Children's Home run by Stepping Stones Children’s Homes Limited in Salford

Inspection report children’s home: 2593915 1 Registered provider: Stepping Stones Children’s Homes 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 organisation. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in September 2020.

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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: 29 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 children’s home: 2593915 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2593915 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points and benefit from effective, high-quality support from staff. Staff provide children with highly personalised, well-planned care that promotes their needs effectively. Children are kept safe and develop a strong sense of personal safety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm and secure relationships with staff and sustain their positive attachments. Children are provided with continuity of care and benefit from consistency and stability in their lives. Staff provide children with a caring, supportive and nurturing environment. A social worker said, ‘All the staff are friendly and helpful, and they have good relationships with the children.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school regularly. Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the providers of the children’s education to promote their learning and educational achievements. A teacher reported, ‘They are always easily contactable and responsive to school requests, and their engagement with planning and care meetings is regular and informative.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with a doctor, dentist and optician and have access to these services when they need them. Medical consent is obtained, and staff are clear about the types of health decisions and responsibilities that are delegated to them. Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are met effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with the placing authorities to ensure that family time is a safe and positive experience for children. As a result, children sustain their familiar relationships with the people who are most important to them. A social worker said, ‘They facilitate contact and are very good at providing information from this.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with positive, age-appropriate and enjoyable activities. Children enjoy meals out, theme parks, the circus, swimming lessons, football and the cinema. A child said, ‘It’s fun and it’s happy. I do lots of fun activities like rock climbing and ice skating. The activities are the best.’

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

Staff consistently place the safety of children at the centre of their practice. Risk management plans and effective safe working practice promote the safety and well- being of children. Risks associated with children are managed effectively and staff have a good understanding of children’s specific needs and vulnerabilities. Children are kept safe and feel safe living in the home.

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

There have been no missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection. Staff closely supervise children inside and outside of the home. High levels of adult Inspection report children’s home: 2593915 4 supervision ensure that children’s safety is prioritised effectively. Staff ensure that children are safeguarded and protected from harm.

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

Staff are trained in child protection and know how to deal with allegations and report suspected abuse. Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities to ensure that children are supported and protected from harm.

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

Staff promote a safe and harmonious environment for children. Staff have high expectations of behaviour and apply consistent rules and boundaries that are designed to keep children safe from harm. A teacher reported, ‘The child who is in their care seems to have settled well and been able to explore his behaviours and feelings within a safe and well-managed environment.’

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

Consequences to address negative behaviour are fair, balanced and proportionate. Staff work with children on their feelings and emotions and help them to self- regulate their feelings and behaviour. A child said, ‘Staff help me a lot with my anger and stuff. I think it would be better if there were less rules. But the rules are normal.’

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

Holds to keep children safe in unsafe situations are always a last resort and are only ever used to protect children from harm. The registered manager routinely monitors the use of restrictive practices and comments on the effectiveness of interventions. They ensure that staff and children are debriefed to help them learn from incidents and reflect on what could have been done differently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a home that is managed efficiently and effectively. The home employs a committed and experienced registered manager who demonstrates strong and effective leadership of the operations of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that they lead staff by example and channels staff’s efforts effectively. A staff member said, ‘I love working here. It’s a very relaxed environment with a great manager and resilient staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to good-quality training and benefit from regular team meetings and practice-related supervision. Staff meet regularly with the home’s therapist, which enables them to meet the specific needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home employs experienced and well-trained staff. However, not all staff are suitably qualified. The manager ensures that unqualified staff are enrolled to complete training to obtain their qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective systems for reviewing and improving the quality of the children’s care. The manager makes good use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to tackle shortfalls and secure continuing improvement. Inspection report children’s home: 2593915 5 The accommodation provided for children is physically safe and appropriately secure. The home provides children with a warm, cosy and homely living environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have met the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection and meet the aims and objectives, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no breaches in regulation. Consequently, there are no requirements or recommendations made following this inspection. Inspection report children’s home: 2593915 6

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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: 2593915 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stepping Stones Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 34 Church Street, Hyde SK14 1JJ

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2593915 8 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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