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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008270 1 SC008270 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

This children’s home provides care for up to two children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

An experienced and qualified registered manager is in post.

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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: SC008270 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2021 Full Good 29/01/2020 Full Outstanding 27/02/2019 Full Outstanding 18/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008270 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager works well with local authorities to ensure that children’s education needs are understood and met well. Both children are now attending schools that meet their individual needs. Children make good progress with their learning and their attendance is exceptional. Children have developed career aspirations. One child wants to work with animals and another child wants to be a police officer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to keep in touch with people who are important to them. They recognised signs in a child’s behaviour when plans to see family members were overwhelming the child. Staff spoke to the child about their feelings and offered strategies to help them. They shared information with the child’s social worker. As a result, plans to see family were altered and time spent together is now a positive experience for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to give children positive experiences. They arranged for one child who likes vehicles to have a tour of the local bus depot and experience a bus ride for the first time. In addition, through positive links with local community police officers, staff arranged for the child to sit in a police car, which he loved. Through these experiences, children learn that staff care and want the best for them. They also have fun!

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff seek children’s views and advocate on behalf of children. When a child expressed that they did not want their care to be reviewed over a virtual platform, the registered manager informed the local authority of this. At the time of the inspection, alternative arrangements were being planned for the child’s review meeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thoroughly enjoyed Christmas. They spoke to inspectors fondly about the ‘naughty elf’ that got up to mischief during the night in the lead-up to Christmas. They also enjoyed Christmas traditions such as Christmas Eve boxes and leaving Santa a drink and snack on Christmas Eve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with local health services. Staff support children to attend routine health appointments. When children feel unwell, they are well cared for by staff and enjoy being pampered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are very much part of the community. They are supported by staff to attend local discos and events, as well as helping local families by providing food hampers. Children’s involvement in the community is helping them to develop a sense of belonging, security and purpose. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008270 4

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

Children’s individual plans support staff to understand, identify and manage risk and behaviours that are likely to be displayed by children. Risks have reduced for both children. However, these achievements are not always reflected in the children’s records.

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

It is rare now that children go missing from home. On the occasions when children are not where they are expected to be, staff try hard to locate them. Staff work well with the police to ensure that children are found quickly and returned home safely. Children are offered the opportunity to speak to an independent person when they return. This helps staff to understand what happened and to think about how to reduce and manage future risks and keep children safe.

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

Children develop trusting relationships with staff and can tell them when they are worried about something. For example, one child shared with staff about their experience at school with other pupils. The registered manager worked with teachers to resolve conflicts between the children. The child is now more settled and no longer worries about going to school.

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

The registered manager has a system in place to prevent children from accessing harmful content online. It also allows staff to monitor usage. For example, the system prevents children from accessing the internet for excessive periods or through the night. Children are supported by staff to understand online risks. This helps to keep children safe while still enjoying the positive aspects that the internet can offer.

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

Since the last inspection, two new staff have started working in the home. The registered manager has good recruitment systems in place. This reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals.

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

The home is maintained well, and is decorated and furnished nicely. Children enjoy spending time in their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager. She is supported by a suitably experienced and qualified staff team that is passionate and dedicated in delivering good-quality care to both children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the registered manager keep children’s views and their well-being central to their approach. Regular meetings with children are held and this ensures that they can talk about the things that matter to them. Children recently asked to join local community groups, and this was quickly acted on and arrangements put in place to support both children’s wishes. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008270 5 Staff feel well supported by the registered manager. A staff member told inspectors, ‘I feel very supported by the manager, she is always available and contactable when I need her.’ This leadership style motivates staff and helps them to enjoy their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff complete an induction that helps them to understand the ethos and values of the home. The registered manager ensures that all staff receive training to meet the needs of children. Staff also receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. However, records lack detail.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the service and regularly reviews the quality of care. She spends time with staff and children. This helps her to understand the progress children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff team work hard to build positive working relationships with professionals and family members. Sharing information is a particular strength. A teacher said, ‘This is the best joint working relationship we have.’ Children benefit from a strong support network that works consistently to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been delays in receiving one child’s written plans from the placing authority. The registered manager has requested these, but had not escalated her concern when they were not sent. On another occasion, contradictory information received when the child first came to the home has not yet been clarified. As a result, there is a delay in understanding all of this child’s needs and ensuring that the correct support is in place. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008270 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, when the placing authority does not provide the input and services needed, they must challenge them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that case records must be kept up to date. In particular, they should ensure that children’s risks are accurately reflected in their written plans. In addition, the registered should ensure that staff supervision records fully reflect the discussions had. (‘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 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: SC008270 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspectors

Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008270 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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