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

Inspection report for children’s home: 2711785 1 Registered provider: Care Today (Children’s Services) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered in June 2023 and is run by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2711785 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since registration, two children have moved into the home. One of those children has recently left, and the second child moved into the home on the first day of the inspection. Staff have planned well for children moving into or out of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are not in education, staff are proactive in seeking alternative education provision. Staff support employment opportunities for children when this is appropriate and are consistent in adapting approaches when children have chosen not to engage in this area. One child, who has now moved out of the home, has experienced several changes in their education. Before leaving the home, they engaged with education and began to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with health professionals, and appointments are made as necessary. When children have chosen not to access medical assistance, staff have provided appropriate support and sought professional advice to ensure that children remain safe. Children are supported to lead healthy lifestyles and have healthy diets. They participate in preparing meals to provide them with skills in planning for living independently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to engage in activities inside and outside the home. Staff regularly seek children’s views and ensure that activities relating to their interests are promoted. Children have been supported to attend the gym, travel to watch football matches, participate in fishing sessions and go on holidays with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to speak to the people who are important to them. This helps children to maintain their relationships with their family and friends. When children have experienced challenges in their relationships, staff have been caring and understanding about this.

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

Children are cared for by staff who are appropriately vetted before they start working in the home. Records of staff recruitment confirm that safer recruitment policies are consistently adhered to.

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

Individual assessments take account of children’s known behaviours and the triggers that can escalate behaviours further. Staff consistently follow the agreed strategies to support children in crisis. When incidents occur, the manager carries out a review to identify any learning to improve future practice.

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

The home has clear boundaries and routines in place to help children understand acceptable behaviours. This provides children with safe and predictable care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2711785 3 Praise and rewards are used regularly to promote positive behaviour. Staff’s success in managing children’s behaviours means that physical restraint is not needed.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. However, staff understand the missing- from-home procedure and are confident in how to respond should a child go missing. The manager is not complacent about staff’s skills and refresher training is planned for all staff.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. Appropriate action is taken in response to complaints made by children and is well documented. This ensures that children feel that their voices are heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an enthusiastic and committed manager who is child- centred in her approach and leads by example. Several new members of staff have been recruited to the team so that there is sufficient staff to care for children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have positive experiences of working in the home and say that they feel supported by the manager. Regular team meetings take place, which are well attended, and staff are engaged in the process. Ideas are shared, specifically when looking to improve the outcomes for children. Staff’s views are valued by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision sessions with their manager. Records of supervision sessions show that staff are actively encouraged to develop their practice and action plans are clear on areas for development. New staff members have been inducted into the home well. A good range of mandatory training and training specific to the needs of the children is available to the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that there is regular communication with all those involved with the children. However, on one occasion, the manager did not obtain the required documentation from a child’s local authority to inform their assessment of risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 2711785 4

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that effective consultation takes place with the placing authority so that the provider can be assured that day-to-day risks can be assessed and managed. Specifically, this is in relation to ensuring that children’s individual risk assessments reflect current risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2711785 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Today (Children’s Services) Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Carrie Mayes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2711785 6 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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