Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Wolverhampton

Inspection report children’s home: SC390576 1 SC390576 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

A large provider of children’s services operates this home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 December 2019

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Ofsted undertook monitoring inspections on 14 May 2019 and 28 June 2019. The purpose of these inspections was to monitor the provider’s adherence to the restriction of accommodation notice issued on 26 February 2019 following a monitoring inspection on 22 February 2019. In addition, the inspections reviewed the progress made in relation to the requirements raised. One of these requirements was subject to a compliance notice. Inspection report children’s home: SC390576 2 The inspections found that improvements had been made and, as a result, the restriction of accommodation was lifted on 1 July 2019. In addition, the compliance notice and requirements were also met.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/04/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 12/07/2018 Full Outstanding 12/12/2017 Full Good 17/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC390576 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) In particular, ensure that internal plans reflect the progress of each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel happy and settled in their home. They build strong and trusted relationships with a team of staff who know them well and invest in them. This positive and nurturing ethos helps children to develop a sense of belonging and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has excellent school attendance. He is making good progress relative to his starting point. Staff work effectively with teachers. They share information daily and set joint targets to help the child make progress. A teacher told the inspector, ‘We have found the staff to be very supportive of the school. They are positive about the strategies we have in place to support him [the child].’ Another child who recently moved into the home is engaging well with a home tutor. Staff are also providing him with additional education activities until a formal education placement is identified.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to participate in the day-to-day running of the home. Weekly meetings enable children to discuss key aspects of their care. In addition, staff involve children in discussing more complex decisions about their lives. For example, children work alongside staff to review their internal plans and risk assessments. This provides children with a sense of ownership and responsibility for their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to ensure that children spend time with those who matter most to them. When necessary, they act as strong advocates for children. For example, staff are working alongside a child’s social worker to ensure that the child experiences a safe and enjoyable time with his family at Christmas. This child-centred practice helps children to strengthen relationships and build important support networks for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities and enjoyable experiences. This includes going on Inspection report children’s home: SC390576 4 holidays and trips to play pool or attend the gym with staff. One child has recently attended his first football match to watch his favourite team. These opportunities help to bring children a sense of enjoyment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use their intuition and knowledge of children to provide strong, individualised care. Recently, a child presented as unsettled and in a low mood. Staff provided a sensitive and nurturing approach. Over time, the child felt able to express his feelings and emotions. In response, staff worked effectively with health agencies to provide the child with timely and specialist support. This proactive and intuitive approach helped the child to feel listened to, calm and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s transitions into and from the home are well organised. One child has moved on since the last inspection. Staff provided him with clear information about his next home. The child completed a number of visits to meet his new carers. This well-planned approach helped the child to settle quickly.

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

The registered manager has introduced additional safeguards in response to the shortfalls identified at previous inspections. For example, children’s bedroom doors are now alarmed to keep them safe at night. Staff have undertaken specific training on the supervision of children. Records, including staff log books, show that staff consistently follow agreed protocols. This consistent practice helps to keep children safe.

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

Staff have reflected significantly on previous safeguarding shortfalls in the home. They have completed specialist training to enhance their knowledge and skills in managing risks. Staff feel that this additional knowledge has strengthened their practice. For example, they closely scrutinise children’s behaviours and their relationship dynamics. When necessary, they intervene in a timely manner to provide children with sensitive and informative care to keep them safe.

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

Overall, children’s risk assessments are clear and up to date. Staff provide children with targeted key-work sessions to help them to understand risk. In most cases, risk assessments give staff clear advice on how to keep children safe. However, some require additional detail on the frequency and level of supervision needed to keep a child safe. The registered manager rectified this shortfall during inspection.

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

Staff provide children with nurturing and sensitive care as well as strong and consistent boundaries. This helps children to make strong progress in reducing their risk-taking behaviours. Children also learn new strategies to manage their own conflicts and difficult feelings. For example, a child now uses a diary to record his thoughts. Staff also reward children for positive behaviour. These well-thought-out and individualised approaches help children to feel safe and secure.

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

Two new staff have been recruited since the last inspection. The registered manager ensures that recruitment processes are safe and robust. This protects children from unsafe adults. Inspection report children’s home: SC390576 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate about children in her care. She knows them well and ensures that they receive individualised care. The registered manager is a strong advocate for children and will challenge any shortfalls in their care. This child-centred approach means that children feel settled and make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a healthy learning environment in the home. They have completed a range of mandatory and specialist training to enhance their knowledge and skills. Regular staff supervision strikes a good balance, helping staff to reflect on their practice and address any shortfalls. Staff benefit from internal promotions and achieve additional qualifications. As a result, children receive well-informed care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work effectively with a range of external agencies. This includes social workers, schools and health professionals. This coordinated and robust approach helps children to make good progress. A social worker told the inspector, ‘Staff work well with me. They are proactive and share information when they need to.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective monitoring systems in place. Monthly reports and day-to-day staff consultations allow her to identify the strengths and shortfalls of the service. The registered manager has an up-to-date development plan and is keen to continue improving the quality of care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, children’s plans are individualised and capture their needs. However, some do not fully reflect children’s progress.

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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: SC390576 6

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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

Gareth Leckey, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC390576 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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