Children's Home run by Care Today (Childrens Services) Ltd in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 1 Registered provider: Care Today (Children’s Services) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is managed and run by a large private company.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCIFF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been two admissions to the home since its registration with Ofsted in March 2021. There have been no placement breakdowns, disruptions or failures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points across aspects of their welfare, physical, social, emotional and behavioural development. Children enjoy good relationships with staff, and they sustain their positive attachments. Children have consistency and stability in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A social worker said, ‘My young person has had several moves in a short space of time and finally feels settled. He has made a significant improvement since arriving and continues to flourish.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views about the home and their relationships with staff are consistently positive. A child told the inspector, ‘I get on well with every single member of staff – one hundred percent. And I think everyone here likes me as well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school or other alternative educational provision regularly. However, one child requires a revised care plan and personal education plan to meet their specific needs and support their learning, educational attainment and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with doctors, dentists and opticians, and medical consents are in place. Children attend their routine health appointments, with support and encouragement from staff. Children have access to therapeutic support to promote their emotional and psychological well-being. Staff have received some therapeutic input and training from a placing authority to help them meet the specific needs of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive activities, such as football, fishing, cinema, gym and mixed martial arts training. Staff encourage children’s community-based activities and recreational past times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend regular time with their friends and families. As a result, they sustain their familiar relationships with the people that are most important to them.

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

This home provides children with a physically safe, modern, comfortable and homely living environment. Health and safety arrangements are managed effectively by staff. However, a damaged door frame and wardrobe detract from the otherwise high-quality living environment provided for the children. A recommendation is made in relation to this issue. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 3 Staff have a good understanding of the individual needs and specific vulnerabilities of the children. Risks associated with children are well known and understood by staff. Staff’s safe working practices protect children. Children are kept safe and feel safe.

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

Children rarely go missing and there has only been one occasion when both children went missing from the home. Staff followed the home’s procedures and worked in partnership with the police to secure the children’s safe return. However, the missing person’s log did not provide evidence that staff actively looked for children or notified family members as part of their response. Additionally, the contents of missing from care risk assessments do not include detailed guidance for staff to follow. A requirement is made in respect of this issue.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour and ensure that the use of sanctions are kept to an absolute minimum. When sanctions are used, they are fair and proportionate. The use of restraint is always a last resort. Staff use restraint appropriately when children’s behaviours are challenging, to keep them safe from harm.

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

Children reported, ‘In my previous home, I was restrained about three times a day, and now it’s like twice a year. This has been the best placement by far.’

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

Children’s safety is at the forefront of staff’s practice. Staff are trained in child protection and know how to protect children from abuse and all other forms of significant harm.

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

Significant incidents, such as allegations of abuse, are dealt with quickly. These are reported to the appropriate authorities to ensure that children are safe. A social worker said, ‘Working with [the home] has been a positive experience, and [it is] reassuring knowing [that] they put the children in their care at the forefront of any work they do. Communication is fantastic.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A qualified, skilled, well-trained and diverse staff team is employed to meet the needs of the children. Staff meet the aims and objectives as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. They provide a good-quality service for children that contributes to change and improvement in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The needs of existing children are considered carefully by the registered manager prior to any new placements or admissions to the home. The manager makes child- centred decisions and ensures that children living at the home are matched carefully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the manager benefit from regular practice-related supervision. Staff work well together as a team. Additionally, staff form effective partnerships with all external agencies to ensure that children benefit from the best possible help and all- round support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 4 The home is visited by an independent professional each month to review the quality of the children’s care and the home’s arrangements to promote their safety and well-being. The home employs a permanent registered manager who exercises strong and effective leadership of the operations of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager tackles identified shortfalls to secure continuing improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the missing child policy") setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the improved contents of children’s missing-from-care risk assessments and staff’s understanding of the home’s recording and reporting procedures. 14 February 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all relevant plans are in place for the children. This relates specifically to obtaining up-to-date care plans and personal education plans from the placing authority. (‘Guide to the children homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.1)  The registered person should ensure that any damaged property or furniture is replaced or repaired. ‘(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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 for children’s home: 2625182 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today (Children’s Services) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care Today Children’s Services, 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Liam Fitzpatrick

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 7 regulates and inspects 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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