Children's Home run by Parallel Parents Ltd in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2624934 1 Registered provider: Parallel Parents Ltd. Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to seven children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home shares the same site as an independent school. Inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced registered manager.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 7 December 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2624934 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2624934 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children with differing care experiences and levels of engagement receive consistently high levels of care and support. The positive relationships between children and staff are a strength. Children benefit from staff showing them emotional warmth and genuine affection. The children develop a sense of belonging and have a range of positive experiences. As a result, children are nurtured and feel secure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to explore their interests. They enjoy many positive activities and develop hobbies. Children regularly access community activities. Staff are confident in meeting the children’s needs while helping them to develop their individual hobbies. Because of this, children’s confidence and self- esteem grow.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living at the home. They have fun with the staff and can also talk to them about their worries. Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children to try new experiences and have a happy life. Staff go to great lengths to create memories, pictures and photo books to provide happy memories for the children and their families when they move on. This supports children to be happy and settled.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education daily. They are well prepared for the school day, and this helps them to learn. Staff work closely with the school to ensure there is effective partnership working to help children make good progress. Children receive consistency in care and education. As a result, this supports children’s development and progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The managers and staff develop carefully considered plans for children who are coming to live at the home and for those who are leaving. Children are welcomed in a planned and sensitive way. Children who leave keep in touch with staff. They receive encouragement from staff with any difficulties and are supported to return and visit. One carer said: ‘We have been deeply involved with the home and the moving on plans, which benefited everyone. It is really positive.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment reflects that children are valued. It is homely, with a good standard of decoration and furnishings. Staff take pride in making the house a home.

p.3

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

Children are safer because their risk assessments and plans provide clarity and direction for staff. When there is an incident of concern, the manager and staff reflect on the plans and risks and adjust them if required. Risk assessments are Inspection report for children's home: 2624934 4 subject to regular updating, so they accurately reflect children’s complex and changing needs.

p.3

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

Children have trusting relationships with the manager and staff. Children know they will be listened to and taken seriously. This reflects the staff’s ability to manage and support children through their anxieties or worries. Consequently, children have the stability they need, and this helps to keep them safe.

p.4

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

Staff know how to protect children. They complete the mandatory training required and know how to follow procedures. They also receive bespoke training that is tailored to the needs of the children.

p.4

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

Staff regularly discuss safeguarding issues in team meetings. This provides opportunities for staff to discuss and reflect more on specific safeguarding issues to make sure that children are protected.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced, dedicated manager. He is a positive role model for children and staff. He demonstrates a genuine commitment to helping children make good progress in all areas of their lives. This is instrumental in the good standard of care provided. Staff speak passionately about the children and their progress.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Teamwork is fundamental in providing children with the best possible care and support. Staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities. The team celebrates all successes with children. Staff are committed to ensuring that each child has the best chances and outcomes possible. They advocate for children’s rights and needs. The manager and staff see themselves as a family around the child.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The committed manager strives to promote the development of the staff team. Staff are supported to develop and grow. Staff access a range of bespoke training essential to the individual needs of the children. This means that children receive care from a skilled, reflective and knowledgeable team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported by managers in their day-to-day practice. Managers are visible and approachable; this has helped to build a stable staff team. Staff have one-to-one meetings and yearly appraisals of their practice. However, safeguarding is not routinely discussed. Staff would benefit from opportunities to share concerns and develop their practice in these meetings.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership work with external agencies is extensive. Multidisciplinary work means that the best interests of the children are considered. A range of professionals contributed to this inspection and commended the work and commitment of the manager and staff. One professional said: ‘Children flourish because of the consistency and care of the team. They communicate really well; they go above and beyond for the children.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2624934 5

p.4

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions reflect discussion on safeguarding issues, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs and risks of children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

p.5

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: 2624934 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Parallel Parents Ltd.

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.6

Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2624934 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7