Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1263505 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

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Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good

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Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Good

Date of last inspection: Not applicable. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Not applicable. Inspection report children’s home: 1263505 2

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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

The health and well-being standard is that— the health and well-being needs of children are met; In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff help each child to— achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding; take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10(1)(a)(2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) This is in relation to understanding the healthcare plans for new admissions to the home. 29/06/2018

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report children’s home: 1263505 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress, with evidence of some excellent progress in their emotional health and well-being. A social worker reported: ‘I have found the home very good. They have the children at the centre of what they do.’ Staff provide a nurturing and empathetic environment. Staff support children to build trusting relationships and this contributes to good outcomes for children. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of children’s needs. Children make progress in many areas of their development, including their social and emotional development and in their communication skills. Children contribute to how their cultural, religious and dietary needs are met. Children and families are supported to maintain positive and meaningful contact arrangements. Communication with key agencies is good. A relative of one child said: ‘The home always lets me know what is happening.’ Children make good progress educationally, particularly considering their starting

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

points. One child has been supported to maintain their educational placement despite this being at some distance from the home. Some children have significant health needs. Staff do not always ensure that key health information is recorded in healthcare plans. A requirement is made in relation to this.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The management team ensures that robust safeguarding processes are in place and that staff understand these processes. The manager prioritises safeguarding children. He understands the specific vulnerabilities of the children living at the home. Thorough plans and risk assessments contribute to a reduction in challenging behaviours. A team approach is taken to reviewing plans. Staff understand that a sound knowledge of each child’s method of communication is key to reducing incidents in the home. Staff work hard to develop children’s communication skills. Children live in a safe and secure environment. Regular checks of the premises and robust maintenance ensure that avoidable risks are managed. Children at the home do not go missing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post for several months and has several years’ Inspection report children’s home: 1263505 4 experience of working in similar settings. He is approachable and accessible and offers high levels of direct support to the team. Staff feel valued and well supported by the manager. The manager has prioritised building a stable staff team. He has also been proactive in seeking out an independent visitor who is experienced and knowledgeable in the field of learning disability services. The manager offers staff the opportunity to reflect on their practice and to debrief. The manager sometimes makes difficult decisions when considering the best risk management options for all children. This includes ending a placement when it is clear that continuing the placement is no longer in a child’s best interests. Recruitment processes are excellent. An example of this is recruiting a member of

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

staff who speaks the same first language as a child at the home. The child’s social worker said: ‘They went over and above by recruiting a staff member who speaks the child’s first language. This was really good.’ Staff receive regular supervision. They have staff meetings and training opportunities. The skills and knowledge of the staff would be enhanced if they were provided with specific training tailored to the needs of the children in the home, for example autistic spectrum disorder awareness. A recommendation is made in respect of this.

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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

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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1263505 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 32 Anglesey Business Centre, Anglesey Road, Burton-On-Trent DE14 3NT

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Inspector

Bev Allison, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1263505 6 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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