Children's Home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children's home: SC025747 1 SC025747 Registered provider: The Together Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run and managed by a charitable organisation. The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties and special educational needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since November 2015.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 1 February 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection for report children's home: SC025747 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/02/2023 Full Good 12/01/2022 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Good 23/10/2018 Full Good Inspection for report children's home: SC025747 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home. When children move into the home, the manager ensures that the most appropriate planning takes place. As a result of this, children are sensitively welcomed, and this helps to ease any anxieties they may have.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children are ready to move on from the home, staff help them to prepare for this. Since the last inspection, one child has successfully returned home to live with their family. Staff celebrated this with the child by providing them with a leaving party and gifts. As a result of this, the child experienced a positive ending and was able to say appropriate goodbyes.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is warm and welcoming, and there are lots of photos of the children around the home. Children have the freedom to personalise their bedrooms. One child said, ‘I really like my bedroom. I love the colour. I chose it myself.’ This helps children to develop a sense of belonging.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are warm, nurturing and caring towards children. They spend time with them and know them well. The practice observed throughout the inspection was very positive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and support children to do well in education. All children enjoy and fully engage with their education. Attendance is high, and children are making progress from their starting points. When there are barriers to education, staff work collaboratively to help children overcome them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been occasions when some children have struggled with their mental health and well-being. The staff and manager have ensured that appropriate referrals are made to external agencies to seek additional support. As a result, children are receiving specialist help that is individualised to their needs.

p.3

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

The manager and staff know the children’s risks and understand them. The manager ensures that risk management plans are individualised and up to date. When children display risk-taking behaviours, records are detailed, and it is clear what action staff have taken to manage the behaviour and minimise risk. Staff carry out direct work with children following incidents. However, this is not always consistent.

p.3

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

Children can identify a trusted adult that they can talk to about any worries or concerns they may have. Children know how to make a complaint and can identify who to complain to if they ever have any concerns. Inspection for report children's home: SC025747 4 There have been occasions when children have displayed self-injurious behaviour. Records of these incidents are detailed and evidence what steps staff have taken to support children when in crisis. The manager ensures that effective liaison takes place with relevant professionals to ensure that the most appropriate safety plans and support are implemented. As a result, children are helped to stay safe, and their risks are reducing. One professional said, ‘They are responsive, keep all professionals involved. I get regular updates. They are always available.’

p.3

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

Holding a child to keep them safe is used as a last resort. Records are detailed and contain relevant information. Appropriate debriefs are completed with children and staff. The manager reviews all records and identifies learning. As a result of this, incidents involving restraint have been significantly reduced. However, the manager does not always fully consider the use of restraint and its duration, and it is not always clear if the manager has spoken to the child.

p.4

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

Investigations into allegations or suspicions of harm are shared with the appropriate agencies. They are handled fairly, quickly and in line with statutory guidance. Record-keeping in relation to allegation management has significantly improved. However, there is sometimes a delay in submitting safeguarding notifications to Ofsted.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads by example. She is confident and ambitious for children. An experienced assistant manager supports her. Equally, they each have high expectations for the staff team, their development and the care for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When new staff are recruited, their induction to the home is effective. They complete mandatory training and several shadow shifts before they start their role. However, not all staff complete additional specialist training as specified in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the children. The staff team is stable and consistent. This means children receive continuity of care, and they are able to build secure relationships with staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. The supervision sessions are well planned and structured and are led by a suitably experienced manager or leader. The supervision sessions are reflective and provide a safe environment for staff to reflect on their practice and development. Staff find these valuable and supportive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes a regular quality of care review, where she critically analyses the care provided. This is detailed and extensive, and there is evidence of consultation with children and professionals in the report. The home is also visited monthly by an independent person who produces a report. However, there are occasions when the report from the independent person is inaccurate. Inspection for report children's home: SC025747 5

p.4

Statutory requirement

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure;

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.5

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(vi)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when incidents of restraint are reviewed, the use and effectiveness of the measure, including the duration, are fully considered.

p.5

Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered provider must ensure that when children have been spoken to following the use of restraint, this is clearly evidenced in the records. 22 March 2024

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that when new staff are recruited, they complete specialist training as part of their induction, specifically in relation to harmful sexual behaviour. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that there is a system in place so that all serious events are notified to the regulator without delay. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) Inspection for report children's home: SC025747 6  The registered person should ensure that direct work is carried out with children following all incidents where children have displayed risk-taking behaviours. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’. Page 43, 9.9)

p.5

Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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 for report children's home: SC025747 7

p.6

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Inspection for report children's home: SC025747 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8