Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . There have been no new admissions or placement closures since the last inspection. The young person that lives at the home benefits from the safety, security and stability that this placement provides. The young person continues to make good progress taking into account their individual starting points across all aspects of their welfare and physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. The young person knows how to make a complaint and their complaints are addressed effectively by staff. The young person has access to an advocate who can make representations, if needed, on their behalf. The young person has positive relationships with staff who provide them with stability and consistency in their lives. They benefit from well-planned, highly individualised care that promotes

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their needs effectively and leads change and improvement in their lives. The home has met and addressed the recommendations from the previous inspection. New staff are now in the process of being recruited, and every possible effort is made to provide the young person with continuity of care. This ensures that the young person’s attachments are not unnecessarily or unduly disrupted. The manager has involved the young person in the annual appraisal of staff practice. Consequently, they have an improved understanding of the quality of the relationships that exist between young people and staff. Comments the young person made about staff included: ‘Nice to be around. Good role model. Can be funny. Good company and someone I can trust.’ The young person described the home as being ‘fun with nice staff’. The young person reported, ‘I like the care. Good assistant and manager. I would rate the home nine and a half out of ten …

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

I’ve improved my manners, social skills and staff are consistent.’ The young person benefits from a physically safe, appropriately secure, warm, comfortable and homely environment. They feel actively involved in key decisions because staff enable them to contribute to and influence the running of the home. The young person assists staff with the food shopping, cooking and preparation of meals and the general upkeep of the home. They have also been actively involved in the home’s recent and ongoing redecoration. The young person has developed a sense of permanence and belonging. Staff promote the young person’s positive behaviour and help them to resolve and manage their conflicts positively. They understand the triggers for the young person’s behaviour and are consistent in their behaviour management approach. They have a good understanding of the young person’s specific needs and vulnerabilities and take appropriate action to address them. The use of sanctions is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

kept to an absolute minimum and restraint, if used at all, is only ever used to protect the young person from harm. Allegations of abuse are handled quickly and professionally by trained and competent staff. Staff maintain effective partnerships with the police, social workers and all other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety and well-being of young people. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities to ensure that young people benefit from effective help, protection and support. The young person is kept safe and has developed a strong sense of personal safety. The performance of the home is scrutinised effectively each month. An independent person scrutinises the home’s practices and makes an impartial judgement about the quality of the young person’s care and the arrangements to safeguard them and promote their well-being. In addition to the home’s internal monitoring activities, there are effective systems to ensure that the strengths of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the home are understood, and that its weaknesses are identified so that managers and leaders can take appropriate action to secure improvement. There are effective systems for reviewing and improving the standard and quality of young people’s care. There are no breaches in regulation. Consequently, there are no requirements or recommendations made as a result of this interim inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional, behavioural and/or learning disabilities. The home is privately owned and managed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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 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 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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