Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Unique reference number SC008608 Inspector Sarah Oldham Type of inspection Full 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 Gary Wood Date of last inspection 27/08/2014 2 of 9 Inspection date 04/03/2015

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Previous inspection not judged Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness good

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe good Leadership and management good

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are cared for in a small, caring and supportive environment. Their individual needs are clearly identified, and appropriate care and resources are provided to enable them to achieve improved outcomes. They are developing positive relationships with staff, taking into account the short time they have lived at the home. They say they feel safe and comfortable at the home and are being encouraged to take part in a range of activities to develop their interests.

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Overall effectiveness

All young people have detailed care plans and risk assessments. These underpin care practice and ensure that young people are cared for in accordance with their needs. These plans are reviewed on a regular basis and demonstrate individual progress made.

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Overall effectiveness

Staff work closely with placing social workers and other agencies to promote the safety and welfare of young people. Social workers speak positively of the effective communication systems in place which enables up-to-date information to be shared and appropriate action taken.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are supported with their education. Those who have not previously engaged in education have bespoke educational packages to enable them to start achieving their potential. 3 of 9 The Registered Manager demonstrates a good understanding and overview of the home, identifying strengths and areas for further development. Staff say they feel very well supported within their roles, and have access to ongoing training and development to ensure their knowledge and practice remain current.

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Overall effectiveness

As a result of this inspection, one good practice recommendation has been made. This is in relation to ensuring staff follow the home’s policies and procedures in relation to recording consistently the administration of controlled medication. 4 of 9

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation which has a number of other registered children's homes. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people, who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/08/2014 Interim not judged 07/01/2014 Full good 03/07/2013 Interim satisfactory progress 16/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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

 the management of the home ensures all staff's work is consistent with these Regulations, NMS and the homes policies and procedures. This is specifically in relation to following the homes medication policy and procedure in relation to recording controlled medication (NMS 21.3) 5 of 9

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are making good progress and are developing an understanding of their background. They are building positive, trusting relationships with the staff, taking into account the time they have lived at the home. They say they have been made to feel welcome, feel safe and well cared for. This further assists them to develop their emotional resilience, gain skills through opportunities made available which enhances their self-esteem and confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are encouraged and supported to contribute their views to their individual placement plans. This enables them to have a good understanding of their future plans and enables them to be involved in decision making

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Health care needs of young people are known and supported. They are registered with health care professionals and where additional specialist health care is required, appropriate action is taken to access this. Staff motivate young people to take an interest in their general health and wellbeing. This has contributed to them making positive choices to improve their health, which includes following healthier diets, attending medical appointments, taking part in activities and developing a greater understanding of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Attendance at education and educational based activities has also increased and further contributes to the overall life chances and educational attainment.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

The importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with parents, extended family and friends is effectively supported by staff at the home. This includes transporting young people and supervising contact arrangements. Where there are any restrictions on contact for the young person these restrictions are followed. Young people are supported to understand the safeguarding and welfare reasons for these restrictions.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Currently, young people at the home are not of an age where formal pathway plans are in place. However, young people are encouraged and supported to take an active role of how the home functions. For example; keeping their bedrooms tidy, planning menus and assisting with shopping and meal preparation. This helps them to gain skills in accordance with their age and abilities to contribute towards their future independence.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people take part in a range of leisure activities, both within the home and the local community. Examples of this include attending a local boxing club and gym. This supports them to meet other young people and widen their social circle.

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Quality of care good

6 of 9 Young people benefit from good levels of care. They have built positive relationships with the staff over a relatively short period of time. One young person said 'staff here at the home are good and helped me to settle in here well.’ Whenever possible, young people are able to visit the home prior to moving in. This gives them an oversight of the home and enables them to meet staff and get to know the ethos of the home and what they can expect from living there.

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Quality of care good

Clear communication enables young people to be aware of expectations and agreed boundaries to support them to manage their behaviour. Regular one to one sessions also enable discussion and explanation about agreements regarding expectations of positive behaviour. Young people are aware of how to make a complaint and feel any complaints would be responded to fairly. They also have access to independent advocates if they require additional advice and support. No concerns or complaints were raised during the inspection.

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Quality of care good

Individual care needs are clearly identified in placement plans, behaviour management plans and risk assessments. These plans are reviewed on a regular basis, ensuring they reflect the current needs and record the progress young people make. All young people are engaged in education. Where new placements have been made and are awaiting school placements to be identified, bespoke educational packages enable them to progress with their education as an interim measure. Health care plans form part of placement plans. Young people are registered with health care professionals and where additional specialist health care is required, appropriate action is taken to access this. All staff have received training on the promotion of health, including managing medication. However, recording of medication administration for controlled medication is recorded differently from the policy and procedure. Although there is no inaccuracies noted, this could cause confusion if the

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Quality of care good

home’s policy and procedure are not followed. Plans are discussed and shared with young people, plus their placing social workers. This enables young people to contribute their views, recognise their achievements and understand their future plans.

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Quality of care good

The home is located within a residential area, within easy access of a main town providing access to shops, leisure facilities and public transport. The home provides a comfortable and homely environment. Young people are encouraged to personalise their rooms and during the inspection, one young person discussed the plans for the redecoration of his bedroom to reflect his interests, and is going to be involved with completing this task.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Young people say they feel safe and staff help them to understand the importance of staying safe. All staff understand their role and responsibilities in maintaining the safety of young people. This is underpinned by accessing updated training both on a formal basis and also within staff meetings, where allocated time is set aside for 7 of 9 discussion and updates of safeguarding provided. This ensures all staff are aware of the procedures to follow to report any safeguarding concern.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Behaviour management strategies in place have been effective in supporting young people. The home promotes incentives for young people to achieve positive rewards. Sanctions, when made, are explained and the reason for these recorded with young people offered the opportunity to record their views. One young person said, 'the rules here are ok and I understand the reason why they are in place.'

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Keeping children and young people safe good

There have been no incidents when physical intervention has been required. Staff have received training and would only use this as a last resort to keep young people safe from harm to themselves or others.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home works in partnership with other agencies in the event of a young person missing from the home, following agreed procedures. Since the last inspection, staff have worked with young people who have a previous history of absconding, resulting in this significantly decreasing, with only one recorded short absence and procedures were followed ensuring the safe return to the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

Appropriate recruitment policies and, procedures are followed. The staff at the home have worked for the organisation for a period of time and have formed the team at this home to provide continuity of care to young people. The organisation ensures that staff are re-checked through the disclosure and barring scheme at regular intervals to ensure only suitably checked adults have contact with young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe good

The home has a range of policies and procedures to underpin practice within the home. These include location, fire, health and safety as well as individual risk assessments for young people. This contributes to the safety and welfare of young people being protected.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since 2007 and was registered with the previous regulator. He manages this home, along with two others within the local area and spends time in each home to enable him to have ongoing oversight. He holds relevant qualifications, and has the experience and knowledge to fulfil his role. The home, having been without a young person in placement, had staff deployed to the other two homes the manager is registered for. However, now this home is occupied, there is a dedicated staff team employed at the home. This team is made up from staff who have worked together within the other homes and this means they have a good knowledge of the organisation’s practice and procedures.

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Leadership and management good

Staff receive regular supervision and attend monthly team meetings. They have access to an in-house training and development plan and also undertake training 8 of 9 within staff meetings. This enables them to develop their knowledge and skills to promote positive outcomes for young people.

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Leadership and management good

The Registered Manager ensures regular updates are provided to placing social workers. One social worker commented 'although (name) has lived at the home for a short period of time, he has settled in well and there has been an improvement in behaviours, engagement with education and involvement in activities. Staff provide me with a range of information which is detailed and demonstrates positive engagement.' Another professional said 'this home is supporting the young person well and he is working well with the staff.'

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Leadership and management good

The manager undertakes regular monitoring of the home to ensure it operates in accordance with the Statement of Purpose. This document is made available to interested parties and explains the aims and objectives of the home. The young people receive a children's guide providing details of how the home operates on a day-to-day basis. In addition to monitoring by the manager, monthly visits are completed by an independent visitor. This provides the manager with additional overview of the home to ensure any shortfalls are identified and addressed. This further safeguards and supports the young people living at the home.

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Leadership and management good

There are no outstanding requirements or recommendations from the previous inspection. This demonstrates the manager and staffs commitment to improving outcomes for young people. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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