Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Assurance visit report: SC008608 1 SC008608

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: SC008608 2

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The care of children

The young person has made good progress since his admission to the home. He benefits from well-planned, highly personalised care that promotes his needs effectively and contributes to change and improvement in his life.

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The care of children

The young person enjoys positive relationships with staff and experiences consistency and stability in his life. The young person spoke positively about their experiences of moving into and living at the home. He reported, ‘I’ve lived here a couple of months. The staff are nice people. They treat me well and they respect me and I them. They’re proper nice. It’s all good.’

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The care of children

Staff are supportive of the young person’s education and maintain an effective partnership with his school. The young person attends school on a regular basis, with good support and encouragement from staff. The young person has a personal education plan in place to promote his educational achievements.

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The care of children

Staff are supportive of family time, subject to any restrictions imposed to keep the young person and other family members safe. The young person is at increased risk of offending when he visits his family and returns to his home community. The young person is engaged with the youth offending team and has a personal mentor to help and support him.

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The care of children

The young person’s social worker reported, ‘I have no concerns about the care provided. The staff engage well with the care plan and have been able to promote an environment where he has felt able to embark on some positive relationships with staff. He says that he likes being at the home and reports no concerns.’

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The care of children

The young person is registered with a doctor, dentist and optician and has access to the health services he needs to promote his good health and physical well-being. Staff provide sound advice on key health issues to encourage the young person to lead and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good understanding of the young person’s specific needs and emerging vulnerabilities, and take appropriate action to address them. They work closely with the placing authority and other agencies to promote the young person’s safety and well-being.

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The safety of children

The social worker reported, ‘ The home has provided support for the safety plan. Throughout all my conversations with staff, it is clear they value the young person, are focussed on his best interests and safety, and have a positive approach to supporting him to achieve his potential.’

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The safety of children

Staff implement the home’s rules and boundaries and have consistently high expectations of behaviour. Positive behaviour is recognised and reinforced by staff. Assurance visit report: SC008608 3 The use of restraint is exceptionally rare, and if used at all, it is only ever as a last resort to keep young people safe from harm. There have been no restraints, allegations, complaints or episodes of the young person going missing since his admission. Significant incidents are shared with the appropriate authorities to ensure the young person is protected and kept safe from harm.

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Leaders and managers

The young person benefits from a home that is managed effectively and efficiently. The registered manager exercises strong leadership and maintains management oversight of the day-to-day operation of the home.

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Leaders and managers

The staff’s performance is monitored effectively. The registered manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The registered manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to secure the home’s continuing improvement.

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Leaders and managers

The young person is staffed in accordance with his needs and has established positive relationships with staff. A stable staff team is employed, and continuity of care is provided for the young person. This enables him to develop his relationships with staff and sustain his positive attachments.

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Leaders and managers

Staff have the qualifications, skills, training and experience to meet the young person’s needs effectively. Staff have high aspirations for the young person and enjoy positive relationships with him.

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Leaders and managers

The home has met all the recommendations from the last inspection. Young people are now engaged in full-time education and they attend their routine health appointments. All relevant plans are now in place from the placing authority.

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Leaders and managers

There are no breaches in regulation. Consequently, there are no requirements or recommendations made.

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC008608 4 to 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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