Children's Home run by Care Today (Childrens Services) Ltd in Manchester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 1 Registered provider: Care Today (Childrens Services) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021.

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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: 7 September 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: 2625182 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/09/2022 Full Good 26/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children currently living at the home and both are very settled and happy living there. One child knew several of the staff from another home and has strong relationships with them. This has been important for the child and a key reason why they were happy to move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has recently moved to another of the organisation’s homes. This was at the child’s request and was carefully planned to ensure that the move was successful. However, children are not helped to prepare for their care review meetings by staff. This is a missed opportunity to further demonstrate that children are supported with their views, wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child is currently attending education and is settled at school. Another child is currently being educated by the staff at the home and is engaging well with this and has a structure to the day. Plans are in place to identify a school placement. One child was supported to complete his GCSEs before moving out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop hobbies and interests. This means that children are developing new skills and raising their self-esteem and confidence. The children enjoy spending leisure time together and with staff. This time is spent on long walks, gardening, visiting museums and playing card games.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are in good health. The manager is aware of necessary appointments and assessments and is addressing these appropriately to ensure that children continue to have their heath needs met. One child’s physical health has improved significantly. However, children are not always supported to eat a nutritious and varied diet.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming, and children are comfortable living there. There have been some recent renovations to improve communal areas, and children’s bedrooms are personalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are new to the area and are being supported to learn about what the area has to offer and to develop independence skills in the community safely. Appropriate friendships are encouraged and supported by staff, which means that children are having safer positive experiences.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of restraint. The use of consequences is rare. Instead, staff use rewards and incentives with the children. This means that staff are good at de-escalation and promoting positive behaviour support. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 4 Children say that they know how to make a complaint if they have any concerns. One child has made a complaint. The manager responded quickly to this complaint and the child was satisfied with the outcome.

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

When children go missing from home, they are encouraged to return and staff actively look for them. On their return, children are welcomed back with nurturing responses. However, plans do not always clearly identify the agreed times for children to come home and staff to report them missing.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the online risks posed to children and have taken appropriate steps to minimise these effectively. This means that children can safely use the internet and have access to social media.

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

The manager has good oversight of health and safety in the home. In addition, safer recruitment processes are followed. This means that the children are living in a safe environment with staff who are suitable to work with children. However, staff are not routinely checking bedrooms to ensure that they are tidy and that any broken items are removed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2001. He is suitably experienced and qualified. He is supported by a trainee manager who has moved from one of the organisation’s other homes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel supported by the manager and they receive regular supervision. However, not all staff have the appropriate training needed to support children with their individual risks and conditions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly. These are child-focused, in-depth meetings that are used to help prepare the staff and children for the weeks ahead. These are well attended and have clear actions identified to guide continual progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent visitor attends the home monthly and the manager uses the feedback provided to improve practice and develop the care provided to children. However, the manager does not obtain the views of children and professionals in the quality of care review. These are missed opportunities to develop the home, staff and progress of children further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager does not use agency staff and uses regular bank staff or staff from the organisation to cover any gaps. This means that children are supported by consistent staff. However, the rota does not include the full names of the staff on duty or the manager’s working hours as required by regulation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is reflective in his oversight of staff practice and the progress of children. He seeks to discuss and understand situations that arise and has formed good links with other professionals. Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 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 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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to ensuring that staff are up to date with mandatory training and that they have attended the training relevant to the children’s individual risks and conditions. 20 October 2023

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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; 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)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that the views of children, social workers and other 20 October 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 6 stakeholders are considered in the review of the quality of care.

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Requirement Due date

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. (Regulation 37 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

The provider must ensure that the full names of all staff and their actual hours worked are recorded on the rota, including the manager. 20 October 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the care planning process for looked after children and must assist children to prepare for meetings in relation to this. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.14)  The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission and how staff should support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that there are routines in place to support children with cleaning their bedrooms and helping them to remove any damaged items. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are encouraged and supported to eat a varied, nutritious and balanced diet. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3)

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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: 2625182 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today (Childrens Services) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care Today Childrens Services, 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport SK2 6LR

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Liam Fitzpatrick

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2625182 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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