Children's Home run by Paramount Children’s Services Limited in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2719474 1 Registered provider: Paramount Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a small private company. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2719474 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. They benefit from effective, high-quality support from staff. Staff provide children with well-planned care that promotes their needs effectively. A social worker said, ‘[The child’s name] has made amazing progress… She is thriving.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with a doctor, dentist and optician, and have access to these services when they need them. Therapeutic support is sourced for children with additional needs to promote their emotional well-being. Medical consent is obtained so that staff are familiar with the health decisions that are delegated to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s learning and progress in education. They encourage children to attend school regularly, and maintain effective partnerships with the providers of children’s education to promote their educational achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to see their families. As a result, children sustain their close relationships with the people who are most important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with enjoyable activities to promote their interests and hobbies. Children enjoy going on holidays with staff, go-karting, the cinema and theme parks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with good support through one-to-one work. These sessions enable staff to review the experiences of children and support them in problem- solving and making positive choices. A child said, ‘Staff are caring and if I’m sad or unsafe, I can talk to staff.’

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

Children are kept safe and feel safe living at the home. Children have developed a strong sense of personal safety. A child said, ‘It’s the best home that I’ve been in. I like the staff and the way you’re treated.’

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

Staff have a good understanding of the needs and emerging vulnerabilities of children. Staff manage risks associated with children safely and effectively. Risk management plans provide staff with clear strategies to reduce risk and keep children safe from harm.

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

Children enjoy positive relationships with the adults who support them. A social worker said, ‘I am happy with the home and my young person has a good relationship with staff.’

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

Staff maintain effective partnerships with the police and other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety of children. However, a recent allegation was not reported to Inspection report for children’s home: 2719474 3 children’s services promptly. This could have impacted on the effectiveness of any subsequent investigations. The registered manager has since ensured that all staff have completed refresher training on safeguarding to ensure their familiarity with the procedures for reporting and managing allegations.

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

Staff are trained in de-escalation to help them to manage behaviour safely and effectively. There have been no restraints or missing-from-home episodes.

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

Staff employed to work with children are recruited and vetted carefully. This ensures that children are protected from unsuitable people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This is the home’s first inspection since its registration with Ofsted on 24 February 2023.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home employs an experienced registered manager who oversees the operation of the home efficiently and effectively. The manager leads staff by example and provides them with a clear sense of purpose and direction.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held each month to review the progress and experiences of children. Staff receive relevant training and regular practice-related supervision. Staff said, ‘I find the management very approachable, and training is readily available.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meet the aims and objectives as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. A stable staff team is employed to provide children with consistency and stability in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a comfortable, homely, and nicely furnished home. Children’s bedrooms are highly personalised in keeping with their wants and wishes. Health and safety matters are addressed effectively to ensure that a safe environment is maintained for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is visited by an independent person who scrutinises the home’s performance and the arrangements made to meet the needs of children. These visits help the manager to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager addresses any identified shortfalls to secure continued improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2719474 4

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that any allegations are notified to the appropriate authorities promptly. 11 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2719474 5

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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: 2719474 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Paramount Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 89 Briony Avenue, Hale, Altrincham WA15 8PZ

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2719474 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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