bespoke care. Young people know what is planned for them because staff encourages them to read and sign their records, attend reviews and take part in house meetings. As a result, placements are stable and young people feel settled and less anxious about their futures.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are motivated and committed to helping young people access health services to improve and maintain their physical, emotional and psychological well-being. They work in close partnership with health professionals to maximise the opportunities for young people to get the best out of their health. For example, staff recognises when young people’s health is at risk and make referrals to the appropriate agencies. They support young people to access them, and if they refuse to attend, they ensure there is an opportunity to return should they require the service in the future. As a result, young people’s risk taking behaviour reduces and their well-being improves. 7 of 10 Young people continue to access, achieve and enjoy their education. Staff are dedicated and pro-active in helping young people achieve the best they can in their education, career and job opportunities. Staff never give up; they help young people

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Quality of care outstanding

to overcome the barriers they face. For example, a young person had a re- assessment of his educational needs following the staffs persistence. This assessment recognised the young person was functioning at a higher level than expected. It gave confidence back to the individual and enabled him to be taught at the right pace individual to him.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are persistent in supporting education. They do not give up and work closely with education staff to help young people improve their attendance and attainment. As a result, some young people have achieved 100% attendance, improved their grades and received awards to acknowledge progress. Young people, who face barriers to learning, are provided with alternative options such as home tutoring or gradual phased return to school. This helps them to continue to learn regardless of the barriers they face.

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Quality of care outstanding

Activities provided are tailored to meet the social, emotional and physical needs of young people, giving consideration to their age and ability. Young people benefit from a range of activities in and outside of the home. Staff strives to provide them with learning experiences while giving them the opportunity to experience and enjoy free time. For example, one young person has taken a keen interest in fishing; he has gone from being shy to now becoming more confident. He loves fishing with the staff and has lots of photographs that show the fish he has caught. This develops social skills and improves behaviour and confidence.

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Quality of care outstanding

The home provides a nurturing, relaxed environment where young people feel a sense of belonging. The home is excellently presented and respected by young people and staff reflecting the car and attention it has been shown. As a result, young people take more pride in their belongings and the home in which they live.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people are safe in a home where they know staff will protect them from harm. They are well behaved and do not engage in any risk taking behaviour. Behaviour management plans identify the risks and vulnerabilities of young people and what support they need to protect them from harm. As a result, young people remain safe from the risk of abuse and previous risk taking behaviour demonstrated is no longer an issue.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people rarely require the use of physical intervention. A young person said, ‘It has been over a year since I had to be restrained’. Behaviour is well managed. Praise and rewards are offered to encourage positive behaviour. For example, verbal praise is given when young people show consideration and kindness to others or when they 8 of 10 help staff with general house chores. This helps young people to manage their behaviour. As a result, young people take responsibility for their actions and learn how to divert their negative feelings in a positive way.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The process for recruitment is robust and ensures any potential new candidates are fully vetted before they begin working with young people. This protects them from unsuitable candidates having access to them. There has been no external recruitment of new staff. Young people are provided support from staff that has remained consistent in the team; most for many years. This keeps them safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The environment is safe and young people take part in regular fire drills. Some staff have not had their fire safety training refreshed but do take part in regular fire drills. The home undertakes regular health and safety monitoring to maintain a safe environment to keep all that live, work and visit the home safe.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The home is extremely successful because the team is managed by a dedicated Registered Manager who is passionate about the delivery of exceptional quality of care and improved outcomes for young people. The manager has been in place since 2000, and has a degree in Management and Social Science. Since the last inspection the home has not received any complaints. The home continues to run effectively and efficiently. Young people respect the staff and love the home they live in. The staff are loyal, dedicated and committed in supporting the manager.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The manager believes the success of the home is a result of a diverse and stable staff team. There is a good mix of age, gender and cultural backgrounds within the team. For example, some staff that have experience with traveling families share their knowledge of the travelling community culture. This has helped strengthen community links and joint working has helped to keep young people safe.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Young people thrive in a successfully well-managed home where the focus is on providing a child-centred service where care is delivered with passion. Staffing levels are appropriate; effective planning ensures young people’s needs are met. Staff have excellent relationships with the manager built on trust over a continuous period of time. Staff receive excellent support on a day-to-day basis from the manager, through team meetings, supervision and appraisal.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The team know they are improving the care young people receive. A staff member said, ‘We know we do a good job because young people keep in touch when they leave and on occasion have come back to us’.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The home is monitored in relation to the Regulation 33 visits which provide a detailed overview of the service. The manager effectively monitors and evaluates the home by completing a regular quality assurance monitoring review. As a result, the home 9 of 10 has a robust development plan in place that outlines the key strengths and weaknesses. This means objectives set are met within timescales and action is taken to implement change where there are shortfalls.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The development of the home is outlined in a plan. It identifies specific targets to ensure the home continues to improve. It is a working document that is reviewed regularly.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Staff take care to protect information and keep records stored in lockable cabinets in a locked staff office. Records in the home are kept and maintained to a high standard, providing confidentiality of sensitive information. This means only authorised personnel gain access to young people’s records.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Notifications to Ofsted are sent in a timely manner and in line with Regulations. This keeps information sharing up to date and transparent.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Young people and staff show a high regard for the environment they live and work in and take great pride in maintaining it. The home is warm and welcoming, excellently presented and cared for. As a result, young people thrive in a place that is nurturing, homely and safe. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management outstanding

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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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