Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report children’s home: SC413985 1 SC413985 Registered provider: The Together Trust Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who may have a learning disability. The home offers a combination of full-time or shared-care placements.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who registered with Ofsted in December 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 27 November 2018

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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.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children continue to make good progress and are growing in confidence, because the care that they receive is sensitive to their individual needs. Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home. They were receiving short breaks at one of the organisation’s other homes, so had already developed important relationships with key staff. The child’s key worker transferred over to work at the home. This ensured a smooth transition and continuity of care for the child.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All the children are developing and learning new skills. For example, there are improvements in personal care, sleep patterns, communication and independence. One child, who had limited communication prior to coming to live at the home, is now Inspection report children’s home: SC413985 2 constructing sentences. This has increased the child’s opportunity for social engagement. Staff are enthusiastic and continue to encourage the children to try new experiences. For example, one child has joined a local youth club, while the other children enjoy attending an arts and crafts group. This is providing them with the opportunity to meet new people, as well as developing their skills and interests.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s education and health needs are well met. Effective working relationships with partner agencies ensure that children can make good progress across all areas of their lives. The manager and staff have a clear understanding of children’s needs and individual goals.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides a safe and secure environment, and the high levels of supervision ensure that children are kept safe. There are no concerns relating to complaints, safeguarding practice or incidents of children going missing from the home. Positive behaviour management strategies mean that physical intervention is kept to a minimum. During the inspection, staff were observed supporting a child who had become anxious and upset. The skill of the staff meant that the situation did not escalate and the child’s anxieties were quickly reduced.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Contact with children’s families is very well supported. Parents can visit the home, which allows for quality time between them and their relative. Staff also provide supervision when required for contact visits that take place away from the home. This ensures that important relationships and attachments are maintained.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met one of the two recommendations made at the previous inspection. At the last inspection, one child was accessing education for only a few hours every morning, which was not a positive experience. They are now engaging in educational activities three full days a week, and the other two days are spent learning life skills. The child told the inspector that they are enjoying their education much more.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A second recommendation is not met. Work has yet to be undertaken with the children to help them to understand how to use the internet and social media sites safely. However, the home has appointed a member of staff as an e-safety champion to progress this piece of work.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/11/2018 Full Good 25/01/2018 Interim Not judged 19/10/2017 Interim Not judged 15/02/2017 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: SC413985 3

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Recommendations

 Children should have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would be inappropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.19)

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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 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.

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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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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1JE

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Inspector

Michelle Bacon: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC413985 4 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.

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Inspector

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