Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Improved effectiveness . The home continues to be managed by an inspirational manager, who is committed to securing exceptional outcomes for young people living at the home. The manager ensures the individual needs of the young people are prioritised by the whole staff team. She effectively monitors practice to ensure the staff team are working to support young people, and that young people are making continued progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Excellent relationships are fostered between individual staff members and young people. This is because the manager works to ensure that the staff team remains constant in the home. As a result, young people and staff know each other well and share a mutual respect for each other. Both the young people and individual staff members say they enjoy spending time together. One young person commented: ‘I love the staff here, particularly X she really cares about me and she makes sure I am ok.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the two shortfalls which were raised at the last inspection. Action has been taken to replace the hazards identified in the bathroom. The manager has agreement for further bathroom renovations, which will improve the overall decoration of the home. Since the last inspection, the programme of re-decoration of the home has started, this decoration has improved the environment significantly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has also improved fire safety in the home since the last inspection. She has had installed self-closing devices on fire doors in the home, this means doors can now be safely left open which provides an open and homely feel to the house.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have now been given the opportunity to share their views regarding staff, which is forming part of annual appraisals. This feedback is being used constructively by the manager to share areas of strengths and for development with staff, providing a more holistic approach to the appraisal process. Young people continue to make excellent progress, given their individual starting points. They have excellent attendance and are enjoying improved outcomes. As a result of good communication both education staff and home staff are following the same behaviour management strategies. The sharing of information is supporting the young people with consistent and fair boundaries and routines. This supports young people to remain stable and settled both at home and school. Consequently placing social workers comment positively on the placement and say: ‘X has made excellent progress I think the staff team go above and beyond.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall I am very pleased with the placement.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team receive regular and on-going support from the manager, they say the manager supports them to grow as professionals and provides opportunities to learn and develop. For one experienced member of staff this has enabled them to be a mentor to a new member of staff; supporting them to learn about the role and the individual young people living at the home. Team meetings, regular supervision and daily detailed handovers ensure support is in place and staff have an arena in which to share any concerns and/ or ideas for improvement and development. This level of communication ensures consistency in practice and consequently supports young people to feel secure and settled in the placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are clear safeguarding policies and procedures for staff to follow in the event of any allegation, suspicion of abuse or unsafe practice. Allegations are handled in line with procedure, and support both the young person and the members of staff involved. When young people make allegations, which they later re-tract the manager ensures that they understand the possible consequences of making false allegations. This supports the young people to understand and reflect on their behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff team develop excellent links with families and supporting professionals. They are committed to working in partnership to ensure young people are very well supported and continue to make good progress while living at the home and into adulthood. Young people continue to enjoy spending time with family members and friends; this has resulted in positive time spent at the home and at their family homes, supported by staff where necessary to safeguard both young people and family members. For one young person, since the last inspection, this has meant having sleep overs at the home and at their friend’s house. This supports positive peer relationships and helps to cement friendships.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children and young people. The young people may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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