Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report children’s home: SC008268 1 SC008268 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A large private provider operates this home. This home is registered to provide care for up to two 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 on 17 June 2013. He holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 28 and 29 September 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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

Date of last inspection: 19 February 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC008268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/02/2020 Full Inadequate 09/05/2018 Full Good 27/06/2017 Full Good 18/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC008268 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs. This allows them to support children and build positive relationships with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children develop good routines. As such, children settle quickly when they move into the home. Children understand what is expected of them because of the consistent care provided.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with nurturing and individualised care. Staff show children acceptance and openly explore worries and concerns children have. This has had a positive impact on both children. They have developed their confidence, personal hygiene, independence skills and improved their emotional health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has a good education attendance. This is a significant improvement on his previous educational experience. The other child has recently secured a school placement that will commence in the new school term.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in making referrals to external agencies for additional specialised support when children need this. In addition, staff have specific training that enables them to understand the children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to see their family and people who are important to them. Staff keep family members up to date with how their children are progressing, when appropriate to do so.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a range of activities that they enjoy. Many activities promote physical exercise. This has had a positive impact on children’s health as they have started to lead healthier lifestyles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated, and children’s rooms are individualised and personalised to their own tastes. This gives children a sense of belonging and pride in the home they live in.

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

Staff work hard to keep children safe. Safeguarding incidents are rare. Health and safety within the home is good. This ensures that the home is a safe space to live.

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

Children are encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings with staff. This allows staff to address any issues or worries children may have before children present undesirable behaviours. Inspection report children’s home: SC008268 4 Staff praise and reward children’s positive behaviour. When needed, sanctions for poor behaviour are issued, but these are few and far between. Staff are consistent in their approach. Staff are skilled at encouraging positive behaviour and at using clear guidance and boundaries.

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

Staff educate children about safeguarding, in order to improve children’s knowledge. This gives children the knowledge and the tools to keep themselves safe. Topics covered include knife crime, internet safety and drugs and alcohol awareness.

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

Overall, safer recruitment checks for new staff are completed to check they are suitable to work with children. On one occasion, checks had not been completed to verify why an employee had left a previous employment. This was from many years ago and all other checks had been completed to check the applicant’s suitability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced and skilled registered manager is in post. He has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. This is because of the effective review and monitoring systems that are in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported by the registered manager. They have regular supervision sessions and yearly appraisals. The registered manager is committed to developing his staff. He widens their knowledge and skills. This has a positive impact on the children and the care they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals are positive about the home and the care that staff provide the children. A social worker and a youth offending officer spoke positively to the inspector about the proactive approach the registered manager and the staff take in meeting the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have extensive training. Staff also carry out additional research to inform their practice. This ensures that staff are informed and are up to date with information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children know how to complain and do so, if needed. The registered manager is proactive in gathering children’s views to inform the development of the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC008268 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC008268 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

Lisa O’Donovan, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC008268 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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