Children's home run by The Together Trust in Stockport

Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 1 SC025740 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

This children’s home is operated by a charity. It is registered to provide care for up to six children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2019.

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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: SC025740 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2023 Full Good 08/03/2022 Full Good 09/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress at the home. They benefit from highly individualised care and support to meet their needs which contributes to their overall progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spoken with during the inspection say they have ‘really good’ relationships with the staff who encourage and support them in all aspects of their care. They feel able to share their views, wishes and anything they may be worried about with staff. Children say that staff listen to them, encourage them to achieve their very best and provide them with the support they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In the main, children have positive relationships with each other. When they do have disagreements, staff provide support and guidance which enables the children to understand each other better.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend education and are making progress. Appropriate school provisions are in place for all children and, as a result, children who have previously been out of education all have education placements and are engaging with these. Staff work closely with education providers. The manager effectively advocates for children to have appropriate educational placements and challenges where there has been delays in children receiving an Education Health and Care Plan to further support them within their school placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical emotional and psychological health needs are clearly identified and supported by staff. The links with the in-house therapy department and external healthcare professionals further supports and underpins healthcare needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand and recognise the importance for children maintaining family ties and friendships if it is in their best interest and supports family time appropriately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities which they plan with the support from staff. They attend a variety of social clubs and events, including cheerleading, drama, gym, and Guides. This gives them opportunities to follow their interests and increase their circle of friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The accommodation provided for children is physically safe and appropriately secure. Overall, children benefit from a warm and welcoming home. However, the conservatory, which the children use for arts and crafts as well as a messy play area, has fluctuating temperatures due to the amount of glass. Dependent on the weather, this limits the time the children can use this area. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 4

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

Staff understand the individual safeguarding needs of children and follow clear risk assessments and safety plans which are individual for each child. This means that staff understand potential risks and the action they must take to reduce these risks.

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

There has been an increase in missing for one child. Staff follow missing from home procedures to ensure the safe return of the child. They also speak with the child to reflect on reasons why they have gone missing. However, there are no independent return home interviews recorded. This is a missed opportunity to explore with children the reasons why they have been missing.

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

One child’s recent change in behaviour resulted in a period of unsettlement. The manager took appropriate measures to address this by implementing clear and consistent boundaries for this child. Individual behaviour support plans further underpin agreed action and support. As a result of these measures, children say that they feel safe and their views and wishes are listened to and acted upon.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. There have been no complaints since the last inspection.

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

An allegation has been made but this was later retracted. The manager ensured all procedures were followed in relation to recording and sharing this matter to relevant people.

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

Staff have appropriate training in behaviour management and use appropriate de-escalation techniques. When it has been necessary to physically hold a child, the measures used are proportionate to safeguard the child when they are in crisis.

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

The staff work in conjunction with the therapist to support each child’s individual therapy plan. These plans are reviewed and discussed on a regular basis and further support children to manage their emotions and feelings effectively.

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

Recruitment and selection process follow safer recruitment guidance and these measures contribute to making sure that only people suitable to work with children are employed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a suitably qualified and experienced manager in post. She has high aspirations for all children. The manager is supported in her role by an equally motivated and passionate deputy and together they promote positive care practice though the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team provides continuity of care and support to the children and deliver care which is child-centred to meet the children’s complex needs. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 5 Staff access appropriate training and support to enhance their skills and practice. Most staff hold a relevant formal qualification. There are clear procedures in place for staff without formal qualifications to gain this within agreed timescales. In addition to the mandatory training, staff undertake bespoke training which further enhances their skills and knowledge. They work in partnership with the clinical psychologist and other professionals involved in the care of the children, including social workers, health professionals and schools. This supports the holistic needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures all staff receive regular formal supervision as well as informal supervision when required. Staff say they find this support a valuable contribution to their ongoing practice and development. Where there are shortfalls in practice, these are effectively addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager effectively monitors the home’s outcomes and makes use of the independent visitor’s monthly reports to further enhance and develop practice in the home. The team plan and six-monthly reports further demonstrate the manager’s understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for ongoing development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed the requirement made at the last inspection in relation to ensuring notifiable incidents are made to the appropriate agencies involved in safeguarding children and young people. She ensures all agencies are notified as required by regulation. The recommendation in relation to education has also been addressed appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is operating in accordance with its stated aims and objectives and remains a current working document which is provided to interested parties upon request. The children also have a child-friendly guide. This explains to them information about the home and what they can expect while living there. Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home; (Regulation 6 (1)(2)©(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular with reference to taking steps to ensure that the conservatory used by the children for arts and crafts and play is accessible irrespective of weather conditions 1 May 2024

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Recommendation

 When a child returns home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 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: SC025740 8

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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

Sarah Oldham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC025740 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 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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