Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children's home: SC025715 1 SC025715 Registered provider: The Together Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a charitable organisation. It is registered to care for up to three children with autism spectrum disorders and physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since February 2020. She is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: SC025715 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Good 30/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC025715 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience nurturing and consistent care from a skilled and passionate staff team. Since the last inspection, two brothers who had lived at the home for the majority of their childhoods have left to move to adult provision. The staff team worked tirelessly to ensure that the brothers had a positive move to their new homes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The admission of a new child into the home was well considered. There was good joint working between the home, the child’s previous home, his school and family to support his move. The child, who is non-verbal and has autism, was helped to understand his change of home environment by the use of clear pictorial timelines and social stories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This child’s needs were considered alongside the needs of the other child who has lived at the home for some time. This ensured that this change in living arrangements was a positive experience for both children. However, the pre- admission assessment does not fully evidence the decision-making by the registered manager in relation to the child moving in, particularly in how the balancing of the care needs of each child would be done, although it is clear in practice that the registered manager has considered these issues. This has not adversely affected either child, as they are enjoying living together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are encouraged to share in their children’s lives. Staff support parents to spend time with children in their family homes or in the community. Staff send parents daily email updates about their children, including photos of their activities and achievements. This strong partnership between children’s families and staff helps children to maintain their sense of identity and belonging. Parents told the inspector they are very happy about the care their children receive. One parent said: ‘I feel blessed and lucky my child is living in the home. There is nothing they could do better. They have been a constant for us during a time of change.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are aspirational for children and care for them in a way that promotes their learning and independence. Since the last inspection, one child has made significant progress in his use of his pictorial timeline and his signing. This has helped with his understanding of his daily life and also helped staff to understand and meet his needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have lots of opportunities to try new things and pursue their interests. Children lead happy, fulfilling lives. One child had afternoon tea with the Lord Mayor last summer, along with other children cared for by the organisation. He was able to share his daily timeline with the Lord Mayor. Photos taken by staff show him enjoying his day out at the town hall. Inspection report for children's home: SC025715 4

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

Children’s care records are clear and comprehensive and provide a good understanding of children’s lives, the care they receive and the progress they make. Children’s written plans and assessments support staff to care for them safely and in a way that meets their individual needs.

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

Leaders and managers are aware of the physical and emotional impact of restrictive practices on children. The registered manager ensures that assessments are in place for the use of any mechanical restraints, such as harnesses. The use of restrictions is minimal and proportionate. There is a good balance between keeping children safe and giving them opportunities to take risks in line with their understanding and abilities.

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

Physical intervention with children is rare. The organisation’s electronic recording system is not used in a way that helps to easily identify the use of physical intervention. Some incidents are recorded as involving physical intervention when they have not. This is not helpful for leaders and managers or for external scrutiny of practice, as it leads to an apparent overreporting of physical interventions in the home.

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

Staff understand children’s individual communication, sensory and cognitive needs. They use this knowledge to support children to recognise, prevent or reduce their own distress. This also helps staff to understand the impact that their behaviours may have on children and to change them accordingly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been no changes to leadership in the home since the last inspection. The registered manager and the assistant manager have strong oversight of practice. They provide good support and challenge to staff, which underpins the high quality of care experienced by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is child-centred decision-making in terms of children coming to live at the home. A pause on new children moving into the home, pending additional staff joining the team, is positive. It ensures that children are cared for by a stable, permanent staff team that knows them well and understands their individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision, and team meetings take place regularly. This supports them to undertake their roles. Staff say they enjoy working at the home and feel that their close-knit staff team is supportive and positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When two brothers left the home last year, after many years, to move into adult accommodation, senior leaders recognised the emotional impact of these changes on staff. They acknowledged the challenges staff had faced and the impact staff had made in the boys’ lives. Staff had an opportunity to meet with senior managers as a group to reflect on and take stock of their work over the years and their contribution Inspection report for children's home: SC025715 5 to the boys’ childhoods. This support for staff from the wider organisation makes staff feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Improvements made to the internal environment of the home since the last inspection give children a pleasant family environment to live in. A new shower room has been fitted downstairs, and a new bathroom is due to be fitted upstairs. The children’s living room has been refurnished, providing a bright and modern space. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. A member of staff has painted one child’s bedroom walls with animals that they have chosen. However, there has been a delay in upgrading the back garden. As a result, children do not have the same quality of environment outside as they do inside the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a good advocate for the children in her care. She is actively engaged with children’s care planning and provides challenge to local authorities and other professionals when required. The registered manager has good working relationships with families and professionals, and this helps children to make progress in their lives with the right support. Parents say that, through frequent changes of other professionals, the registered manager and the staff team have been a constant. This is greatly valued by families. Inspection report for children's home: SC025715 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that pre-admission assessments include an evaluation of the impact on children already living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are recorded in such a way that they are easily identifiable as such on the provider’s electronic recording system. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should ensure that the identified improvements required to the back garden are completed in a timely manner in order to provide children with a safe and positive environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.4)

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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: SC025715 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE

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Inspector

Dawn Parton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC025715 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 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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