Children's Home run by Care Today Parallel Parents in Leeds

Inspection report children’s home: SC403890 1 SC403890 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care and accommodation for four children or young people. It specialises in caring for children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, including, but not exclusively, mild to moderate learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2016.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC403890 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2017 Full Good 23/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 15/11/2016 Full Outstanding 02/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC403890 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The progress and experiences of children in this placement are exceptional. Children are making significant progress. Management and staff are tenacious if children push boundaries or try to reject their help. Because of this high level of commitment, children grow in confidence and self-esteem. In turn, children display fewer potentially harmful behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who have very chaotic histories with numerous placement breakdowns settle in this home. Staff understand and are in tune with children’s needs. A highly efficient staff team sees children’s behaviours in the context of their histories. Children’s emotional well-being is seen as an absolute priority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children invest in the home because of the exceptional relationships that staff build with them. Children can recognise the difference that living in the home has made to their lives. One child said: ‘I would never want to return home. I know I am better off here. The staff have changed my life. Being here is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My life was an absolute mess before, but they have completely helped me to turn it round.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The management and staff understand the importance of children receiving education. Children who have a significant history of not being educated have re-entered full-time education or alternative education provision. Staff are aspirational for children and support children to strive to achieve the very best education outcomes. This is extremely commendable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health needs are fully considered and met by the staff team. Once a need is identified, staff work tirelessly to ensure that it is met. Because of this, children have received vital healthcare services that have undoubtedly changed their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All feedback gained from agencies about the care and support that children receive has been remarkable. All agencies spoke about the positive difference that living in the home has made to children’s lives. A deputy headteacher said: ‘Thank god for the staff. They gave them a home when they were at a terrible place in their life. They have offered them extensive support. They are professional, well organised and a very impressive team.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are respected and valued by staff. Their views are listened to and considered. Their views are continually sought in respect of the day-to-day running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Transitions into and out of the home are carefully managed. Management and staff understand that this is a difficult time for children and they work hard to make the move as smooth as possible. Staff continue to offer ongoing emotional support to children long after they have left the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC403890 4

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

The care and support that children are receiving are outstanding. Children feel safe in the home and can identify numerous members of staff who they would talk to if they had any concerns. The stable, homely and nurturing environment that is created by the dedicated staff team provides children with a strong sense of safety and well-being. A child said: ‘I love it here. There is nowhere else I would rather be. All the staff are so kind, and they help me with everything.’

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

Despite one child having a significant history of going missing and being assessed as being at high risk of child sexual exploitation, such incidents have stopped. Outstanding relationships with staff, combined with a skilled approach to working with the child, have significantly reduced this child’s vulnerability and ensured their safety and protection.

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

The use of physical intervention is rare. When physical intervention is used, it is done so with skill and sensitivity and for limited periods of time. The manager and staff discuss the use of restraint through debrief sessions. Effective debriefs are also carried out with children. This is extremely effective in ensuring that incidents are dealt with in the best possible way and with the least distress for the child.

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

Clear boundaries and proactive behaviour management are highly effective. A restorative justice approach is taken, which helps children to understand the impact of their behaviours. Staff involve children in deciding what should happen if negative behaviours occur. This is a highly effective behaviour management strategy that children respond to exceptionally well. The approach in the home is one of high praise and low criticism, which for children with traumatic histories is extremely beneficial.

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

Multi-agency working is a significant strength of the home. Good relationships and strong advocacy by the management and staff ensure that, once a risk is identified, clear plans are put in place to address the concern. This joined-up, child-centred approach helps to ensure that the safety and welfare needs of children are met. A reviewing officer said: ‘They are fantastic. Staff have allowed her the structure of a family home. They have worked with her tirelessly. Their commitment is exceptional. There is nothing that they cannot achieve with children. They have worked wonders.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a strong advocate for children. She is tenacious in ensuring that any decisions made in respect of children are planned, well thought out and in the child’s best interests. She is an experienced and committed individual who leads by example. Inspection report children’s home: SC403890 5 The manager has developed an extremely positive culture in the home. A happy staff team means that staff morale is very high. Staff spoke about the manager in exceptionally positive terms. They described feeling fully supported by her and they hold her in high regard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff are an equally impressive group of individuals. They are a well-established team. All staff fully contribute to the successful running of the home and feel valued and respected as individual team members. They are a tremendously proactive staff group. They are knowledgeable and experienced and are all suitably qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Productive team meetings and regular supervision ensure that practice is monitored and improvements in the delivery of care are made. The manager and staff are committed to making continued improvements and ensure that children are receiving uncompromising standards of care. Their drive and passion ensure that all the children in this home receive an outstanding level of care.

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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: SC403890 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

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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

Davinia Lawton: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC403890 7 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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