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

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged ‘good’ at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was ‘not judged’. The home is not currently providing accommodation to young people. At the last interim inspection, the home received a judgement of sustained effectiveness, and no actions or recommendations were set. Two young people have moved on in the last few months. As there are no young people present, a proportionate inspection has been completed, the purpose of which is to decide whether, should an admission be made, the service would be able to work to a satisfactory standard.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. There is a well-qualified and experienced manager in place. She is supported by a stable staff team. The deputy manager has recently moved to another home within the company. Recent interviews for this position have not been successful. The manager said that the applicants did not have the experience that they were looking for. Therefore, they have advertised again and they are also considering promoting from within the company. Two young people have moved on successfully to new identified placements. Both young people had good transition plans in place. These enabled the home to move them quickly, when concerns about being able to keep them safe in the community arose. Both young people were able to visit their new placements prior to moving, and have remained in touch with the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has recently been redecorated and furnished after some damage. The home’s environment is physically safe and secure, taking account of the needs and characteristics of the young people. The home’s utilities, fire and insurance certificates are all within date and checked annually. This ensures that young people are physically safe in their environment, which is homely and ready to accept new referrals. The home provides a healthy environment where young people are able to access the services and support that they need to meet their physical, emotional and psychological health needs. The home has good contacts with a range of medical professionals, should a young person require additional support. The home has a clear complaints procedure and recording system. There have been several complaints from the neighbours about disruption in the community, allegedly arising from the home. The manager has worked hard with the local

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

police to resolve these issues. There is a clear account of all the action taken by the home and councillors from the local authority agree that the home has taken appropriate action to address all issues.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Prior to the young people leaving the home, there were some incidents of their being reported missing from the home. However, there are clear policies and procedures in place for when young people go missing. Records maintained by the home show that robust action was taken following all incidents. In addition to this, members of staff demonstrated that they knew the procedure to follow and had the welfare of the young people at the heart of their practice. The manager ensured that return interviews took place to ascertain why young people went missing. Further work was undertaken with the young people, to highlight the concerns and the risks that they put themselves at when going missing from the home. In this way, young people were protected as far as possible and were responded to positively on their return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were several incidents when young people were held for their own or others’ safety. Any incident of restraint is sensitively and appropriately followed up in discussion and reflection with the young person concerned, and all incidents of restraint are accurately and clearly recorded. The manager monitors the use and incidence of restraint, and takes appropriate action as a result of such monitoring, to reduce its use whenever possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive regular supervision, and they said that it is of a good quality. The home has a comprehensive training matrix, which includes substantial training in relation to young people’s health needs as well as mandatory refresher training that is completed annually. Staff meetings are held regularly and provide a forum in which to discuss plans for young people, concerns, strategies and practice issues. This demonstrates that all members of staff are well supported and have a range of opportunities to discuss the quality of care provided in the home. The home monitors its efficiency through regular regulation 44 visits and regulation 45 monitoring. The home has a development plan in place and it is updated regularly. All significant events relating to the protection of children accommodated in the home are notified by the registered manager to the appropriate authorities, and necessary actions are taken following incidents. This demonstrates that leaders

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and managers routinely make good use of a range of rigorous monitoring activities relating to the quality of care provided, in order to improve outcomes for young people. However, the home’s statement of purpose requires some revising. In general, it is a good document that clearly shows the ethos and care provided at the home. However, the complaints section is not clear. It states that young people may contact their independent reviewing officer or Ofsted ‘if allowed’. All young people should be able to independently contact these people, if they wish to. The manager said that this was an oversight and confirmed that all young people have access to these avenues through which to raise concerns.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

11/09/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

16: Statement of purpose (3) The registered person must (a) keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and (b) notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. 31/12/2016

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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 that 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 whom 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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