Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 1 SC025715 Registered provider: The Together Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a charitable organisation. It is registered to care for up to three children with autism spectrum disorders and physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since February 2020. She is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2023 Full Good 05/10/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 13/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 3

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in to the home. The manager ensured that the move was thoughtfully planned in line with the needs of the child, including the other children living in the home. The plans were developed at the pace of all children, and staff made excellent use of social stories to support the move. Several visits took place with the child, where he was able to meet staff and children ahead of the move. This provided the child with a positive experience and helped to ease any anxieties or worries for all children.

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outstanding

All children attend school. They receive full-time specialist education, which meets their individual needs. Staff have high aspirations for children, and they support children to work towards their educational targets. One child moved from a specialist primary school to a secondary school. The manager ensured that a meticulous transition package was implemented and involved all professionals in the planning process. As a result, the child had a positive and successful transition and is now thriving in his new school.

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outstanding

Staff provide children with individual targets; these are linked to independence tasks. Staff support children and assess their progress daily. When children achieve a target, these are reviewed and a new target is set. Children are learning to complete a variety of tasks independently. As a result, children’s confidence and self- esteem are growing. Children are making exceptional progress from their starting points. One parent said, ‘My child is happy and learning new things. He can now tie his own shoelaces; this is fantastic.’

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outstanding

The quality of relationships between staff and children is exceptional. Staff provide children with warm, nurturing, and secure relationships. They spend considerable amounts of time with children and know them well. Staff understand the individual needs of each child and know how best to support them.

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outstanding

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are held in the highest regard, which is fully embedded into the care that they receive. Staff are skilled communicators and use a range of communication tools to support children to express their views, wishes and feelings. During the inspection, staff were observed skilfully adapting their communication methods to meet the needs of each child. This means that children feel listened to and understood.

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outstanding

Children are supported and encouraged to access the community, and they regularly take part in a wide variety of activities outside of the home. Activities include swimming, trampoline parks, walking, foraging, parks, and youth clubs. One professional said, ‘The children get to take part in lots of different activities; the opportunities they are exposed to are brilliant. I find this particularly heartwarming.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 4 Staff and managers nurture relationships with family members. They support and facilitate family time in line with children’s plans, and they go over and above expectations in this regard. Parents regularly visit the home and are encouraged to share in their children’s lives, which they are kept up to date with. One child’s parent was invited to the home on Christmas day. This enhanced the child’s experience of Christmas and helped him to build positive memories with his parent. One parent

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outstanding

said, ‘They make me feel welcome, they are very helpful; everyone works hard to care for my child.’

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outstanding

Children’s safety and well-being are a priority. The manager has built a strong, child- focused safeguarding culture in the home. The manager and staff know the children well. They work proactively and collaboratively with other professionals when assessing risk. Children are supported and encouraged to take age-appropriate risks, which contribute towards the development of their independence and confidence. Staff carry out regular direct work with children to support their understanding of risk. Consequently, one child now has a mobile phone and uses this safely and appropriately.

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outstanding

The manager applies a research-based methodology that places emphasis on positive behaviour support. Staff receive specialist training, and this is fully embedded into their practice. The manager and staff work closely with specialist advisers to regularly review and update children’s strategies and support plans. As a result, they effectively support children to manage any behaviour or difficult feelings they may have. Consequently, the use of physical intervention is significantly low.

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outstanding

When physical interventions have been used, they have been low level in nature and used as a last resort. Records are detailed and contain the relevant information. The manager ensures that reflective work is completed with children, taking into consideration their views, wishes and feelings. Records are thoroughly reviewed and evaluated by the manager, who has excellent oversight. This means that learning is identified and quickly implemented into children’s care plans.

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outstanding

The manager ensures that clear assessments are in place for the use of any mechanical restraints, such as harnesses. The manager and staff have a great understanding of the emotional and physical impact that the use of restrictive practices can have on children. One child living in the home currently uses a harness when out in the local community. Staff are supporting the child to work towards a reduction plan. As a result, he is now regularly accessing safe areas in the local parks without the use of the harness. This allows him to play safely and freely, with support from staff.

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outstanding

Staff training is comprehensive. It follows the provider’s specific model of care and practice. The manager ensures that staff have had the training to understand and carry out their role. The staff team work well together. They have a team approach Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 5 to problem-solving. As a result, staff learn from one another and share best practice. This means that children receive excellent care.

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outstanding

Safe recruitment means that only the most-suitable staff work at the home and that it is a safe place for children to live. Health and safety practice is comprehensively applied and understood. Children and staff regularly practise evacuating the building in case of a fire. Therefore, everyone knows how to respond in an emergency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads by example. She is inspirational, child focused, confident, and ambitious for children. The home has a strong staff culture, which has an ethos of high aspiration and positivity. The staff team is consistent and stable. Staff feel supported, valued, and listened to by their managers and colleagues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management oversight in the home is excellent, and the manager is extremely reflective in her approach. The manager and staff regularly seek the views of the children and use them to inform the care provided. The manager demonstrates a thorough understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. She sets clear actions to maintain and build on an outstanding level of care for each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a strong advocate for children, and she will confidently challenge other professionals. Consequently, children receive the highest quality of care and education. On parent said, ‘She [the manager] works really well with the school. She supports me when we have meetings, specifically when addressing any issues. I feel confident my child is getting the best possible care because of her.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed positive working relationships with external professionals and family members. She understands the importance and benefits of effective partnership working. One professional said, ‘She [the manager] is very thorough and efficient. She contributes hugely to meetings, and she always follows up on actions from meetings.’ This contributes to children’s positive experiences in the home and their overall quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision. Supervisions are well planned, and staff have opportunities to reflect on their practice. Staff receive annual appraisals; these are equally reflective and focus on practice development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that team meetings take place monthly. These are well planned and structured meetings. Staff have opportunities to discuss the care of the children, their progress and development, and to reflect on their practice and any training as a team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 6

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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: SC025715 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Together Trust Centre, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE

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Inspector

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025715 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 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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