Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report children’s home: SC044745 1 SC044745

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Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately owned service is both a children’s home and a school that provides care and education for up to six children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in December 2017 and he is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This interim inspection was carried out to address specific concerns which were identified through notifications that were received and reviewed by the regulator.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff have failed to ensure that risk assessment documents include all known risks associated with young people’s behaviour. These documents do not include the measures that will be taken by managers and staff to reduce and manage risks effectively on a day-to-day basis. The information contained in the risk assessments is generic and does not provide staff with enough detail for them to understand the risk and to effectively reduce it. Inspection report children’s home: SC044745 2 Young people have been at risk in their bedrooms because staff do not keep their physical environment safe. All bedrooms are in a poor state of repair, with broken furniture, flaking paint and holes in walls. Some young people’s bedding is ripped and has holes in it. In addition to this, the house needs to be refurbished, with new bathrooms and decoration required throughout. The registered manager informed the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspector that he had plans in place to address these shortfalls and that a decorator was due to commence work imminently. However, the conditions in the home have been allowed to deteriorate to an unacceptable standard.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff have failed to ensure that young people live in a homely domestic environment. Repairs are not undertaken in a timely manner and there are aspects of the children’s care which are unnecessarily restrictive. For example, there are padlocks on the fridge and freezer and such measures do not demonstrate to children that staff care about them and value them as individuals.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical restraint is only used to prevent young people from hurting themselves or others. In general, the records of restraint are detailed and the manager has undertaken thorough debriefs with staff which include reflection on what other strategies could have been used. However, the registered manager has not ensured that within five days of a restraint he has spoken to the young person concerned. For example, the record indicates that on one occasion a key-work session was undertaken with a young person about a restraint. However, this session was facilitated by a member of staff involved in the restraint. This has potentially prevented the young person from being able to raise a complaint about the restraint and does not ensure that there is a transparent review.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has failed to inform Ofsted of significant events, such as when allegations have been made against staff. When a serious allegation was made against a young person living in the home by an ex-resident, the regulator was not notified for several weeks. The registered manager also failed to inform Ofsted when a young person was found with medication in his room which had not been prescribed for him.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say that they feel safe in their home. This is because of the warm and trusting relationships that they have with staff. Staff speak positively of the young people in their care and they know them well. One child told the inspector, ‘The staff keep me safe; they do what’s best for me and care for me.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from direct work with the in-house therapist. Staff also receive support and guidance in managing young people’s complex behaviours effectively through regular consultations with the therapist. The therapist attends team meetings and provides opportunities for staff to reflect upon incidents. Staff are encouraged to think beyond presenting behaviours, so that they can begin to understand what a young person is communicating through their behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff sensitively support and encourage young people with their identity, and have skilfully supported one young person who has issues around their gender identity and sexuality. Staff have demonstrated an ability to seek specialised help when this has been necessary, and have undertaken research to meet the needs of the young people they Inspection report children’s home: SC044745 3 care for. Staff and young people have an inclusive attitude and celebrate diversity. As a result of this work, young people have a greater tolerance of each other. It is evident that there are sometimes arguments between the four young males living in the home. Direct work, undertaken by staff with young people, prevents this behaviour from escalating. Young people confirmed that any concerns regarding bullying are managed by the registered manager and the staff.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2018 Full Good 19/09/2017 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Good

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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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Requirements Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(a)(i)) 15/03/2019

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Requirements Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12(1)(2)(d)) 28/02/2019

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Requirements Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 5 days of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, , the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(c)) 28/02/2019

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Requirements Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant 28/02/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC044745 4 person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; a child protection enquiry involving a child is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(c)(d)(e))

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Recommendation

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, the registered manager should ensure that the fridge and freezer are not locked.

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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

Inspection report children’s home: SC044745 5 Unique reference number: SC044745

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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

Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC044745 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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