Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 1 SC025747

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run and managed by a charitable organisation. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2016.

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This monitoring visit

On 28 March 2023, Ofsted received information that said that the registered manager, staff and children from another children’s home owned by the same voluntary organisation had moved into this home while their home was being refurbished.

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This monitoring visit

The arrangements for this move were found to be satisfactory. The children will remain at this home, and there are no plans for them to return to their former home.

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This monitoring visit

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection were not assessed at this visit and will be considered at the next inspection. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2023 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Good 23/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that significant incidents and missing- from-home incidents are evaluated with scrutiny, taking into consideration any possible learning outcomes that can be implemented within the children’s risk-management plans, or to support the development of staff.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, ensure that there are clear and organised systems in place to ensure that any evidence or essential information for the management of allegations can be easily accessed by authorised persons. 3 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is necessary and proportionate; 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 4 is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

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Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that internal locks on the communal doors are removed.

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when behaviour management measures are imposed, they are evaluated to review their effectiveness. Ensure that children are spoken to about the measure, and that their views are included. 3 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

is instigated; or 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 5 concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that when children make allegations, notifications are sent to Ofsted. Notifications must also clearly state what action has been taken and whether safeguarding referrals have been made.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s views and opinions are included in the quality of care review. 3 March 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments are clear, directive and do not become a chronology of events. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place so that all staff receive appraisal of their performance which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. This should include views gathered from children and other professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that when conducting a review of the premises, they consult and consider the views of relevant persons. (‘Guide to the

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Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to ensure that the home remained suitable for registration following receipt of information.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 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

Helen Humphreys, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC025747 8 regulates and inspects 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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