Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Stockport

Inspection report children's home: SC008271 1 SC008271 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. The home offers 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 holds a level 5 leaderships and management qualification in health and social care and was registered by Ofsted in May 2022.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC008271 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/01/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/09/2019 Full Good 28/11/2018 Full Good 20/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC008271 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived in the home. One child has moved out. Staff help children to prepare for moves. They ensure their time living in the home is celebrated. For example, all staff and children attended a leaving meal. The child was given a memory book and personalised gifts to remind him of his time living in the home. Planned moves help children to have positive experiences of moving and support the children to invest in future care arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff promote education well. This means that children’s attendance is excellent. The registered manager and staff contribute well to children’s education plans. They appropriately challenge plans when they feel they do not maximise the child’s learning potential. As a result, a child’s social worker is in the process of reviewing a child’s education plan.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to register with local health services and ensure that children have access to health professionals. Children attend their routine health appointments with the support from staff. The registered manager escalates concerns when there are delays from external services in reviewing a child’s health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff help children to keep in touch with people who are important to them. When there is conflicting information around a child’s arrangements to see family, the registered manager requests that the local authority clarify arrangements. This promotes children’s identity and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff seek children's views on activities they would like to do. This helps staff to organise activities for children to attend which they enjoy. One child has recently returned from a holiday in Wales.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in weekly meetings. This provides them with the opportunity to make decisions about the home and the care they receive. Staff use these opportunities to educate children on topics such as healthy eating, managing their emotions and being kind to others. This promotes positive behaviours that will support their health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has not implemented a system to monitor the temperature of children’s medication that is stored in a locked cabinet. Staff do not always record sufficient detail about children’s medication. On two occasions, records show that medication was not administered in line with the medication directions.

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

The registered manager and staff understand children's behaviours and risks well. Risk assessments provide clear guidance, and support staff to recognise early warning signs and triggers. This means that staff can use distraction techniques to Inspection report children's home: SC008271 4 prevent incidents from occurring. Plans provide staff with clear strategies to manage behaviours consistently. As a result, children understand what is expected of them.

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

Staff help children through discussions to reflect on behaviours and how these impact on themselves and others. Staff support children to think of ways that will help them to manage their emotions in the future. For example, one child recognised that speaking to staff helps him to make better decisions. As a result, there has been a decline in behaviours that challenge recently.

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

Children have positive relationships with staff. One child said, ‘The best thing about living here is the staff, if I have any worries, I can talk to them or my sister’. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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

On the rare occasion children go missing, staff respond well. They search for children and work well with external services to locate children and return them home. Staff keep family members up to date when children are not where they are expected to be. The registered manager ensures that children have the opportunity to speak with an independent person about their experience when missing. This helps professionals to reduce and manage future risks.

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

Occasionally, staff use physical intervention to keep children and staff safe. Records kept by staff provide a detailed description of the technique used. Children and staff speak with a manager about the incident. This reflective practice helps children and staff to develop care plans, so they remain effective. It also provides opportunity for the manager to monitor the effectiveness of the technique and evaluate the appropriateness of the use of physical intervention. This helps to keep children and others safe.

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

There has been one allegation made against a person who works in the home. The registered manager ensures that allegations are shared with the designated officer, and investigations are held. The outcome of investigations are explained to the individual who raised the concern.

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

The registered manager has appointed one new member of staff. Safe recruitment systems are in place. This practice reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals. However, on one occasion, the manager has not recorded why a reference could not be obtained from a previous employer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager works well with other agencies and professionals who support children. A family member who was spoken to values the support children receive and feels that they are kept well informed. This means children have a strong network of support around them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s progress is monitored by the registered manager, who has a good understanding of their needs. This helps to ensure that children’s plans focus on helping them to achieve their full potential. Inspection report children's home: SC008271 5 The registered manager and staff receive regular supervision. This provides them with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and the support children receive. Staff feel supported and valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager now ensures that staff have their performance appraised yearly. The registered manager and staff review learning needs and identify training that will support them in meeting the needs of children who live in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff complete an induction. This helps them to understand the specific needs of children who live in the home and how they are supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a consistent skilled staff team. Four staff hold a relevant qualification and two staff are working towards their qualification. The registered manager ensures that staff complete training courses which support them to carry out their role and meet the individual needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home statement of purpose is kept up to date and now reflects the service being provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that the home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. This means that children live in a home that is comfortable and safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some records are not clearly recorded. For example, a duplicated physical intervention record has different dates of when the record was monitored by the registered manager. On another occasion, it is not clear if the child was offered medical assessment following a physical intervention. Inspection report children's home: SC008271 6

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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, 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 make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for

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Requirement Due date

a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c)(3) (a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that there are systems in place to monitor the temperature medication is stored.

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Requirement Due date

It also refers to ensuring that children's medication records provide staff with sufficient information to ensure medication can be administered safety. 04 August 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that detailed records must be kept in children's homes. All children's case records must be kept up to date. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.3).

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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 Inspection report children's home: SC008271 7 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: SC008271 8

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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

Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC008271 9 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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