Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1263837 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children. The company’s aim is to build children’s resilience through support, nurture, structure, consistency and routine, with tailored support specific to each child.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been on maternity leave since October 2021 and an interim manager has been in post since then.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1263837 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2021 Full Good 22/10/2019 Full Good 12/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/08/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1263837 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff have good relationships. Staff are thoughtful. For example, when children are new to the home, staff have bought them welcome gifts to help them to settle. When children prepare to leave the home, transitions have taken place at a pace which is right for the child. These children often remain in contact with staff and visit the home. This is testament to the good relationships that have been developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some children have found school attendance challenging. The staff work hard to motivate children to attend school. This is now starting to improve, with children attending the identified education provision and making progress. From their starting points at the home, children are making good academic progress. Children have ambitions for the future. Feedback from external professionals regarding children’s progress is positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s records are detailed. The staff talk to children and listen to what matters the most to them. However, when children are not engaging, there is not yet enough adaption to make conversations or areas of discussion bespoke to each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health information is generally well recorded. However, on one occasion, a child was described as having a diagnosis but there was no evidence of this in the child’s relevant documents and no evaluation of how this condition may affect the child’s behaviour.

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

When children have complex needs and behaviours that increase their risk, the staff team has good communication strategies to ensure children’s safety. The manager and staff understand when children’s behaviour becomes too great for them. Children are supported by staff to have organised and well-planned transitions from the home.

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

When children are involved in concerning incidents, these are well recorded. The staff only use physical intervention as a last resort to safeguard children. The manager records their decision-making on all incidents. These are also discussed in individual staff supervision meetings and in team meetings. The manager is not yet recording their decision-making regarding internal action if concerns about staff behaviour arise. This is specifically if the concerns do not meet the threshold for the local authority designated officer’s involvement. This is important to ensure that children and staff are protected.

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

When children have complained, the manager has responded in a timely manner. The manager takes complaints seriously and provides a good response. However, Inspection report for children’s home: 1263837 4 there is not yet a system in place which evidences whether the child is satisfied with the outcome of their complaint.

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

Staff are very confident and skilled in managing complex situations with children. The staff prioritise children’s safety. The safeguarding culture and ethos in the home is strong because leaders and managers understand the importance of keeping children safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been away from the home for a prolonged period. The current acting manager was given ample time to familiarise themselves with the running of the home. This organised approach enabled children to build a good relationship with the new manager before the registered manager left. Children have a good relationship with both managers because of this good transition planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a nurturing approach to the care of each child. The manager and staff take a holistic view of each child’s needs. Staff recognise that getting to know children takes time. They are considerate and understand how children’s feelings and anxieties may affect their behaviour. The staff team is willing to try new and innovative approaches with children to help them succeed. Should these approaches be unsuccessful, the staff will reflect and review to learn lessons and adapt their approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular professional supervision. They describe the manager as supportive and knowledgeable. Some staff have valued the opportunity for professional development, to move into more senior positions. Team meetings are collaborative and there is a good sense of sharing experiences and problem-solving, to better meet and understand the needs of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1263837 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the specific responsibilities of the home towards supporting the health and well-being of each child should be agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. It is the joint responsibility of the registered person and the placing authority that this is agreed at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.7)  The registered person should ensure that the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff and must be kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as living documents, supporting them to view and contribute

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Recommendations

to the record on a regular basis in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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: 1263837 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 2, First Floor, Millennium Court, First Avenue, Centrum 100, Burton-Upon-Trent DE14 2WH

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Inspector

Andi Lilley-Tams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1263837 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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