Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC021683 1 SC021683 Registered provider: Care Today Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by an experienced registered manager who has been employed at the home since March 2007.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

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.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home currently accommodates three young people who have been in placement for over 12 months. There have been no admissions or discharges of young people since the last full inspection on 30 April 2018.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are happy and settled. They each have individual aspirations and are working well towards their agreed goals and targets. For example, one young person has recently commenced an apprenticeship as a chef. He is working towards gaining this qualification before joining the navy at 18. Another young person has commenced his second year at college studying media and graphic design, and hopes to build a career in this area. Furthermore, a young person who struggled to maintain a variety of school Inspection report children’s home: SC021683 2 placements is now attending school and making progress and maintaining friendships with peers.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Relationships between staff and young people are strong. The stable and consistent staff team works hard to develop young people’s trust and build on their individual strengths. As a result, young people can share their feelings with staff and welcome good advice and direction.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety is appropriately managed. Individual risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated, and highlight a significant decrease in risk-taking behaviours. Since the last full inspection, there have been no incidents of young people going missing. There have been no incidents involving the use of physical intervention nor any concerns relating to child protection. On occasions where a young person absented himself from the home, staff took appropriate action. This included verifying addresses, completing home visits and seeking agreement to a disclosure and barring service check. Consequently, the young person was able to spend time with his friend during the summer break without absenting himself from the home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact with family and friends is prioritised. Young people are supported to maintain contact with important people in their lives. Individual contact plans detail the support and supervision necessary to ensure that positive contact is maintained. Likewise, staff work hard to help rebuild fractured relationships. This has proved successful, with one young person now spending more time in his home community visiting family and friends.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy a variety of individual and group activities of their choice. During the summer break, they visited theme parks, took trips to the coast and spent individual time with family and staff. One young person will embark on a trip of a lifetime to India in November, with a close friend and their family. The registered manager said, ‘We want young people to grasp opportunities and build lasting, positive memories.’ Likewise, young people regularly attend pop concerts and football matches, and are encouraged and supported to build positive friendships within school and the community.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Healthcare planning is good. Young people attend routine appointments and are visited by the looked after children’s nurse. Staff support young people to review their own health and this has resulted in the significant reduction in the use of cannabis for one individual. The assistant manager said, ‘The young people are more focused, happy and can see the positives in their lives. They have all made really good progress.’

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Developing independence is a strength within this home. Young people develop self-care skills, budgeting and cooking skills and relationship-building skills. However, records of key-work sessions do not reflect the level of work and commitment provided to support young people in reaching their independence targets. The assistant manager said, ‘The staff work with the young people all the time; they don’t always recognise that what they do is making a significant impact and therefore don’t always record it.’ This is an area for further development and a recommendation is made to address this matter. Inspection report children’s home: SC021683 3 Care plans for two young people include pathway plans towards independent living. However, although written plans are in place, detailed steps as to how independent living will be successfully achieved are not recorded. In order to avoid any anxiety and disruption, the registered manager must ensure that detailed steps are agreed with the

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

young person and put in place to aid a smooth and planned transition from the home. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The premises have recently been purchased by the organisation. Funding for a full exterior and interior refurbishment has been agreed and work has commenced. At the time of the inspection, the exterior of the home was being updated. New fencing and gates have been erected, trees have been cut back and better parking facilities are now available. The registered manager aims to replace all misted double-glazed windows before the interior work commences. He said, ‘The staff and young people are really happy. We are looking at interior decor and carpets and the young people are busy designing how they would like the home to look.’ This indicates the level of ownership young people have developed in regard to their home.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/04/2018 Full Good 17/10/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/09/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that case records are maintained, kept up to date and recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3). With specific reference to records of key-work sessions.  The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9). With specific regard to two young people who are now aged 17. Inspection report children’s home: SC021683 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 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.

p.4

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.

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

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

p.4

Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC021683 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.

p.4

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 http://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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5