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

Inspection report children's home: SC025417 1 SC025417 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 operated by a private provider and provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. The home’s statement of purpose states that children can be between the ages of 7 and 17.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager. The new manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC025417 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 13/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 10/03/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC025417 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and settled. They receive care from a kind and compassionate staff team. This allows children to form caring, trusting relationships with the adults looking after them. As a result, children feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living at this home are making good progress across all aspects of their life. One child who had been out of education for a long time prior to moving into this home has been supported to attain a place in college. Another, who was at high risk of criminal exploitation, has had no recent police involvement and is returning to mainstream education. Currently, this excellent progress is not immediately clear when reviewing the child’s records. The manager should put in place a system that monitors children’s progress so that any changes can be easily identified and tracked.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff go the extra mile to build good relationships with children’s family members. As a result, improvements have been made to arrangements for children’s family time. This allows children to enjoy better-quality time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are always celebrated. Staff take pride in children’s achievements and use a system of rewards to mark successes, however big or small. This encourages children to reach their potential and has a positive effect on their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff always champion the best interests of the children. Staff work well in partnership with a range of agencies, communicate openly with family members and robustly challenge other professionals when necessary. These efforts to advocate on behalf of the children ensure that children are always receiving the best possible care and response from services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is welcoming, and attempts have been made to create a family atmosphere. However, there are unresolved maintenance issues and some areas of the home need updating. A well-maintained home is important as it allows children to see the care that others feel for them is reflected in their environment.

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

The children are kept safe by the care provided while living at this home. Staff have a good understanding of how to keep children safe and of their role and responsibilities within a range of safeguarding scenarios. Children’s overall safety is improved because of moving into this home.

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

Written risk assessments are of inconsistent quality. In particular, the missing-from- care protocol does not provide staff with a clear guide to follow when children go Inspection report children's home: SC025417 4 missing. Individual risk assessments are not easy to follow or readily available. The manager’s oversight of risk assessments is not sufficient to ensure that the assessments are of good quality. Good-quality and effective assessments of risk, including strategies for staff follow, are essential to ensure that staff understand how to keep children safe.

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

Staff work well in partnership with a range of other services. Staff communicate regularly with all professionals and family members, providing updates and important information. This approach guarantees that children receive a holistic package of care and that any issues are identified quickly.

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

Staff use a range of creative approaches to understand and manage risk. They get to know the children that they are caring for well. They use this relationship-based approach to recognise early indications of change in children’s behaviour that demonstrate they may need extra support. When this happens, children are helped to access relevant services which meet their needs and prevent an increase in risk.

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

Pre-admission processes are well planned and thorough. Children are well matched to the home, and they can visit and meet staff before they move in. The location risk assessment considers all local risks and includes some good intelligence from other professionals. This approach provides children with a good foundation for positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been significant changes in the management of the home since the last inspection. A manager has been appointed who is suitably qualified and experienced. The manager is not yet registered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although new to this home, the manager is clearly ambitious for the children in his care and for the future development of the staff team. The manager encourages the staff team to share his enthusiastic and proactive approach to achieving the best outcomes for the children. This helps children to recognise their own potential and make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has put together a good workforce development plan. He understands the areas for improvement within the staff team. He has a clear vision for how to make positive changes within the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight and review are inconsistent. Some records show valuable management feedback. However, some staff signatures are missing from important plans and documents. Good management oversight is vital to make sure that staff have the information they need to care for children safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are cared for by a stable, experienced staff team. This consistency allows children to get to know staff well and form trusting bonds with them. Children experience a uniform approach to their care which adds to their sense of security. Inspection report children's home: SC025417 5 Supervision is used as a good review of staff practice. Staff feel supported by the leadership team and are encouraged to focus on their own professional development. The home’s statement of purpose does not set out a schedule for the regularity of staff supervision. Therefore, staff supervision is undertaken at irregular intervals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend regular mandatory training to develop their skills and knowledge. This helps them to better understand and care for children. Staff would benefit from attending a wider range of training, specifically including issues most relevant to the needs of the children they are caring for. For instance, one child in placement is exploring their gender identity and sexuality. Training in relation to their specific needs would make sure staff are equipped with the skills to support them. Inspection report children's home: SC025417 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff have clear information within children’s risk assessments on the actions to take if an incident was to occur. 20 December 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that staff are provided with training in relation to children’s specific needs. Also, that robust monitoring systems are in place. 20 December 2022 Inspection report children's home: SC025417 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that general maintenance is timely, such as repairs are made to decoration; windows are dressed appropriately; televisions are hung; blown windows are replaced; and areas of damp are sealed and decorated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff sign essential documentation. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that the steps taken by staff to secure good progress and outcomes are clearly recorded in the children’s records. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the following elements of the workforce plan are included in the statement of purpose: (in accordance with Schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20)) the staffing structure; experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10)

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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: SC025417 8

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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: Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Nicola Shaw, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC025417 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 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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