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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 1 SC008487 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 is one of a number of homes run by a partnership. It is registered to provide care for up to six children. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 28 July 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2022 Full Outstanding 02/07/2019 Full Outstanding 03/07/2018 Full Good 17/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 3

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outstanding

The individualised, high-quality care provided in this home ensures that children are making exceptional progress. They have positive experiences when living in the home. One child’s social worker was highly complimentary about the significant progress their child has made while living in the home. The child had previously had a number of placement breakdowns and the social worker was advocating for this to be the child’s ‘forever home’.

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outstanding

Relationships between staff and children are warm, affectionate and reciprocal. Children enjoy being around staff and feel safe and secure because of these positive relationships. Children told the inspector that they attribute their success and opportunities to the support delivered by the staff. One child referred to the staff team as being ‘like a family’.

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outstanding

There is a strong emphasis on education in the home. As a result, children’s school attendance and achievements are excellent. Well-thought-through plans help children who have not been in education for some time to transition into full-time education. One child recently left school with several qualifications and successfully started a college course. These achievements help children to develop a sense of self-belief and to have aspirations for their future.

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outstanding

A key strength of this home is the support delivered to families. Children in the home are supported to stay in touch with people who are important to them. Staff will go above and beyond in supporting family time, recognising the importance of these ties and of strengthening relationships. Parents recognise the positive impact the outreach support from the staff has made to their relationship with their child.

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outstanding

Children are helped to be independent and work towards their individual goals. For example, the staff supported one child to transition into semi-independent living, while another child moved closer to home area prior to a planned return to their family.

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outstanding

Children have access to a variety of opportunities that support their social and emotional needs. They are encouraged to develop hobbies and interests and to develop friendships outside of the home through attending youth groups and clubs.

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outstanding

The child-centred approach of the staff is reflected in the consultation with, and participation of, children in the running of the home. Regular meetings help children to evaluate their behaviour in the previous week and to plan their week ahead. All children are encouraged to express their concerns and they receive good information about their right to complain. There is a clear focus on ensuring that children have time for reflection and to celebrate their achievements. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 4 Children’s health needs are prioritised and understood. The staff carry out quality direct work with children, supporting them with all aspects of their health and well- being.

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outstanding

The home is decorated to a high standard and children are supported to personalise and decorate their bedrooms. Children’s bedrooms could be improved further, to ensure they are in keeping with the modern feel of the rest of the home.

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outstanding

Children feel safe. They are encouraged to be involved in understanding and managing their individual risks. The manager actively seeks their views and opinions to help inform their plans. This practice helps empower children and educates them further on their risk-taking behaviour and staying safe. Children’s risk and behaviour support plans are individualised and detailed. They include preventative strategies developed from a clear understanding of children’s behaviours and potential triggers. Children rarely display negative behaviours in the home. When incidents do occur, the staff de-escalate situations swiftly, ensuring children are supported.

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outstanding

The manager is resolute in her commitment to safeguarding children in the home. There is excellent multi-agency partnership working and the team proactively seeks support from other services as required. This, alongside the direct work carried out by staff, supports children to further understand risk and how to stay safe.

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outstanding

There are clear and effective safeguarding arrangements in place to protect children. Allegations or suspicions of harm are immediately shared with the appropriate safeguarding agencies and managed well. Missing-from-home incidents are not a frequent occurrence. On the rare occasions when children have gone missing from home or have returned home late, staff know how to respond. The manager ensures that incidents are fully evaluated and there is clear evidence of children being listened to.

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outstanding

Children thrive in an environment where positive behaviour is promoted. On occasions when staff need to hold children to keep them safe, records are detailed. Children are given the time to reflect on interventions and express their views. This contributes to children’s sense of safety and security.

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outstanding

Children make excellent progress in managing their feelings and behaviours. This is underpinned by the high-quality therapeutic care they receive from staff and the consistency of approach they experience.

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outstanding

Relationships between children in the home are positive. When potential issues arise, managers and staff take immediate action to prevent potential conflict or disagreements between children. As a result, children are respectful towards each other and any issues are swiftly resolved. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 5 Safer recruitment practices and regular monitoring of staff reduce the risk of unsuitable people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a highly competent, inspiring and child-centred registered manager. She is suitably qualified and has a wealth of experience and knowledge. The manager is supported by a skilled trainee manager. Together, they successfully lead a consistent team of dedicated staff who have considerable experience of caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have excellent oversight of care practice in the home and a detailed understanding of the individual needs of the children. They use internal and external monitoring to continually improve practice. Leaders and managers have high expectations about the level of support delivered to children and motivate staff to help children to achieve their full potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has instilled a culture of reflective practice and learning across the team. The staff training programme is extensive. The manager regularly seeks out training to further enhance the practice in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff use research to inform their care of children. They work closely with the organisation’s therapist and are piloting a trauma-informed model of care. This learning is shared across the staff team, through regular team meetings and informal team activities. Children have also been included in the pilot scheme. Their views are being incorporated into the development of an app that will support children across the organisation with their social and emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External professionals are highly complimentary about communication from the team. The team has developed highly effective relationships with placing authorities and a range of professionals involved in the care and education of children. The manager advocates for children and provides challenge when required, to ensure that children’s needs are continuously met and they continue to make progress in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong focus on support, nurture and development of the staff team. Staff receive regular supervision from the manager and leadership team. In addition, staff also receive focused supervision from the therapist at regular intervals throughout the year. This ensures children are looked after by a competent and confident staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are maintained and decorated to a high standard. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).

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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: SC008487 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Limited

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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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Inspector

Kelly McCurdy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008487 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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