Children's Home run by Platform Childcare Ltd in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 1 Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2022.

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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: 2689391 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection. Two children have moved into the home since the last inspection and one child has moved out of the home. The staff are open and honest with children, which helps them to build positive and trusting relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education. When children have faced challenges or setbacks in education, the staff proactively advocate for them. This means that children access education with tailored support. For example, two children were not in education when they moved into the home; however, they now attend mainstream education provisions. Staff encourage children to persevere with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of children’s health needs. Staff work closely with external agencies to support children with health concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in activities that they enjoy. They talk positively about the activities that the home provides. When asked what they like about the home, a child said, ‘The staff and the food.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children influence the design and decoration of their bedrooms. One child was talking to a staff member about the different themes they had decorated their bedroom in since moving into the home. Another child’s bedroom was decorated when they first moved into the home, and they were going out to get a new rug and some other accessories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When it is safe and appropriate to do so, the staff work hard to ensure that children spend meaningful time with their families. This means children can maintain links with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from professionals is positive. One social worker said that they were happy with the care provided to children and that the children had a great relationship with the staff. Another professional said, ‘Staff go above and beyond for the children.’

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

The children said that they feel safe at the home. Staff have a good understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and the risks they may be exposed to. There are systems in place for staff to monitor children’s mobile phones and devices that have internet connection.

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

Feedback from professionals compliments this practice; one social worker said that the home has provided a ‘safe and stable environment for their children’. Another social worker said they were happy with how children are safeguarded. Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 4 When children are involved in incidents, there is a clear plan for follow-up work. This work helps children to problem-solve and reflect on their behaviours. There have been no allegations made against staff working in the home. Staff are aware of the process to follow should a concern be raised. Staff also have a clear understanding of the home’s whistle-blowing policy.

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

The children’s guide is child-friendly and gives children a sense of what it is like living in the home. The guide also contains information to help children understand whom to speak to if they are worried or if they need support outside of the home.

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

The children are protected by the organisation’s safer recruitment practices. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures ensure the safety of the children by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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

Overall, staff keep children safe and take action to ensure that children are protected. The children have formed meaningful and trusting relationships with the staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child-centred in her approach. She has high aspirations for the children and the staff and is a good role model to the staff. The manager is working towards completing her level 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for the children. A school professional said, ‘The manager is very supportive and always willing to be available for the children and to support the school.’ Overall, wider professionals are extremely positive about the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported by the manager. They benefit from regular one-to-one formal supervision sessions. However, some staff have not received annual appraisals. This means that opportunities for staff’s development are missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Some staff hold a relevant level 3 qualification, and those who are not qualified are working towards completing their qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly consults with children, other professionals and parents. However, she has not ensured that she always has the children’s most up-to-date local authority care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has ensured that staff are provided with training opportunities, including therapeutic training. However, staff have not received suitable training in the use of fire equipment that is provided by the home. The home’s fire risk assessment is also not consistent with the home’s practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 5 The manager has effective management systems in place. Records are of a good standard and provide information about the care that is provided to the children. Regular audits take place, with actions to address any shortfalls or learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has regular meetings with other professionals, including education staff. These meetings track the children’s progress and enable appropriate targets to further support children’s development. This collaborative working means that the care provided to children is kept under review. Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 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

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

provide adequate means of escape from the home in the event of fire;

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Requirement Due date

make arrangements for persons working at the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25 (1)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home’s fire risk assessment is adhered to with regard to fire evacuation arrangements and ensure that staff have suitable training in the use of fire equipment provided by the home. 13 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 13 May 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ‘seek to involve’ the placing authority that places a looked-after child in the home, which in practice means working primarily with their statutory social worker. In particular, ensure that there are no delays in obtaining updated care plans from the local authority after children’s care review meetings have taken place. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 7

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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: 2689391 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Platform Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Platform Childcare, Suite 2 Millennium Court, First Avenue, Burton-on-Trent DE14 2WH

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2689391 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 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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