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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress from their individual starting points due to the well-planned care they receive from a stable staff team, which isskilled in working with young people who have disabilities. Parents are consistently positive about the progress young people make in areas such as self-feeding, communication and behaviour. One parent commented that ‘X is acquiring more skills. Her communication has improved and she is much calmer.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no admissions or discharges since the last inspection. The manager is proactive at challenging the local authority to ensure that plans for transitions into adult provision do not drift. Staff utilise their experience and knowledge of working with young people who have autism to ensure that transitions are managed in a way which ensures young people’s needs are central to the process. For example, staff have identified that a transition for one young person is better to take place after the summer holiday period due to an identified seasonal impact on the young person’s behaviour. Consequently, transitions are well planned and centred on each young person’s individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff promote young people’s health and well-being by ensuring that young people have up-to-date health plans as well as specific risk individual risk assessments for health needs such as epilepsy. This ensures that staff have a good understanding of young people’s health needs. As a result, staff are quick to identify any health concerns and ensure that young people receive prompt medical assistance when necessary. Staff take effective action when they identify issues which affect a young person’s well-being. For example, an epilepsy mat was obtained for one young person who was being kept awake by night-time monitoring by staff. This has meant that staff can still monitor him for seizures but he also gets a good night’s sleep.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have an excellent understanding of young people’s individual needs and interests and, as a result, young people are engaged in activities that they enjoy, such as attending the silver Duke of Edinburgh’s award camps, going on walks or volunteering at a day centre. Consequently, young people have the opportunity to develop new skills and develop social relationships with other young people. Staff are proactive at obtaining young people’s views though the use of the pictorial exchange system, which means that young people make active choices in their day-to-day lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe in this home. There have been no allegatio and young people tendnot go missing due to high staffing levels and the young people`s developmental stage. Behavioural incidents and restraint have reduced significantly since the last inspection, highlighting how staff use their skills and understanding of the young people’s behaviours and triggers to de-escalate situations effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work collaboratively with professionals and parents to ensure that young people receive consistency across all areas of their lives. This is particularly important for young people who live in the home on a shared-care basis. Staff ensure regular communication with home and school. For example, staff have worked closely with school staff on transitions for one young person, to minimise confusion and distress to a young person at the end of the school day. This ensures consistency and routine for young people across all areas of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and management team are child-focused and very committed to developing practice within the home and wider organisation. The manager is currently developing an introduction to autism training course for staff, and the home has recently undertaken accreditation with the national autistic society. The manager has ensured that the two requirements from the last inspection are met. All staff have now attained the required qualifications and there is a system in place to ensure that agency staff have the relevant knowledge, skills and experience to meet the needs of the young people they are working with. The recommendation in respect of risk assessments is also met, with these being shared and signed by the young person’s social worker. This demonstrates the manager’s ability to take effective action to improve practice and a commitment to the continued development of the home.

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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.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/12/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/12/2015 Full Good 23/02/2015 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 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. Whenever 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 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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