Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC025714 1 SC025714 Registered provider: The Together Trust Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home offering care and accommodation for five children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Date of last inspection: 8 November 2017

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Judgement at last inspection: good

Enforcement action since last inspection: N/A

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress at this home. Since the last inspection on 8 November 2017, there have been no young people discharged from the home. The home admitted a fourth young person on 26 January 2018. Likewise, there have been no changes in the staff team. This means that young people are cared for by a well- formed and consistent staff team.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care planning is consistently good. Young people’s needs are regularly reviewed and their individual plans adapted to meet their changing needs. Since the last inspection, staff and young people are spending more time developing individual plans and evaluating their effectiveness. Consequently, young people gain a sense of control about the decisions made in their lives and are more confident in making suggestions to further develop their plans. Furthermore, young people provide written feedback to Interim inspection report children’s home: SC025714 2 managers and staff through monthly consultation documents. This information provides a clear appraisal of where the young people feel they are making good progress, the reasons why and where they feel they need additional help. Young people and staff are visibly working together to achieve better outcomes.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Educational attendance and achievement are further improved. All young people are now receiving full-time education and are provided with additional support where required. One young person has been reintegrated into mainstream secondary school and is achieving well. She has 100% attendance and has established a positive friendship group. A new admission to the home is being supported to maintain his placement at primary school. This ensures that the young person maintains links with teachers he has relationships with and his current friendship group. Two young people are preparing to complete their education and commence apprenticeships in computing and building skills, respectively. A social worker said, ‘The staff promote excellent relationships between the home and school.’ As a result, young people view education as part of their daily lives and aspire to make progress. Consequently, young people’s life chances are

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, staff have worked extremely hard to build trusting relationships with some of the young people’s family members. This has been successful. Consequently, all young people are now having regular contact with family members and were also supported to spend time with their families during the festive period. Contact plans are regularly revised and updated to ensure that young people receive the most appropriate support to aid successful and positive contact.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people live in a home that has a calm and relaxed atmosphere. The consistent staff team means that young people and staff form trusting relationships. A social worker said, ‘This is a lovely environment. The key worker is clearly committed to the young person. I have observed excellent relationships between them.’ Another social worker commented, ‘I am so impressed with the commitment of the staff at the home. I have observed wonderful relationships between all the staff and young people.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recreational activities are encouraged and supported within this home. Staff promote community friendships and this enables young people to form friendships outside of the home and begin to feel part of their community. Young people take part in individual activities such as horse riding, fencing and attending the gym. In-house activities such as baking, arts and crafts and electronic games are available to all young people. The home offers ample space for young people to play as a group or individually.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most young people come to live at this home with a history of risk-taking behaviours. Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents requiring a significant incident notification. Additionally, there have been no incidents of physical intervention, young people being missing or other risk-taking behaviours. Individual risk assessments are completed and continue to be regularly reviewed and monitored. This ensures that staff maintain a consistent approach to the effective care and management of young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management is consistent. Individual behaviour management plans highlight Interim inspection report children’s home: SC025714 3 triggers for unacceptable behaviour and identify simple strategies for staff to manage instances of challenging behaviour in a positive and productive way. Staff understand young people, their individual personalities, likes and dislikes. This coupled with trusting relationships enables staff and young people to work together to address problematic behaviours and make positive and lasting change.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people know how to make a complaint. Written information is provided within the young people’s children’s guide and information displayed in the home, including external helpline numbers. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, three recommendations were made to further improve practice. The manager and staff have made good progress in addressing these areas. For example, all young people now attend the most appropriate educational setting and consultation with young people has been further developed to enhance the working relationships between staff and young people. Furthermore, the manager has made contact with the looked after children’s nurse and is awaiting confirmation of their availability in order to proceed. Developing relationships with external healthcare services will provide young people with professional advice and support on the topics prevalent to teenagers today, including sexual health or substance misuse for example. This recommendation is partially met and therefore is restated at this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/11/2017 Full Good 30/03/2017 Interim Not judged 22/12/2016 Interim Not judged 19/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the staff have sufficient understanding of the relevant health services, including the functions of the designated nurse for looked after children in the area. They should support children to navigate these services, advocating on their behalf where necessary and appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.8) Interim inspection report children’s home: SC025714 4

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

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

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1JE

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC025714 5 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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