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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 1 SC005045 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Interim 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. The home offers care for up to three 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 has been registered with Ofsted since November 2014 and holds a level 4 qualification in leadership and management.

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Inspection date: 16 March 2022

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2021

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Inspection date: 16 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 16 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, five requirements were raised. These requirements have been addressed. The registered manager has kept the home’s statement of purpose up to date. Management oversight of the home has improved, resulting in improved outcomes for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child currently lives in the home. The child has settled well, is engaged with education and has formed positive relationships with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. The child left the home due to an incident in the local community which escalated. He was moved at short notice for his own safety on the advice of police. However, prior to this the staff successfully engaged the child in education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child who recently moved into the home had a planned transition. The manager implemented a thorough matching assessment and this helped the child have a positive move and to settle quickly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child’s physical and emotional health is promoted well by staff. Specialist advice is sought to help the child understand particular issues. In addition, the manager has commissioned additional training for staff to develop their knowledge and understanding about matters that are important to the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff also receive training to raise their knowledge and awareness about how best to safeguard children. This includes training in how to respond to issues relating to children who go missing from care and to be alert to issues that indicate that a child may be vulnerable to exploitation. Staff are committed to training because the manager makes sure that this is a priority. They implement their learning in their day-to-day practice and care of children. This helps them to promote children’s safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has ensured that the child’s risk assessment includes all known and presenting risks. She updates this as a live document and has ensured that staff understand risk and how to reduce these.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has developed strong links with important safeguarding agencies such as the police. Local community police officers meet with the children and staff and discuss their behaviours. This increases children’s awareness and helps them to keep themselves increasingly safe. Furthermore, this enables staff to have the up- to-date knowledge of risks to children and how to keep them safe. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 3 Through high-quality internal monitoring systems, the manager identifies and acts on any issues. There is an experienced and qualified staff team in the home who understand their roles and responsibilities well. Supervision is now timely and reflective. Staff praised the support they receive from the manager. This contributes to effective care and support for children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children live in a clean and welcoming home. The child’s bedroom is modern, and he has been encouraged to personalise it with posters and photos. For the most part, the shared living areas are clean and comfortable. The staff have plans to reinvigorate the garden in the spring. However, the house bathroom has dated and worn flooring, which has an institutionalised look. It would benefit from being replaced to match the more homely feel elsewhere. In addition, the staff’s sleep-in facilities require improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations have been raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/12/2019 Full Good 06/12/2018 Full Good 06/02/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that for children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of the children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. This relates to the house bathroom needing refurbishment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff have appropriate accommodation and facilities to sleep in at the home. This relates to the conditions of the staff sleep-in room. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.26)

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC005045 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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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

James Tallis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC005045 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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