Children's home run by The Partnership of Care Today

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 1 SC008268 Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A large private provider operates this home. The home is registered to provide care for up to two children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 7 November 2022. He holds a level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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: SC008268 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2021 Full Good 19/02/2020 Full Inadequate 09/05/2018 Full Good 27/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one child has moved from the home and now lives with their family. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home. Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs. They provide individualised care that helps children to develop their confidence and build positive relationships with staff and people in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Through using a nurturing approach, staff help children to make progress. Staff support children to increase their independence skills. As a result, the child at the home now attends education regularly, works part time and maintains relationships with the people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proud of children’s achievements and celebrate their progress. This recognition motivates children and helps them to positively plan for their move to independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are understood by staff. The child spoke to staff about wanting to see more of his family. Staff advocated for this. As a result, the child now spends more time with family and has enjoyed a family holiday.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s decor provides a warm and cosy family-friendly environment. Children are able to decorate their bedrooms to their individual taste and display photos that capture positive childhood memories. This gives them a sense of belonging and pride in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to remain in good health. They ensure that children are registered with local health services and access health advice and medical treatment when required. Staff encourage the children to attend routine health appointments.

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

Children are cared for by staff who are child-centred. The staff have a good understanding of the children’s plans, which set out clear strategies for staff to follow. This means that when incidents occur, staff take appropriate action to protect children.

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

Safeguarding incidents are rare. Staff are skilled at encouraging children to share any worries and fears they have. They are generally able to address any frustrations before they escalate. As a result, incidents have reduced and children feel safe.

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

Incidents of children going missing from the home have reduced. On the occasions when children have not been where they are expected to be, staff take appropriate action to locate them and share information with relevant professionals. Children speak with an independent person about their time away from home. The Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 4 information obtained is used to prevent incidents in the future and helps to keep children safe.

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

There are systems in place to reduce the risk of fire. However, some actions identified in the home’s fire risk assessments and plans were not being implemented in full. For example, fire extinguishers were not placed throughout the home in the locations identified. There was no individual risk assessment for the type of locks being used on the fire exit doors. Before the end of the inspection, the registered manager ensured that fire extinguishers were placed in the correct locations and had arranged for the locks on the fire exits to be changed as advised in the fire risk assessment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate, motivated and keen to develop the service. Staff are supported by the manager. They receive regular good-quality supervisions and appraisals. Along with team meetings and training, these contribute to staff development and have a positive impact on the care children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The culture of the home is characterised by the team’s high aspirations for the children in their care. The registered manager and staff work together to provide the support children need to work towards achieving positive outcomes. This team approach provides the consistency needed to support children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals are complimentary of the registered manager and the care the staff provide. A college tutor said, ‘When staff attend parents evening, they are genuinely interested in the progress [name of child] has made and how they can support with his education.’ He commented on the child being happy to return home after each college day. The registered manager communicates effectively with professionals, which means children benefit from well-coordinated care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are regularly consulted on the care that they receive and they know how to make a complaint. The registered manager is proactive in seeking children’s views to inform the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is not fully staffed. As a result, the registered manager intends to provide care for one child, as opposed to the two children that the home is registered to care for. This means the child at the home continues to receive care from experienced staff who they know well. The registered manager ensures that staff are safely recruited. This reduces the risk of children being cared for by unsuitable individuals. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they comply with relevant health and safety legislation. In particular, that fire extinguishers are located around the home and fire risk assessments are followed. (‘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: SC008268 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today Children’s Services

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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

Sharon Bourne, Social Care Inspector Helen Malanaphy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008268 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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