Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025409 1 SC025409

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Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides accommodation for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home may also provide care and accommodation for children with learning disabilities and mental health needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager holds a Level 4 qualification in leadership and management in children’s residential care, and registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

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This monitoring visit

This visit took place to review safeguarding practice at the home and the progress made since the last full inspection that took place in June 2019. At the time of the visit, three children were living in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children are making good progress. One child who has been reluctant to receive support now engages in meaningful conversations with managers and staff. Two children are making good progress at school and one child is waiting to start a college course.

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This monitoring visit

Managers and staff help children to maintain healthy lifestyles. They also support children to access routine and emergency health care services when necessary. Children exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet. One child spoke about how staff have helped her to discuss her feelings. As a result, she now accesses support services and feels happier. Children’s emotional and physical well-being are promoted by staff and managers.

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This monitoring visit

Managers work well with children’s families and professionals. For example, when a child went missing from home, they kept in regular contact with the child’s family members and professionals. Information gathered through these discussions was shared and action was taken to support the safe return of the child. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025409 2 Staff make a concerted effort to keep in touch with children who go missing and they actively search for them. Children meet with an independent person after each missing episode. This gives them the opportunity to talk about why they went missing from home and what happened while they were away. This opportunity, together with staff support, also helps children to think about not going missing from home. As a result, the frequency of missing-from-home incidents has reduced.

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This monitoring visit

The home’s manager has a clear vision for the home and is very passionate about the care of the children. Staff share this same passion and enthusiasm. The manager uses the systems in place to effectively monitor the quality of care children receive. The manager shares information with staff during team meetings and supervisions, which take place on a regular basis, and together they learn and develop their practice. This helps to continue to improve the experiences of children who live in the home.

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This monitoring visit

Children are cared for by an experienced staff team; seven staff hold a relevant qualification and the remaining two staff are working towards a qualification and are on track to complete it within the required timescale. The manager ensures that staff complete training that is specific to the needs of the children who live in the home. This improves practice and supports children’s development.

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This monitoring visit

There is an improving picture of how staff record information about children. The manager encourages staff to keep records that tell the child’s story. She advocates children’s rights to access their information and is keen for records to capture positive memories. Records are dated and signed by the author.

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This monitoring visit

Each child has a memory folder. Staff collect photographs or items that capture the child’s experiences while living in the home. Children have access to their memory folders and this helps them to reflect on their experiences and contributes to them developing their identity. During the visit, one child read a book to the inspector that they had written about their life experiences and the progress they have made since moving to the home. This demonstrated that the child had a good understanding of her journey.

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This monitoring visit

No requirements or recommendations have been made from this monitoring visit.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/06/2019 Full Good 18/12/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/09/2018 Full Inadequate 16/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025409 3

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Inspector

Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025409 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 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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