Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people make good progress in all areas of their lives; staff are fully aware of young people’s needs and care plans and are dedicated to providing a high level of personalised care.  Parents have confidence in the care staff provide and they praise the staff for the relationships they have fostered with their children and themselves. Parents confirm that they are fully consulted and involved in the decisions that affect their children’s lives and are enthusiastic about the progress their children make. One parent said: ‘(Name) was like a wild animal, they did not understand what was happening around them. Since they have moved into the home full time, they have changed. (Name) is now a massive, gentle giant.’  An experienced and suitably qualified leadership team, lead the staff who are provided with good support, supervision and training, to ensure they are equipped to meet the emerging needs of all young people.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The manager is dedicated to develop the care practice within the home. She uses the information from the robust monitoring systems to continue to improve the lives and experiences of young people.  Areas for the home’s development include: ensuring all young people’s care plans include a detailed and robust personal emergency evacuation plan; supporting and encouraging parents and social workers to sign young people’s placement plans and risk assessments; and supporting young people to maintain a healthy and nutritious diet.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

(1) The care planning standard is that children receive well- planned care from the home.

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Requirement Due date

This is in particular regard to ensuring that each young person’s care plan includes a thorough and up-to-date personal emergency evacuation plan which clearly identifies what actions staff should take to support young people in the event on a fire. 31/12/2015

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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 the registered person 'seeks to involve' the placing authority for the looked-after child in the home, which in practice means working primarily with their statutory social worker, and those with parental responsibility for children and young people, when compiling children's placement plans and risk assessments. This is in particular regard to supporting social workers and parents to read and sign young people’s care plans and risk assessments which are compiled within the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 11, paragraph 2.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged, supported and provided with nutritious meals and snacks. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.8)

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Information about this children's home

 The home is owned and managed by a voluntary organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have learning disabilities and autism. 

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/02/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Good

Young people benefit from an experienced and trained staff team who promote an environment to encourage and maintain positive and nurturing relationships for all young people. Young people benefit from a good level of individual care and support which ensures that all their unique and specific needs are systematically met. This enables them to make good progress in most aspects of their lives.

p.6

Good

Staff deliver good quality care and fulfil young people’s placement plans which specifically identify their individual and diverse needs. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure young people’s changing and emerging needs are consistently met. Good links with parents, social workers and education colleagues ensure that any changes to young people’s needs are quickly disseminated between all parties. This ensures a cohesive and multi-disciplinary response is provided as soon as possible to ensure young people’s changing needs are suitably met. The manager consults regularly with parents and all agencies involved in the young person’s life. Parents and social workers are routinely encouraged to sign young people’s risk assessments and placement plans, acknowledging their agreement with how their children’s care is being delivered. Furthermore, while the placement plans are detailed and thorough in the day to day management of

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Good

young people’s care, they do not include a robust and detailed fire evacuation procedure of how young people will be safely supported in the event of a fire during the evening.

p.6

Good

Staff are proactive and consistent in supporting educational achievement, opportunities and experiences of all young people. They support young people to attend school regularly and consult frequently with teachers to ensure continuity of care is provided within the school environment. Staff are proactive at addressing any difficulties that they are presented with, and are focused on identifying suitable solutions to any barriers which may impact on young people’s learning chances. For example staff support young people within the school when required and have offered additional support to young people and education colleagues in the home when adjustments to the school environment have been necessary. This supportive and cohesive approach ensures a level of consistency is maintained for young people and their learning opportunities are maximised.

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Good

Young people’s health is valued by the staff. All staff are trained in the administration of medication and first aid, and they support young people effectively with their individual medication regimes. Staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities and ensure that clear medication records are maintained. Young people’s health needs are clearly identified within their health care passports and services are in place to meet these needs. Staff work effectively with parents and a wide range of health professionals, such as the community learning disability nurse, consultants within the child and adolescent mental health teams and the specialist nurse for looked after children; ensuring young people receive the support they need as and when they require. While staff support and encourage young people to maintain a healthy, well balanced, calorie controlled diet some young people are not systematically supported to make healthy food

p.6

Good

choices. As such some young people’s weight is not consistently maintained.

p.7

Good

Young people’s sense of identity is strengthened as contact with their families is supported and facilitated well for all young people.

p.7

Good

Young people are supported to engage in new opportunities and are supported to maintain their involvement and engage in activities they enjoy. Young people attend swimming lessons regularly and are involved in community based activities which increases their social interaction; ensuring they are fully involved in the wider communities. Furthermore, some young people have enjoyed holidays and visits out to local attractions which they have been involved in identifying.

p.7

Good

Staff are committed to supporting young people increase their independent living skills and support them to gain new experiences outside of the home. For example young people have developed their abilities in preparing simple snacks, completing basic household chores and are more involved in meeting their own personal care needs, such as shaving.

p.7

Good

Young people are supported and prepared well for their transition into and out of the home. Thorough assessment and matching processes ensure young people’s needs are considered to ensure that their needs can be suitably met on the point of their admission. Furthermore this process considers those young people already living in the home to ensure minimal disruption is caused to them. As a result young people receive the correct level of care and support they require during significant periods of their lives.

p.7

Good

Young people live in a comfortable home which is personalised for their individual needs. Staff ensure that young people’s achievements are celebrated and, their pictures are displayed around the home for all to enjoy. Young people benefit from the large bedrooms; their personal belongings and photographs ensure that this space provides them with a warm, nurturing homely environment to enjoy and relax. Judgement grade

p.7

Good

Young people are increasingly safe as a result of the care that is afforded to them by managers and staff. Staff are aware of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities as they receive regular safeguarding training. They demonstrated through discussion that they have a clear understanding of their roles and the safeguarding procedures, specifically the home’s Whistle Blowing Policy.

p.8

Good

Staff are aware of young people’s particular vulnerabilities associated with their level of understanding and disability. Young people’s individual risk assessments and care plans identify the potential risks that they may face and outline effective strategies to ensure their safety is effectively promoted. Staff routinely implement these plans and can identify when young people become anxious and agitated with change and staff respond appropriately to this. For example, one member of staff was observed to interact calmly and respond to one young person who was becoming agitated during the inspection. The member of staff addressed the situation appropriately which in turn ensured the young person’s anxiety levels reduced and the behaviour subsided.

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Good

Due to the specific needs of the young people, sanctions are not used within the home. Young people are encouraged to behave in a manner that is safe for them and others. Staff consistently implement the behaviour management plans that are in place and they support young people to respond to their environment and feelings appropriately. When young people are unable to regulate their emotional responses physical interventions are used as a last resort by adequately trained staff. The records are completed fully, are evaluated by the manager within the prescribed timescales and shared with parents and placing authorities as required.

p.8

Good

The manager and senior leaders within the organisation respond swiftly to any complaints raised about the home. The manager has investigated and responded appropriately to a number of complaints which have been raised within this inspection period. There have been no safeguarding concerns or allegations against staff since the last inspection. In addition the provider's robust recruitment and employment arrangements help ensure that staff who are recruited to work with young people are safe and suitable. Furthermore a range of health and safety checks are routinely carried out to ensure young people and staff live in a physically safe environment. Judgement grade

p.8

Good

The home is managed effectively by an experienced and suitably qualified manager. She is supported by a deputy manager, one senior residential care member of staff and a consistent care team. The management and staff team demonstrate a strong commitment to providing good quality childcare, tailored to address the individual needs of each young person, as set out and the recently up- dated Statement of Purpose. The managers’ knowledge, skills and experience to provide clear leadership and management to the dedicated stable staff team is recognised by their partner agencies in improving the life experiences for all young people.

p.9

Good

There are sufficient staffing levels in the home to ensure each young person’s individual needs can be met. During the inspection young people were observed to be happy and content in the home. Staff who were spoken to talk positively about working in the home and said they feel well supported by their colleagues and manager to deliver a high standard of good quality care. The provision of training, regular supervision and annual appraisals ensure staff are appropriately supported to reflect on their experiences and share their ideas to further develop the care practice for young people, and improve the running of the home. Seven out of the ten members of staff have achieved the national vocational qualification, and suitable arrangements are in place for the three remaining staff to complete this within the required timeframe. This ensures that young people are cared for by suitably qualified and supported staff.

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Good

The progress of young people is carefully monitored. The manager regularly reviews the progress that all young people make and discusses any concerns with the relevant parties. Good relationships with parents, social workers, education providers, and health professionals ensure that the manager is able to discuss progress and share concerns appropriately. Feedback from several professionals throughout the inspection confirmed that there is effective communication with the home. A mother said: ‘Communication is great, they are always on the phone, and they remind me about any appointments and what progress (name) has made’. A Head teacher for two young people said, ' They are excellent communicators. They attend any meetings and are proactive in those meetings to ensure young people’s needs are met. We share all young people plans to ensure that they feed into each other and are consistent.’

p.9

Good

The manager uses a range of good internal and external quality audit processes to monitor the home’s operation and the progress that young people make. An independent person undertakes the monthly regulation 44 monitoring visits and provides a report of their findings to the manager and Ofsted within the prescribed time frames. The manager’s internal monitoring systems also ensure the quality of care remains under regular scrutiny and review, and the managers and staff continue to develop the services with the home for all young people.

p.9

Good

The manager effectively responds to and monitors any serious incidents to ensure appropriate action is taken. All significant events relating to the welfare and protection of young people living in the home are notified to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner.

p.10

Good

Young people’s information is stored securely and only shared with authorised persons which ensures young people's right to privacy is maintained. Their records and plans reflect their everyday lives and the work that is undertaken by the staff team.

p.10

Good

The one requirement and one recommendation raised at the last inspection have been adequately addressed. Both shortfalls relating to the manager’s evaluation of any physical interventions used and the timeliness of recording physical interventions, have now been suitably met.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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