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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 1 SC021683 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

This children’s home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities. 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 November 2020.

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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: 27 February 2023

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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: SC021683 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2023 Full Good 04/11/2021 Full Good 05/02/2020 Full Good 12/09/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home. Both children had well- supported and planned moves to semi-independent living. Staff helped the children to develop their life skills to promote their readiness for adulthood. One child who has recently left the home said, ‘Everyone was very supportive. The staff are all amazing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy school and benefit from excellent school attendance. Staff have high aspirations for children. They work in partnership with the children’s schools to promote their educational progress, learning and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff and benefit from well-planned care that promotes their needs effectively. A child said, ‘It’s been perfectly fine. I get on well with everyone.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet children’s health needs effectively. Staff ensure that children have access to the services that they need to be healthy, and they support children to attend their health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint and their rights are promoted effectively. There have been no complaints from children since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with positive activities and promote their interests and hobbies. Children enjoy going to the youth club, indoor rock-climbing, theme parks, cinema and bowling. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] is always doing activities, at least two or three times a week, and they speak highly about being there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the home is physically safe and provides children with a homely and comfortable living environment. However, a recent water leak has caused minor water damage to an arch in the downstairs hallway, which requires the provider’s attention.

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

Staff prioritise the safety of children effectively. Risks associated with children are well known and understood by staff. Staff use risk-management plans effectively to reduce risks to children and protect them from harm. Staff manage children’s behaviours safely and effectively.

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

Staff are trained in de-escalation. This ensures that staff know how to support children in times of crisis to help them manage their feelings and behaviours safely. This approach has proved effective, with no restraints being used by staff since the Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 4 last inspection. A child said, ‘They helped me a lot. Especially [name of staff], who always gave me such good advice.’

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

The consequences staff use to address negative behaviour are fair and rewards are effective in acknowledging and reinforcing children’s positive behaviour.

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

There have been no missing-from-home episodes since the last inspection. Additionally, there are no current concerns with children being at risk of significant harm.

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

Staff maintain highly effective partnerships with the police and other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety of children. A social worker said, ‘My child has done really well, and they’re settled and really like living there.’

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

Significant incidents are reported to the appropriate authorities. This ensures that the right action is taken by staff and professionals to keep children safe from harm. Staff are trained in child protection so that they know how to deal with any allegations and report suspected abuse.

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

Safer recruitment practices are followed. This ensures that those employed to work with children are recruited and vetted carefully to keep children safe from unsuitable people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from an experienced registered manager and qualified, well-trained and experienced staff. The manager leads by example and provides staff with a common purpose and clear sense of direction.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager plays a crucial role in developing partnerships with all external professionals to prioritise the needs of children. This ensures that children benefit from the best possible help and all-round support. A child said, ‘The staff are very supportive, understanding and amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that regular, child-focused team meetings are held to help staff reflect on the progress and experiences of children. Practice-related supervision also ensures that staff are supported to carry out their caring responsibilities effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A stable staff team is employed to provide continuity of care for children. This ensures that children have stability and consistency in their lives. When existing staff are unavailable, bank staff are used to cover staff shortages, so that agency staff are not needed or used.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. The manager makes effective use of the home’s internal and external monitoring activities to eradicate any weaknesses and secure improvement in the care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 5

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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, The 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 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 feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the inclusion, evaluation and consideration of the views of children and other relevant stakeholders. 27 October 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the arch in the downstairs hallway that has been damaged by a water leak is repaired and redecorated. (‘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: SC021683 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Partnership of Care Today

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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

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC021683 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 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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