Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 1 SC025714 Registered provider: The Together Trust

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home offers care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by an experienced and qualified registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 28 to 30 November 2018

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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: 31 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 08/11/2017 Full Good 30/03/2017 Interim Not judged 22/12/2016 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 3

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Recommendations

 Local authorities have a duty under section 22(3A) of the Children Act 1989 to promote the educational achievement of their looked after children, which includes seeking a school or other education setting that is best suited to the child’s needs. The local authority’s responsibilities as a corporate parent apply wherever the child is placed (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.5). With specific regard to placing a child in an education setting closer to the children’s home.  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6). Specifically with regard to care plans, risk assessments, sanction records and key-work sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last interim inspection on 31 January 2018, two young people have made planned transitions from the home. One young person has progressed to semi- independent housing and is making good progress. Another young person has moved to a specialist service in order that her complex emotional needs can be suitably addressed. At the time of the inspection, two young people remained in placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people thrive in this home. Consistent care planning means that all aspects of the young person’s unique self are encouraged and supported to flourish in this positive and relaxed environment. Young people grow in confidence and self-esteem, and aspire to be successful in their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between young people and staff are based on mutual regard and respect. Staff listen to young people and are consistent in engaging with young people at a level they understand and respond to. Likewise, young people confirmed that they are consulted about how the home runs. Key-work sessions and young people’s meetings are used to provide opportunities for young people to express their views and opinions. However, young people do not routinely review their records or comment on the work Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 4 undertaken with them. Consequently, young people’s views about the care they receive and/or the progress they make are not captured to evaluate the effectiveness of the work undertaken with them. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall educational attendance and attainment are good. Staff work extremely hard to help young people gain the confidence and self-belief to return to school and make good progress. Young people make friends, attend after-school clubs and have joined school sports teams such as basketball teams. However, the delay in one placing authority agreeing an education provision nearer to the children’s home is resulting in excessive travel time. While the registered manager has been proactive in highlighting this concern, the authority has yet to make a decision. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the value of including families where possible in the planning of young people’s care. They work extremely hard to develop trusting relationships and promote contact wherever it is possible. This has proved to be successful, where for example, families have disengaged with local authorities and/or care professionals. Staff work hard to break down these barriers and enable families to work with the home and see their relatives. Therefore, families are central to the planning and review of the care provided for their children. Likewise, where young people do not have regular contact with important people in their lives, staff help and support them to understand why, in a safe and nurturing environment. Healthcare planning is good, young people attend routine appointments and check-ups with support from the staff team. Where additional support is required, staff now link with external agencies in order that young people can receive specialist support and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

advice. Likewise, regular visits from the children looked after nurse enable young people and staff to discuss any health concerns or queries. Planned and unplanned activities take place on a regular basis. Individual interests are well supported. Young people are provided with support and encouragement to venture out and try out new activities and hobbies. Young people attend the gym, go horse riding, visit theme parks and the cinema, and engage in basketball and bowling.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been a consistent decrease in young people being reported as absent or missing from the home. On occasions where this has occurred, detailed records highlight the effective action that has been taken to secure the safe return of the young person. However, the local authority’s arrangements for independent return home interviews are inconsistent. For example, some interviews are conducted via a telephone call and on other occasions do not take place. Consequently, the current arrangements do not support the safeguarding practice of the home. A recommendation is made to address this matter.

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

Young people’s progress is acknowledged and rewarded on a regular basis. For example, young people receive certificates, incentives and recognition for their achievements. This system is part of the home’s behaviour management programme, which focuses on Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 5 praise and reward. Likewise, staff consistently update triggers for negative behaviour, including patterns and trends, and the planned responses to such behaviour. This steadfast approach means that when young people experience difficulty in regulating their emotions, staff understand how to manage incidents appropriately.

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

Risk assessments are developed in partnership with placing social workers. On the whole, they detail the action to be taken to reduce and minimise risk, and the response to identified risk. A staff member said, ‘We review risk assessments all the time in team meetings and look at different ways of working with young people. We track young people’s progress, which demonstrates that risks are reduced.’

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

Physical intervention is rarely used in the home. Staff focus on de-escalation and redirection techniques to defuse situations. Overall, this has proved to be successful. Since the last inspection, only light touch interventions, such as guiding a young person away from a situation, have taken place. Detailed records highlight the circumstances around all interventions, and include accounts of the young people’s and staff members’ debriefs. Records are regularly reviewed, maintained and updated.

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

Young people know how to complain. Information is provided in the young people’s guide and in the organisation’s complaint document. Since the last inspection, there have been two complaints made by young people. Thorough records highlight the stringent investigation process, including the outcome. Young people are provided with one-to-one meetings to discuss the outcomes of their complaints. These meetings provide opportunities for young people to record their views as part of the resolution process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since June 2017. She holds the registered manager’s award and has extensive experience of working with children and young people in a residential setting. The registered manager is supported by an experienced and qualified staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home employs a committed and enthusiastic staff team, with the majority of staff suitably qualified at diploma level. The training of staff to this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care and management of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people live in a home that is managed in their best interests. The home meets the aims and objectives of its statement of purpose and young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support that the home provides.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal and external monitoring systems provide the home with a consistently good approach to the overall monitoring of care. Detailed information highlights areas for development and the manager’s action plan details the methods used to enhance the service. Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 6 Staff stated that they receive good support from the manager. Records of supervision sessions demonstrate that staff meet with the registered manager regularly, and that training and personal development targets are addressed. An annual training package ensures that staff receive up-to-date training that is specific to meeting the needs of the young people accommodated in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff demonstrate that they are committed to developing and improving practice. The effectiveness of this approach is measurable in the progress young people make from their initial starting points.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aware of the procedures for notifying Ofsted of all incidents under regulation 40. Since the last inspection there have been several suitable notifications made. Providing this information ensures that information is shared with the regulatory agency in order that actions and outcomes for young people can be suitably assessed.

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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: SC025714 7

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC025714 8 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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