Children's Home run by Stockport Supported Accommodation Service in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: 1271135 1 Registered provider: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and operated by a local authority.

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Information about this children’s home

It is registered to provide care for up to eight children with social and emotional needs. There are six children currently living in the home. Two of the children live in an annex that is separate from the main building.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently on parental leave. A manager has been appointed to oversee the home in the registered manager’s absence and has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: 3 November 2022

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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: 1271135 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/11/2022 Full Good 18/08/2021 Full Good 12/06/2019 Full Good 27/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1271135 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with nurturing care and enabled to become independent. Several children have left the home in a planned way to live in supported accommodation or their own tenancies. Children have developed lasting relationships with staff and have continued to stay in touch with staff. This means that children feel a sense of connection and belonging with the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress at school and college. Leaders and managers ensure that support with education is a priority in the home. Staff ensure that children have the right help to match their abilities. Two children have completed their GCSEs and are now keen to enter further education or training.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with acceptance and understanding. Their identities are well supported. Children are encouraged to talk to staff about relationships and issues that are affecting them. This helps children to develop a deeper understanding of healthy relationships and enables them to make safer choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and well-being needs are met. Staff support children to attend health appointments. Children are encouraged to eat healthily and take regular exercise. Specialist external help is sourced when necessary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff offer children a range of enjoyable activities. Children sometimes prefer time in the community with peers who may be a negative influence. Staff continue to provide opportunities to rebuild positive relationships and develop social skills with other children in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and clean. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and furnished to a high standard. Staff offer help to clean children’s bedrooms if needed. This ensures that children consistently have a pleasant space to sleep and spend time in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living at the home are integrated into the local community. For example, children attended a street party following the king’s coronation. One of the children recently won first prize in a neighbourhood baking competition. There is mutual respect between neighbours and the home and good communication.

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

Children said that they feel safe at the home and their emotional well-being is promoted. Staff discussions with children are focused on reducing children’s risk- taking behaviour. Staff speak to children and pay regard to their individual age and level of understanding. Children have been helped to reduce risks associated with self-harm and substance misuse. Inspection report for children’s home: 1271135 4 Risk-management plans provide staff with clear guidance to safeguard children. Safety support plans are individualised and identify strategies that are effective in supporting each child. Staff have a clear understanding of the risks for children and how they should respond to their behaviour. Staff use a restorative approach and positive relationships are maintained with children.

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

Staff follow a plan of what to do when children go missing. Staff are curious about who children are spending time with, and what children do when not at home. Staff actively search the areas where children are likely to go with their friends. When children return, they are offered an opportunity to speak to an independent adult about their feelings. Children feel valued and this creates a sense of belonging to their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified and experienced leadership team manages the home. Decision-making is effective, timely and responsive to the needs of children living at the home. The manager has weekly meetings to share information with police and social care about one child’s complex needs. Safeguarding partners review the care plan and this ensures that staff are doing everything they can to help the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers escalate concerns when they cannot provide positive outcomes for children with the resources and the staff skills that they have. Staff do not give up easily on children and will ask for help from safeguarding partners and consider different ways of working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers identify opportunities to develop the skills and experience of the staff team. Staff access a range of training courses that are specific to children’s needs. Professionals with specialist knowledge are invited to team meetings and provide useful resources for the staff team. Staff keep up to date with the latest developments in caring for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good-quality and frequent supervision from the manager. This provides a space for reflective discussion and respectful challenge. Staff speak positively about this support, and the care that they provide is improved as a result. Inspection report for children’s home: 1271135 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The home should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality

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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: 1271135 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Spend and Provider Management Hub, Upper Ground Floor, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport SK1 3XE

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Inspectors

Sue Garner, Social Care Inspector Paul Robinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1271135 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

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Inspectors

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