Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC049189 1 SC049189 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home is part of a private social care company.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has addressed all of the requirements made at the last full inspection and demonstrates strong leadership. Improvements have been made in relation to young people’s behaviour management plans, ensuring that staff know how to support the young people to develop socially aware behaviour. All of the young people’s case records now include all of the information required by regulation and this supports the work that staff carry out with the young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The local area risk assessment has been updated and is clear about the potential risks posed by a nearby children’s home and issues within the local community. This review of the premises and location of the home ensures that the young people are protected when out in the community. There are longer-term plans to move the home to Inspection report children’s home: SC049189 2 alternative premises.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection, the home has experienced a period of stability. Young people say that this home is a good place to live. They like it here because staff care for them well, take time to get to know them and understand who they are and what is important to them. Young people clearly feel valued. One young person told the inspector, ‘This is definitely the best care home I have ever lived in,’ and, referring to the manager and staff, he says, ‘You will never meet anyone so funny, but yet supportive and caring.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

No young people have moved out from the home and one young person has been accommodated in the home. This was a planned move and took into consideration the impact and compatibility of the young people living in the home. The current young people living in the home all get on well with each other and are making very good progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the young people living at the home are making remarkable progress in respect of their educational development. The registered manager has sourced and supported creative educational opportunities for the young people, either at the home or at college, in order to support all areas of learning and development for the young people. However, one young person recently accommodated is not attending school or alternative educational provision and, although funding has been agreed, this delay may have a negative impact on the young person’s future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The success of the staff in maintaining meaningful relationships with the young people is indicated by the low incidents of physical restraint. The young people’s behaviour is not a concern for the staff. The staff and registered manager review all interventions and discuss them in depth with the young people so that their input into preferred methods is considered. This ensures that the young people feel safe if an intervention is undertaken and have time to reflect on and improve their behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe in the home and they know how to keep themselves safe when they are out of the home. This is because the young people learn to manage any worrying or potentially risky behaviours with the support and guidance from staff. The young people respond very well to the frequent and focused key-work sessions that are held with them. The young people trust the manager and the staff team and they feel able to share any concerns or issues with them openly. This contributes to the fact that no complaints have been made by the young people or neighbours, and there have been no safeguarding concerns about the young people since the last inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have implemented agreed procedures to reduce incidents of young people going missing or being absent from the home. Each evening and in line with the young people’s daily activity planners, the staff collect the young people from either their family or their friends and return them safely back to the home. Where young people’s previous risks were high in relation to absconding, these have now reduced to low risk, and the staff know where the young people are and do not have any concerns about the young people’s welfare when they are away from the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC049189 3 There is a strong focus on supporting each young person’s relationship with their family. For example, the registered manager provides financial assistance for food to parents when young people return home for visits and has supported a parent to secure better accommodation. As a result, young people are continuing to have positive contact with

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is inspirational, ambitious and experienced. He has managed the home for some considerable time and is fully aware of the home’s and the staff’s strengths or where improvements need to be made. The home is meeting its objectives in line with the statement of purpose and the staff at the home remain consistent, feel supported and are trained in their practice. This means that young people receive continuity of care and have a sense of belonging. The registered manager consistently monitors staff practice and young people’s progress. This gives him and the staff team a good understanding of the outcomes being achieved by the young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to be a strong advocate for the young people in his care. He continues to effectively use other professionals including mentors to support young people’s care plans and to enable them to have access to the services they need to make progress. He is not afraid to challenge professionals when he does not agree with decisions, and he places the young people’s needs at the centre of the work that staff carry out with them.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 18/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Children should be in full-time education while they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full-time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates that this is not in their best interests. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.14) Inspection report children’s home: SC049189 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: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC049189 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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