Children's home run by Platform Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited 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 organisation. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 15 July 2022. A permanent manager has been in post since July 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

Date of last inspection: 21 September 2021

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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: 1264286 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/09/2021 Full Good 27/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/05/2019 Full Good 12/12/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child moved into the home and three children have moved on from the home. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said that they have good relationships with staff and can talk to them if they are worried or upset. The staff were observed to be kind, patient and nurturing with the child. One staff member said that they just want to make a positive difference to children’s lives. The child has trusted adults that they can talk to and has positive relationships with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress in their education. They have high levels of attendance and enjoy school. The child said that staff encourage them to do homework and revision for GCSE exams. They have been on work experience at a local nursery. The child has high aspirations for their future. Staff are helping the child to achieve their goals. The child takes pride in their educational achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to learn new life skills. The child is starting to prepare for the future. The child budgets for and cooks home-made meals. These activities help the child to learn about responsibility and prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff and the manager creatively engage the child in important discussions. These cover a good range of topics, including sexual health, internet safety and bullying. The manager has age-appropriate and personalised resources to ensure that the child is educated and informed. Interactive discussions help the child to develop an understanding of how to keep safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has specific cultural and religious needs. One staff member shares the same religion and culture. The child has spent time learning and exploring their culture and religion with this staff member. Staff supported the child to celebrate Eid. The child has linked up with the local religious community. The child is being helped to explore their identity and feel a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a wide range of opportunities to try new activities and experiences, which have included youth club, swimming and hair modelling. The child has enjoyed an activity-based holiday club and taken part in a play. The child has had the opportunity of a staycation at the seaside. The child said, ‘I always get to do fun things.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves out of the home have been planned whenever possible. One child moved quickly when a new semi-independent placement was found, in line with their wishes. One child moved out of the home in an unplanned way, to keep all the children safe. The move was managed with sensitivity. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 4 A child with complex behaviours around substance misuse has moved on from the home. The child had a specialist substance misuse worker. Staff helped to educate the child on the impact and risks of substance misuse. However, when the child returned to the home under the influence of illegal substances, medical advice was not always sought or recorded.

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

The child feels safe at the home. A social worker said that she is confident that the manager and staff keep the child safe. Staff understand and implement the home’s safeguarding procedures. They confidently manage safeguarding incidents.

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

There has been one allegation. The manager dealt with this promptly and effectively. She informed all relevant professionals to ensure that there was external professional oversight of any investigations. This joined-up working helps to safeguard children effectively.

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

There have been some incidents of self-harm. Staff confidently manage the incidents and offer the child reassurance and appropriate medical attention. The child has regular counselling sessions. Staff are helping the child to develop self- soothing strategies. The child’s psychologist said that the manager and staff have a therapeutic approach and understand the child’s needs. The child has specialist care and is being helped to learn to express difficult emotions safely.

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

There have been some physical interventions. These are appropriate, necessary and proportionate. The manager debriefs staff following incidents. Staff listen to the child’s views on restraint and explore safer ways for the child to express their feelings and emotions.

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

There have been a few incidents during which the child has been a victim and a perpetrator of bullying at school. The manager and staff take the incidents seriously, work closely with the school and acted to resolve the issues and keep the child safe. The staff have worked with the child to educate them about bullying. The child has been visited by a local police officer, who discussed personal safety with the child. The child feels well supported and safe.

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

Before children move into the home, the manager makes an impact risk assessment to ensure that children’s needs can be met and considers the impact on children already at the home. Staff have appropriate training and experience. However, one child’s assessment did not reflect how staff’s experience and qualifications were considered or how all the risks would be managed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since July 2022 and is applying to register with Ofsted. The manager was the previous deputy manager of the home and had a thorough handover from the departing registered manager. The new manager has several years’ experience of working with children. She said that she has regular Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 5 supervision sessions and support from her managers. Staff spoke positively about the new manager. The staff said that the manager is approachable and supportive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from good-quality face-to-face training. The staff said that they felt well prepared for their roles and received a thorough induction. They had the opportunity to shadow experienced staff initially. The staff are currently working towards a level 3 or 4 diploma within the agreed timescales. They have a good knowledge of how to meet the children’s needs and they are motivated to provide good care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is high. Staff said that they have regular supervision sessions and good guidance from the manager. The staff continue to develop professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A social worker said that she is very happy with the care provided to their child. She said that the staff understand the child’s needs. The social worker said that the communication is good, and that the manager works well with the social worker.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that staff help children work towards the targets that are formulated using a therapeutic resilience model and tool. The model is included in the home’s statement of purpose. However, the staff do not yet fully understand the model.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person’s reports are of good quality and make appropriate recommendations. These help the manager to make improvements to the quality of care that children receive. However, feedback from children, parents and professionals is limited and a safeguarding statement is not aways included in the report. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 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

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives, and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a) (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that regular feedback is sought from children and that professionals’ and parents’ feedback is regularly included in the reports. The reports must include a statement in relation to safeguarding and children’s well- being.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last full inspection and is restated. 9 January 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that each child’s health and well-being needs are met. In particular, offer and seek medical advice if a child is under the influence of an illegal substance. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 32, paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. In particular, ensure that staff fully understand the model of care outlined in the statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  The registered person should only accept placements for children when they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and when they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. In

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Recommendations

particular, ensure that records show how staff’s experience and qualifications have been considered and that impact risk assessments contain strategies to manage the risks to each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 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: 1264286 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited

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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

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1264286 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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