Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1263837 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

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 two children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered in October 2017. This is the home’s first full inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 1263837 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The dedicated staff team provides a level of care that promotes exceptional outcomes for children. Children are making outstanding progress.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Professionals and parents spoke highly of their relationships with the manager and staff, and of the progress made by children. An education representative said, ‘The staff go above and beyond in their roles. I’ve been very impressed with them.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is a robust ‘team around the child’ approach. The staff team is involved in initial and ongoing assessments of children, and the subsequent plans are based on research- informed practice.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are maintaining educational placements and, on the whole, are making excellent progress.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported exceptionally well with their emotional health and well-being needs. A child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) worker said, ‘Staff are always looking for the best possible way to support the young person.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop excellent, trusting relationships with staff. A young person said, ‘The staff here are nice. It’s a nice home. I can tell staff about everything.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop independence skills that prepare them for being adults. Children’s progress is recognised and rewarded. There is evidence of consistently high levels of support through key-working and direct-work sessions.

p.2

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

Risks to young people are well known and understood. Highly effective risk assessments and plans contribute to a reduction in risk-taking behaviours. Children are supported, wherever possible, to take safe and appropriate risks in line with their care plans and developmental needs.

p.2

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

The registered manager has been highly effective in information sharing to ensure that appropriate care-planning decisions are made that are in the best interests of the children.

p.2

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

There have been recent challenges within the home. Staff have continued to place the well-being of children at the centre of their practice, despite these challenges.

p.2

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

Concerns are appropriately investigated and referred to relevant professionals. The registered manager has been influential in improving the processes for managing incidents of children missing from home within the region, in collaboration with relevant agencies. Inspection report children’s home: 1263837 3 Staff undertake a broad range of training in safeguarding matters. Safeguarding is a thread throughout staff supervisions, team meetings and induction practice.

p.2

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is passionate, motivational and nurturing. She leads an equally passionate staff team.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team provides child-centred, holistic care, and there is a strong sense of a shared ethos.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is assertive in working with other agencies to gain all the information needed to support children’s care plans and to implement them. The manager and staff are excellent advocates for children.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers know the strengths and weakness of the home and act quickly to address any shortfalls or areas for development.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The monitoring and review of plans are exceptional. Managers and staff are able to track children’s progress through behaviour management plans and through the theory-based model of care.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager speaks passionately about utilising a secure-base model to stabilise and manage children’s behaviour.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff work creatively to enable young people to be involved in a number of fulfilling experiences. One young person is involved in regular voluntary work within the local community.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Training, staff supervision and team meetings are structured, recorded well and take place regularly. Staff feel able to share their experiences, and they respect the registered manager. Inspection report children’s home: 1263837 4

p.3

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 difference 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.

p.4

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: 1263837 5

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

p.5

Children’s home details

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

p.5

Inspector:

Bev Allison, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1263837 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.5

Inspector:

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.6

Inspector:

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.6

Inspector:

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.6