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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC008608 1 SC008608 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

The home is run by a partnership. It provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2001.

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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: SC008608 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2022 Full Good 10/04/2019 Full Good 02/05/2018 Full Good 20/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC008608 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has not provided long-term care for children since September 2022. Until then, a child lived in the home for over a year and was proud that it was their longest placement. Staff actively supported the child through many difficult situations and health matters. The child provided some feedback about their experience of living at the home and described the staff as being ‘like family’. The child’s parents were also pleased with the staff and the care the child received. At the time the child was still living there, a parent said, ‘[Name of child] is in the best place (emotionally) that they’ve been for years.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since September 2022, the home has been used to provide two emergency bridging placements. Both children had lived in other homes provided by the same the organisation. These children were cared for by staff from their home’s core team. This ensured that they were cared for by familiar staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build good relationships with staff. Staff use these relationships to assist them with helping children to address any presenting behaviours and concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work in partnership with the children, their families and other professionals. This approach ensures that the children experience coordinated care and education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children also benefit from input from the in-house therapeutic team. This team works with the staff to identify strategies that staff can use in their work to engage the children. Their work is underpinned by various theoretical approaches. The therapists spend time at the home and their ongoing presence allows children to accept them as part of the team. In turn, children overcome any negative stigma they have attached to therapy and/or their mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home usually operates as a solo placement. This means that children’s views and wishes are incorporated consistently. The manager uses monthly feedback sheets and children’s meetings as ways to formally seek feedback and input from children. The children are initially informed about the complaints process when they move in. However, this also forms part of ongoing discussions to ensure that they remain aware of the process. No complaints have been made since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in education and attend extra-curricular activities. One child is attending regular activities, such as swimming and cub scouts. These external activities are enabling the child to be more at ease socialising with different children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to see their families, irrespective of distance. When children are moving in or out of the home, staff assist them by arranging visits that facilitate smooth transitions. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008608 4

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

The home carries out robust assessments to ensure that staff can meet children’s needs. Staff review this information regularly. These reviews ensure that the information remains relevant and any required adaptations are incorporated.

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

Children’s risks are known, and actions are taken to minimise these. Staff thoroughness in following through on actions has resulted in levels of risk reducing. There has been a small number of missing-from-home episodes. Staff are aware of the processes to be followed should a child go missing. Staff are trained in physically holding a child safely. However, this has not been necessary.

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

A child arrived with known risks in relation to criminal sexual exploitation. Staff educated the child to recognise the risks they were taking when out in the community. It is notable that, through rapport with staff, the child’s level of risk- taking behaviour has reduced. Subsequently, there were no significant incidents that required notifications to Ofsted.

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

Staff receive a comprehensive suite of training. These courses ensure that they feel equipped and knowledgeable in their role, especially in relation to recognising safeguarding concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted for several years. He is also registered as a manager for another home in the same organisation. His core team of staff are currently working elsewhere in the organisation. However, he remains responsible for their supervision and development. Staff describe the manager as ‘supportive’ and ‘helpful’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A staff member, new to the work, spoke positively about their induction, training and general experience. The member of staff feels supported to use their transferable skills and to develop new ones. The member of staff also stated that it has been beneficial to have gained a wide breadth of experience by working across the organisation’s other homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that he remains ambitious for the children. He does this through regular reviews of their plans. He also uses a tracker system to ensure that children are meeting their targets. New targets are set as appropriate. A child said they would score the home ‘five out of five’ because of how happy and settled they feel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed the recommendations made at the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose needs to be updated. This is to reflect the occasional use of the home as a bridging placement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008608 5 The quality of care reviews are informative and comprehensive. The manager gives a good overview of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager appropriately chases other professionals who fail to respond to requests. This includes matters such as planning for children’s next move.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A social worker provided positive feedback about the way staff work, and she described the communication as ‘fantastic’. It is evident that the team has gone above and beyond to support the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are encouraged to be individuals. Staff ensure that they recognise the importance of equality and diversity. Inspection report for children’s home: SC008608 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose accurately reflects the service currently being offered. Any reference to external agencies should still be valid. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.6)

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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: SC008608 7

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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

Sonia Hay, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC008608 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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