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

Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 1 SC008607 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 home is operated by a private organisation. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties and who may have learning difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. Two children had moved out.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2022 Full Good 24/08/2021 Full Good 20/06/2019 Full Good 03/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before moving into the home, some of the children have moved a number of times due to disruption and so can be hesitant to form relationships with the staff. Staff exhibit patience and consistency while setting clear boundaries. A parent praised the home, saying, "The staff are great. They have so much patience with [child’s name].’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Children experience well-planned moves into and out of the home. They visit the home before they move in and meet the staff team. Staff consider children’s wishes and feelings before they move into the home. This includes children being able to choose celebration activities to allow them to spend time with staff and help children look forward to their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a spacious and warm environment. Children choose how they want to decorate and personalise their bedrooms and are engaged in other key developments for the home. However, door locks in communal living areas are not required and those fitted to external doors need replacing to ensure that children can leave the premises freely and without restrictions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to keep in touch with their friends and families. This ensures that 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

Children have up-to-date care plans that reflect the placing authorities’ aims and objectives. This means that staff have all the information needed to provide good- quality care. The children’s aims and objectives are included in their care plans, which allow the manager to monitor their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team is dedicated to overcoming challenges in the children’s education. For example, one child had not attended school consistently for several years. The team persistently worked with other agencies to find a suitable learning environment and promoted strategies in support of engagement. Despite these efforts, the child has chosen to leave formal education and pursue employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to become more independent. Children learn to manage their finances and prepare their own meals. They also learn to manage their own personal care needs. This helps to build confidence and prepare children for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive the support that they need to actively engage in activities in and out of the home. This includes activities with family members. These activities enrich children’s experiences and serve to strengthen their relationships. Additionally, this helps children to make developmental progress and promotes positive self-esteem. Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 4

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

Strong partnership working underpins practice in the home. Regular, multi- disciplinary meetings consider children’s individual needs. Professionals and family members are positive about the care children receive. One youth justice officer said, ‘Staff are really invested. They endeavour to build trusting relationships. [Name of child] is going through a difficult time and is lashing out. Other homes may have ended placement, but not this one.’

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

Assessments and plans consider a child’s experiences and potential triggers for behaviours that may be challenging for staff. This helps staff to decide what action to take to de-escalate situations when needed and means that each child is kept safe, with a consistent approach by staff.

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

When children are missing from home, staff take swift action to ensure that children return safely. Staff have a proactive approach to achieve the child’s safe return to the home. However, the reports do not reflect the outcome from the return home interviews. In addition, the manager does not evaluate records so that they can identify any issues with staff practice.

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

Children are supported to take safe and appropriate risks in line with their care plans and developmental needs. Staff complete risk management plans for each child. This enables staff to identify and understand children’s risks. Staff review plans regularly with children and discuss them in team meetings. This helps staff to maintain consistency when protecting children from harm.

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

Staff are trained in the use of holding a child to keep them safe. This strategy is only used if a child is presenting as a risk to themselves or others. The child and staff review the incident reports. This helps them to reflect and learn and further supports the identification of themes, which supports keeping children safe.

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

Staff promote children’s positive behaviour and take action to prevent negative or challenging behaviours from escalating. Staff use rewards to reinforce children’s positive behaviour. The use of consequences to address negative behaviour is fair and proportionate.

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

Allegations and complaints are carefully managed to protect everyone involved. Staff members are confident in using whistle-blowing procedures and professionals are promptly informed for transparency. Children can identify trusted adults they can talk to. There was one reported allegation that was thoroughly investigated, with no further action needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced. He holds the relevant qualification, and also manages another home that is in close proximity to this home. He is supported by senior residential workers. Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 5 Staff attend regular training to improve their skills and personal development, including obtaining the relevant childcare qualification. However, staff have not received training to help them to respond to one child’s specific needs. Staff have researched best practice in support of this child. However, this needs to be strengthened with the relevant training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good professional relationships with other agencies and they understand their role and responsibilities with regards to the children. However, the manager has not included feedback from professionals, children or other stakeholders in their review of the quality of care. This is a missed opportunity to reflect and make continued improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a small, stable staff team. Staff say they feel valued in their roles. They benefit from a clear induction and regular reflective supervisions and their performance is reviewed annually. Staff have opportunities for progression and are encouraged to access a range of training courses. Any staffing shortfalls are covered by staff from within the organisation.

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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. They deliver a good-quality service for children. The manager has met and addressed all the requirements and three of the four recommendations from the last inspection. The recommendation around locks on doors has not been met and a requirement has been issued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff play a central role in advocating for children and they attend regular meetings and reviews. This means that parents and professionals receive detailed first-hand information. Children’s care plans are regularly updated and provide insight into each child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads the staff team by example and channels staff’s efforts effectively. Staff feel supported by the manager and have a clear sense of purpose and direction. One member of staff said, ‘The manager is approachable, professional and understanding, and there is a real sense of teamwork.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 6

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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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

is necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates specifically to the removal of locks on shared living areas and external doors. 30 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;

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Requirement Due date

and 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 stakeholders are considered in the review of the quality of care. 30 October 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 7

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that accurate records are kept in relation to return home interviews. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraphs 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that evaluations of missing incidents should be undertaken to identify any gaps in training, skills or knowledge for staff or to record and retain evidence of what worked well. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate resources to support their training needs, and that the training available meets the needs of the children that may be in their care. This includes bereavement training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: SC008607 8

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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

Jennifer Quest, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC008607 9 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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