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

Unique reference number SC008269 Inspector Phillip Morris Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Care Today (Children's Services) Ltd Registered person address Lansdowne House 85 Buxton Road STOCKPORT Cheshire SK2 6LR Responsible individual Vivien Anne Snape Registered manager Carol Beadman Date of last inspection 20/11/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 27/02/2015

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Previous inspection good 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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

The home is making a positive difference to the lives of young people. Effective quality care enables young people to achieve good outcomes in education, supported by excellent school attendance. Their health needs are met including completion of annual health assessments, access to dentists and opticians. This ensures health surveillance remains at the heart of good care practice.

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This inspection

Young people are supported and nurtured by the Registered Manager and staff to develop hobbies and interests. For example, one young person is keen on fishing, whilst another young person enjoys needle and craft work. As a result, young people’s confidence in their own abilities and skills is increased. A social worker commented ‘the young person has made exceptional progress since being placed in the home; I and the professional group have seen a clear improvement in confidence and self-esteem’.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection one young person has left the home. This was a planned discharge. The home worked collaboratively with other services to ensure the transition went smoothly and key information was shared. This avoids any destabilising effect on young people’s progress.

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This inspection

Integration in the local community is a key priority for this home. Good relationships with neighbours, using local resources, building and maintaining relationships locally assist young people to become part of the community.

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This inspection

There is an experienced Registered Manager supported by a stable and committed staff group. Members of staff receive regular supervision and are accountable in their work with young people. The training and development of staff in managing behaviour, safeguarding, equality and diversity is a priority. As a result, young people are better cared for and protected by staff members who are better informed 3 of 5 about how to keep them safe.

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This inspection

Recruitment and Retention of staff members is good, with robust recruitment processes in place. This helps to minimise the possibility of young people being abused by those in a position of trust.

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This inspection

The home does not use agency staff. Sufficiency of cover is met by the current staff group. If required, the home can call upon the services of bank staff. This ensures that young people receive consistency of care by those with whom they have established relationships.

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This inspection

The home has a quality assurance process; ensuring monthly reports regarding the conduct of the home are completed by an independent person. In addition, the Registered Manager completes a report every three months and sets out an action plan for ongoing development. This demonstrates the home strives for continuous improvement which benefits young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager has responded to the recommendation that was raised at the last inspection. She has reviewed training and assessments in respect of fire safety. Additionally, the home was visited by the local fire officer.

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This inspection

Young people are safeguarded and their needs met through the Registered Manager and staff working with the local authority, health and education. There have been instances when young people have placed themselves at risk of harm by going missing and engaging in risk taking behaviour. In response, the home has acted promptly and worked in accordance with the local safeguarding board missing from care policy.

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This inspection

The home is warm with a caring atmosphere. The fabric of the house is homely and inviting and is maintained to a good standard. This means young people feel proud and value their home.

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This inspection

Young people have positive relationships with members of staff who know and care for them well. The young people are nurtured, their strengths promoted by a staff group who are proud of young people’s achievements. They benefit from clear routines and structure and positive praise is balanced against consequences for poor behaviour.

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This inspection

There is effective partnership working between agencies. Regular meetings take place, reviewing the young people’s care plans. The views of all agencies involved with young people are taken into account and the plans for young people updating accordingly. 4 of 5

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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

20/11/2014 Full good 24/03/2014 Interim satisfactory progress 10/01/2014 Full good 27/11/2012 Interim good progress 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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