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

Inspection report children's home: SC005040 1 SC005040 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

A large provider of children’s services operates this home. The home provides care for up to four children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC005040 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2023 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good 12/09/2019 Full Good 08/01/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC005040 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, the home has been closed for eight months while staff and a registered manager were recruited. It became operational again in November 2023. Since this time, three children have moved into the home and one child has moved out. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s moves into and from the home are well managed. The registered manager ensures that moves are well planned, and staff ensure that children are well prepared. In addition, the registered manager’s care planning and assessment processes assess children’s needs and risks before moving into the home. As a result, children feel supported during important moments in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop positive relationships with children. One child said that they 'like the home and get on well with staff.' These relationships help children to develop a sense of stability and security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s health needs sensitively and effectively. There are clear health plans in place, and the children are registered with local health services. The children’s health appointments are up to date, and staff work well with health professionals to meet children’s needs. Medication administration systems are safe and support good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to attend and engage positively at school. One child attends mainstream school and has 100% attendance. Staff attend parents’ evenings and celebrate the child’s progress. Another child had recently moved into the home without a school place and the registered manager is working hard to identify a suitable school place to meet the child’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good support from staff to maintain those relationships which matter to them. Time with family and loved ones is encouraged. For example, one child sees their family every weekend. Consequently, staff understand the importance of supporting positive relationships for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views about the home and their care are listened to and acted on by staff. This helps children to feel valued and recognise that their views are taken seriously. It also contributes to them feeling safe and well cared for.

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

Children said that they feel safe in the home. Staff ensure that there are clear boundaries for children, which help to keep them safe. As a result, there have been no significant incidents with children since the last inspection. Inspection report children's home: SC005040 4 Staff provide nurture and support to children. They do this in the form of verbal praise, positive gestures, and by using rewards to celebrate children’s achievements. This approach helps children to grow in confidence and raises their self-esteem.

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

Staff complete direct work with children to help improve their awareness of risk in relation to internet safety and recognising unsafe situations. In addition, staff have supported one child to complete an online internet safety training course before allowing the child full use of online resources. This proactive approach supports children to keep themselves safe when online.

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

Children rarely go missing and there have been no such incidents since the previous inspection. Staff ensure that up-to-date protocols are in place for children, which provide clarity to staff. In addition, staff have good relationships with local police services, the placing authority, and other professionals. This helps them to identify and minimise any potential risks for children.

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

Staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding duties. They understand the procedures to follow in relation to safeguarding concerns and the strategies they use and follow to keep children safe. However, children’s recorded plans are not specific to each child and do not consistently provide up-to-date information to staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a registered manager, who is child focused, keen to learn and is developing her leadership skills and experience. She is keen for children to make progress and she has worked hard to enable the home to become operational and to provide care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about the home and the support they receive from the registered manager. They receive regular supervision, and this gives them the opportunity to reflect, learn and progress. In addition, staff benefit from regular team meetings. These are used as an opportunity to share learning and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete training that is designed to support them to meet the individual needs of the children. Most staff hold a level 3 qualification, and those who do not are working towards it. As a result, staff are equipped with the skills to support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the registered manager’s systems for monitoring the care that children receive are good. Her oversight of incidents is effective, and she ensures that follow up actions are completed with staff and children. However, some significant recording shortfalls were not identified through the registered manager’s checks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has developed good relationships with external professionals. The children’s social workers said that communication is particularly good. The registered manager ensures that social workers and parents are regularly updated on any concerns or achievements. One professional said that the staff Inspection report children's home: SC005040 5 provide ‘excellent care and support for [the child]. They are meeting [the child’s] needs well.’ Inspection report children's home: SC005040 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have in place good and effective monitoring systems to enable them to oversee the welfare of the children in their care. These systems should identify any areas for development and support the registered person to make continuous improvements to the care that children receive. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 54 paragraph 10.23)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. This relates to ensuring that when staff review children's risk assessments, they make clear records, which are up-to-date and relevant to the needs of the children. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 62 paragraph 14.4)

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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 children's home: SC005040 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: The Partnership Of Care Today, 2nd Floor, Lansdowne House, 85 Buxton Road, Stockport, Cheshire SK2 6LR

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Inspector

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC005040 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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Inspector

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