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 outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Children and young people receive individualised care and support. They benefit from stability in their placement, and the vast majority are making exceptionally positive progress. Staff have high aspirations for all of the young people. This helps them to develop emotionally, forming positive attachments built on mutual respect and trust. All young people said that they enjoy their placement at the home and are confident that, if they have any concerns, they can speak with staff, who will help them to resolve and address these. One young person said, ‘This home is really good. It has made a great difference to me and helped me to build on my relationship with my family.’ Placement planning documentation details the support that young people require and how this will be facilitated. Plans are reviewed on a regular basis with the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

young people, to reflect on progress made and on further areas for ongoing development. Staff advocate well for young people to ensure that they have access to appropriate resources to support their development. This is particularly evident in connection with education attendance. An example of this includes one young person who, prior to living at the home, had poor attendance at school. Following his move, an education placement took some time to find due to funding arrangements between the respective agencies. The staff supported his education in the home and advocated for an appropriate education placement to support him to have the opportunity to learn in a school environment with peers. As a result, he is in full-time education and has an excellent level of attendance. This has been duplicated for another young person who has recently arrived at the home. He said, ‘It’s good because the staff don’t give up and have encouraged me to attend.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This is helping me to build up my confidence, address my anger issues and have a goal to work towards.’ Transitional arrangements for young people moving into the home are good. Whenever possible, the manager visits the young person, completes an initial assessment and provides them with information about the home and what it will be like for them. She takes into account the other resident young people and matches placements well. Young people said that this helped them to feel less apprehensive about their move. The other young people also make every effort to welcome new young people arriving at the home. This support has helped the group of young people to form strong relationships from an early stage. The staff are vigilant to any sign of bullying, and there is zero tolerance of this in the home. One young person who previously was making good progress is beginning to outgrow the home and the other young people. He wishes to move back nearer to his home

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and is not wishing to work in partnership with staff. However, he remains complimentary about the home and the support that he has received. The manager is requesting a meeting with the placing authority to help the young person to move from the home in a positive and effective way. The manager has good monitoring systems in place and is responsive to the independent monitoring to ensure that the home provides effective support and experiences for the young people. Regular staff meetings enable staff to discuss and reflect on outcomes and their contribution to these. They are all enthusiastic and said that the manager provides them with strong and inspirational leadership. One member of staff said, ‘I have worked in children’s homes for a number of years and I can honestly say this home is a good place to work. I look forward to coming into work and helping to make a difference for all our young people.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When there are concerns about the safety and welfare of young people, staff follow agreed protocols to minimise these. If a young person is missing from home, staff make every attempt to contact them, go out looking in the local area and notify all relevant people. When young people return, they are welcomed back and have the opportunity to discuss any issues with the staff, manager and an independent person to the home. The number of incidents when young people have been missing have reduced over a period of time. This reinforces the young people’s feeling safe and valued by staff. Significant incidents are generally managed well, and the manager notifies relevant safeguarding agencies to make sure that action is taken to protect the young people. However, one recent significant incident was notified to the majority of agencies, but the manager did not send the information to the regulator as required by regulation. This does not enable full oversight by the regulator. The

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

documentation inspected in relation to this incident was completed, and there were suitable support strategies in place to safeguard the young person. Staff work in partnership with other professionals and parents, unless there are any restrictions in place. This is evident in the support provided to one young person and his family when, previously, relationships had become difficult. Staff working with the family and young person have supported the re-building of the relationships by consistent approaches to care and understanding boundaries. As a result of this, there are plans for this young person to return to live with his family. The parent was very complimentary about the support provided. She said, ‘The staff have been wonderful. They have been available to discuss things with me at any time of the day or night. This has helped [Name] and me to re-build our relationship and I am looking forward to his return and future.’ The recent review

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

also reflected on the progress that the young person has made with the support of the home. The manager has taken action to address the requirement made at the full inspection in October. This was in relation to ensuring that full details for all staff recruitment are in place, including references from previous employment.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 Interim Declined in 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

40(4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; (c) there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; (d) a child protection enquiry involving a child— (i) is instigated; or (ii) concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)) 06/04/2017

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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 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

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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